Sleep deprivation, overwork, unbalanced nutrition, and stress which affects the liver’s ability to recover and hampers the fluid circulation of energy in the body, are all factors that can cause chronic fatigue. When even ample rest does not help, such a sustained condition may lead to serious illness.

In order to relieve chronic fatigue, first of all, it is necessary to aid the circulation of Ki energy and supplement Ki. In order to promote better energy circulation, you need to practice exercises that open up the most blocked areas.

When you become fatigued, your whole body can feel extremely heavy as your neck and shoulder muscles become stiff, and even your head and lower back may ache. That’s because, when you’re tired, energy flow in the energy points and meridians of your neck, shoulder, and lower back areas becomes severely blocked. Therefore, pressing with your fingers in the blocked meridian areas or performing specific meridian exercises can release stagnant energy from your body and leave you feeling lighter and more refreshed.

Here are a few exercises that will promote better energy circulation. They will be much more effective if practiced in conjunction with proper breathing.

Bladder Meridian Stretching: Releases fatigue from the lower back and legs.

1. Place your hands on your lower back, and as you breathe in, bend your upper body forward and sweep your hands down along the back of your legs, then hold your ankles.  

2. Bending forward deeply until your head is almost between your legs, gently tense your dahnjon and lower back.

3. Exhale as you return to a standing position. Repeat several times.

Bending the Back and Arms backward: Relieves the feeling of stuffiness in the chest and promotes Ki energy circulation in the heart and lung meridians.

1. Put your feet shoulder width apart. As you breathe in, bring your upper body backwards with both arms up. At this time stretch all the way to your fingers to stretch your whole body, and squeeze your toes as well.

2. Exhale as you return. Repeat several times.

— Chungsuk Lee