Which side is yin

The head is yang relative to the feet, because the head is closer to the Sun yang and the feet are closer to the Earth yin. The tops of the feet are yang while the soles of the feet are yin etc.

The back of the body including the neck, shoulders, back, and the outer parts of the arms and legs are yang. The front of the body including the face, chest, abdomen, and inner parts of the legs and arms are yin. The spinal curves have a relative yin-yang relationship, meaning they balance each other. Natural spinal curves provide important shock absorbance, allowing for complex movement.

The more yin structures tend to suffer from weakness but benefit from being relaxed, such as the abdomen. The more yang structures suffer from tension but benefit from being strong such as the posterior shoulder muscles. However, yin is not the same thing as deficiency or weakness and yang is not the same thing as excess or tension. Low back pain is often from weakness in the corresponding yin aspect: weak abdominal muscles mirroring the low back.

Low back pain also shows up as tension in the more yang aspects of the spine: the lower thoracic and upper sacral. Address abdominal weakness or coldness, and treat the upper sacral and lower thoracic tension to relieve low back pain. Upper back pain is yang-on-yang tension, within which a hidden yin weakness can be found. Releasing the tight trapezius, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus is one part of treatment, but then look for overstretched and weak rhomboids, and instability in the cervical curve.

Create leverage for treatment of stubborn and guarded upper back pain by treating the anterior sterno-costal area. Like yin and yang, these elements exist in a constant cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Magnets: Magnets are also an example of yin-yang. One side is "north"; the other side is "south.

What happens when yin and yang are out of balance? Here are a few examples of what can happen when yin and yang are out of balance:. In feng shui:. In our relationship to nature:.

In Chinese medicine:. How to find balance. Prioritize rest. Exercise—but not at the expense of sleep or downtime. Eat simply and seasonally. Make time for yin activities throughout the day. Craft a soothing nighttime routine. The bottom line. Tsao-Lin E. She is the founder of Integrative Healing Arts which utilizes Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Sarah Regan.

With Paige Bourassa, L. Functional Food. Lindsay Boyers. Alexandra Engler. Eliza Sullivan. Latest Articles Recipes. Emma Loewe. Jamie Schneider. Integrative Health. Previous Next. Folder Name. However, other factors such as lifestyle, diet, and inherited tendencies may create a very different situation.

If you are cold, overweight and fatigued, it is better to avoid yin-nourishing foods and herbs. To get an accurate, personalized assessment of your yin and yang, visit a licensed acupuncturist. Want more expert tips for leading a healthier life? Visit Tips for Healthy Living. All Rights Reserved. Get Information. Reference optional. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.

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A Subtle and Cosmic Duality. The Yin Yang Symbol. Origin of Yin-Yang. Origin of the Symbol.