The Emotions of the Lungs

In Eastern medicine, each organ is associated with an emotion, and in the case of the lungs, imbalance of the organ is related to sadness and grief. In ideal conditions, it is associated with a positive inner image, clear thinking, ease of communication, motivation, relaxation, mental focus and happiness.

That difficulty in getting out to train or sticking to a diet, which is normal in this autumn season of changing temperatures, causes the mind to face a feeling of alienation, causing a prolonged sensation of sadness that does not fade. The lungs are associated with attachment, so the memory of people, objects or negative experiences can reinforce these feelings.

If the energy (or Chinese “qi”) of the lungs is weak, one feels overwhelmed, with constant pain, including a slowing of the post-workout muscle recovery process, which leads to depression and other problems ranging from indecision regarding the training plan to the resurgence of food cravings, which is the first step towards a sedentary lifestyle, illness and reduced life expectancy.

Conversely, if the emotions of the lungs are strengthened both physically and psychologically, prolonged pain is avoided and a scenario of balance is set up to improve recovery, body fat loss and hypertrophy, as well as improving all aspects of life. One of the first things to consider is looking after the lungs’ partner, the large intestine.

In Eastern medicine, the lung is the “yin” and the large intestine is the “yang”, so they must work together to maintain balance. In autumn the lungs can take advantage of breathing fresh air, filling the body with oxygen, and the large intestine is responsible for letting go of waste, being the last stage of digestion, freeing the body of toxins and leaving what is vital inside the organism.

Breathing deeply in autumn

One of the best ways to strengthen the lungs is to breathe deeply; it sounds simple, but most people do not know how to do it, and this affects things such as our memory, energy level and immune system. When you breathe correctly, intensifying the emotions of the lungs, the cells and the brain are flooded with the amount of oxygen needed to make the body’s processes efficient.

You can train three times a day outdoors, connected with nature, autumn being the most beautiful time to do so. Breathing through the nose and thinking about your breathing, taking in as much air as possible, is the best practice in autumn. Once the lungs are completely full, hold it until the count of five, then exhale through the mouth until the lower part of the lungs is emptied.