五元氣功

T H E LEOPARD
Wood Element - Liver
 “If we want things to stay as they are, things will have
to change. 19”

How do you cope with anger and frustration? Are you able to let go and surrender to what
is happening in the moment? Do you hold on to the past, letting frustrations and resent-
ment eat away at you, or can you stay focused in the present moment, unaffected by past
traumas and dramas?

In the Peruvian Amazon shamanic tradition, the jaguar, a close relative to the leopard, is
said to represent “stalking that which is stalking us”. This is a perfect metaphor for the
practice of the leopard form - targeting the liver, the organ that is associated with anger
and toxicity, that must purify our bodies so that we are not consumed by those things that
might kill us.

“If liver Qi [function] is congested, a person will anger easily, have chest and flank swelling and pain,
and women will have irregular periods. If liver Yang [force] is rising upward, one will have headache
and dizziness. If more severe, the eyes will ache, get red, and if even more severe, a stroke could ensue.
Liver is closely linked with emotions. If liver Qi is deficient, the patient is easily frightened or angry.”
-Optimal Healing by Patricia Tsang M.D.20

The liver filters and detoxifies the blood, produces hundreds of enzymes and hormones,
and regulates the volume of circulating blood. Oftentimes, due to poor diet, stress, irrita-
bility, and inactivity, the Liver becomes clogged and sluggish. For this vital organ to work
properly, it must become decongested and supple.

The Leopard form targets the liver, squeezing the organs as we push the sides of the body
together and twist. The liver is the organ of detoxification and purification. It processes
impurities in the body, protecting us from them so they do not kill us.

19
The Leopard, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, 1958
20
Qigong Through The Seasons – Spring, Ronald H. Davis, 2015

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 Instructions:
From the standing meditation posture, open in the same manner as in the previous move-
ments and circle the hands to “hold the ball” with the left hand on the bottom. Step out
with the left foot into a “bow stance” and let the right hand remain stationary as the left
hand moves out laterally to the left side as if throwing a frisbee.

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Once fully extended to the left, turn back and sink into a “horse stance” with the feet and
knees turned out to a 45-degree angle, which opens the liver meridian. Keep the weight
balanced 50/50 on both legs as much as possible and press the big toe into the earth to
further activate the liver meridian. At the same time, the left hand pushes back, behind the
neck and over to the right side; in time with this movement, allow the right palm to face
up as if to protect the left armpit.

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 This is the full extent of the motion; try to hold it comfortably with a full breath for at least
three to nine seconds while the eyes are wide open remaining fixed on the extended left
hand.

From here, allow the left hand to drop down as the body returns to a “horse stance.” In a
continuous motion, bring the left foot back to shoulder width and circle both hands back
to “hold the ball”, with the right hand now on the bottom. Repeat this motion on the
other side to complete one round; three rounds make a full set. After a full set, close in
the same way as in the Dragon by opening the hands down, out, and up as if outlining a
huge ball. Gather the energy, bringing it over the head and down through the body until
you reach the lower Dan Tian. Once again assume the Zhan Zhuang Standing Qigong
posture. Stay in this meditation for at least 3 minutes.

Check Points

Stance:

• Feet turned out to a 45-degree angle minimum

• Weight even on both feet
• Knees both bent

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Upper Body:

• One palm facing out, covering armpit area

• Top palm fingers stretched back, aiming behind you
• Arm straight and stretching over your head and behind you

Anatomical and Physiological Benefits

By bending deep to the right, you compress the liver.
By extending your arm, you will get an even deeper
compression. With an added slight twist in your spine,
your right shoulder comes forward so you will get an
even deeper twist and compression of the liver, thus
squeezing it out deeply.

Effects on the Fascia Liver and Spleen

The Lateral Line (LL) is involved with stability. Specifical-

ly, it is used in keeping the body stable with side to side
movements. By bending sideways, you activate the LL. The
fascia that moves up the spine is engaged in a contraction
and stretching phase as well.

Lateral Line Sides

The LL is almost identical to the gallbladder meridian,

which is interesting because the gallbladder meridian is
the opposing meridian to the liver. (see below in the me-
ridian pictures). Lateral Line21
Reprinted from Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists, 3E, Thomas
21

Meyers, 2014, with permission from Elsevier

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 Try to feel the LL up into the neck as you twist your spine
in the peak of the movement; feel your neck also gently
twisting too.

The LL brackets each side of the body from the medial and
lateral mid-point of the foot around the outside of the an-
kle and up the lateral aspect of the leg and thigh, passing
along the trunk in a ‘basket weave’ or crossed-shoelace
pattern under the shoulder to the skull in the region of the
ear. Lateral Line Neck

Lateral Line

The LL functions posturally to balance front and back, and bilaterally to balance left and
right. The LL also mediates forces among the other superficial lines – the Superficial Front
Line, the Superficial Back Line, all the Arm Lines, and the Spiral Line. The LL often acts to

8 5 Element Qigong
stabilize the trunk and legs in a coordinated manner to prevent buckling of the structure
during activity.

X Lateral Line Lateral Line Jogging

The LL can be seen in action in jogging, as the rib cage winds and unwinds with each step.
You can also really feel this LL engagement in the Leopard, with the deep twist at the peak
of the movement.

Effects on the Meridians

By opening the groin, legs and feet outwards,

we activate the liver meridian.

Liver Meridian

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 About the Meridians

The Liver Meridian – Replenisher of Blood

Function & Qualities

The Liver Meridian is a yin meridian paired with the Gallbladder Meridian. . It is responsi-
ble for filtering, detoxifying, nourishing, replenishing, and storing blood. It regulates the
amount of blood circulating, withdrawing and storing it when resting or sleeping, and
releasing it during exercise.

Element: wood

Physical Imbalances: Liver function is reflected externally in the condition of finger-

and toenails and by the eyes and vision. Blurry vision is often a result of liver malfunc-
tion rather than an eye problem.

Emotional Imbalances: The liver governs growth and development, drive and desires,
ambitions and creativity.

Obstruction of liver energy can cause intense feelings of frustration, rage, and anger,
as well as irritability, resentment, jealousy and depression.

When Balanced: kindness, compassion, and generosity

Peak Hours: 1-3am

Route
The Liver Meridian starts inside of the big toenail, crosses the top of the foot, passes in
front of the inside ankle and up the inner aspect of the leg. It continues upwards, passes
the knee, and continues along the inner thigh to the groin and pubic region, where it

10 5 Element Qigong
circulates to the external genitals. It connects with the conception vessel in the lower ab-
domen and further up enters both the liver and gallbladder. The meridian then dips into
the rib cage, runs up through the throat, opening to the eye, and ends at the crown of the
head where it connects with the governing vessel.

The Gallbladder Meridian - for Courage and Initiative

Function & Qualities

The Gallbladder Meridian is a yang meridian and is paired with the liver meridian. This Me-
ridian’s Qi (energy flow) is responsible for decision making and good judgments, among
other things, as well as providing courage and initiative.

Element: wood

Physical Imbalances: insomnia - waking up suddenly very early in the morning and not
being able to fall asleep again, tendons, tears, nails, eye diseases, glaucoma, and night
blindness, stiff neck, ringing in the ears, dizziness

Emotional Imbalances: timidity, indecision, being easily discouraged, resentment

When Balanced: courage and initiative, decision making and good judgment, sound
sleep, healthy expression and processes of creativity, planning, brainstorming, analy-
sis, and decision-making

Peak Hours: 11pm-1am

Route

This meridian begins just outside the outer corner of the eye, turns down towards the ear
and then up to the forehead just within the hair line, then descends behind the ear to the
corner of the skull. It then returns to the forehead above the center of the eye and moves
down the head to the bottom of the skull. It continues down the neck to the shoulder, de-
scends the side of the body along the ribs, to the waist and pelvis. It continues down the
outside of the leg, to the ankle, ending on the outside of the 4th toe.

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