Water Element

In Qi Gong, winter is associated with the water element. The organs of water are the kidneys (Yin) and the bladder (Yang). When these two are balanced and in harmony, they facilitate wise living.

Here are two beneficial acupressure points related to these organs to press in and massage throughout the year, but especially in the winter. Holding a point in the season that corresponds to its element makes it all the more powerful.

Kidney 3, the kidney source point, lies in the valley between the ankle bone and the Achilles tendon. The kidneys are our internal batteries. Press in with your thumb, wiggle, then hold with steady pressure. Do you feel a tender spot? The source point has the effect of tonifying the meridian if it is deficient or pacifying it if it is in surplus.

Another point is Bladder 60, which lies in the low space between the tip of the outer ankle and the back of the Achilles tendon. It is the mirror point of Kidney 3. Again, press in with your thumb, wiggle, and hold with steady pressure. In Qi Gong, what you do on one side of the body, you do on the other, so do this exercise on both feet.

Nothing healthy is ever one-and-done. Massage these key pressure points over the weeks and months to come, and see the benefits you'll reap!