Have you felt stuffiness in your chest, tapped your chest with your palm, or exhaled a long and rough breath, when you got lots of stress? Those are the natural and instinctive human movements to release the Fire energy in their chest of the Conception Vessel Meridian.

The Conception Vessel Meridian supervises and oversees the Yin Meridians located on the anterior surface of the body.

This meridian starts at the very center of the pelvic cavity. It goes down to the perineum and passes the navel, runs up the center of the chest and the neck, circles around the mouth, and meets up with the Governing Vessel Meridian between the nose and the upper lip.

Whereas the Governing Vessel Meridian is related to “Water Up” process by circulating the Water energy of the kidneys, the Conception Vessel Meridian helps the “Fire Down” process. The cool Water energy in your head, which went up along the Governing Vessel Meridian, travels down by cooling and pushing the hot Fire energy in you head and the heart.

The hot Fire energy is not something bad or harmful, unless it is stuck in the head and the heart. The Fire energy should move and circulate all the way down to the lower abdomen along the path of the Conception Vessel Meridian and then the Fire energy can make your dahjon, or energy center, warm enough. The Fire energy in your dahnjon stimulates, kind of “boils,” the Water energy in the kidneys so it rises smoothly. This is the full cycle of “Water Up Fire Down,” which is one of main Energy Principles of Dahn Yoga.

A dysfunctional Conception Vessel Meridian causes coldness and stiffness in the lower abdomen because the lower abdomen doesn’t get enough warm energy. It causes lack of vital energy, indigestion, menstrual irregularities, infertility, and difficulties in pregnancy and labor.

Energy blockages, especially in your chest, prevent the Fire energy of the heart from going down. Instead, the blockage causes heat to build up in your chest until it reaches your head, which causes various illnesses, including headaches. It also obstructs deep abdominal breathing.

Opening energy blockages in your chest is emphasized in Dahn Yoga and is its secret! In addition to the chest exercises performed in the regular class, the most powerful and effective program for this purpose is the Shimsung workshop. Dahn Yoga first leads you through light stretching, then tapping your chest, shaking off stress and tension from your whole body through Brain Wave Vibration, and doing energy meditation (Jigam) to open your heart chakra. All of these exercises directly and indirectly open the heart area of the Conception Vessel Meridian and eventually enhance energy circulation throughout the whole body.

If you feel congested in your chest area, it might be due to stress and a hunched posture. Here are some exercises to help open your Conception Vessel Meridian and help your chest feel refreshed and comfortable.

Twisting Upper Body

1. Stand with legs shoulder-width apart and bend your knees slightly. Bend your elbows to a 90-degree angle, make fists, and raise your arms upward. Hold the lower body still firmly and twist the upper body and arms quickly from side to side from your waist.

2. Fix your eyes ahead and do not turn your head. Push your chest forward and keep your arms up at shoulder height. Open your mouth slightly and breathe out completely to release the hot Fire energy from your heart.

3. Repeat 50 times in the beginning and, after practicing this for a while, work up to 300 times.

Chest Tapping

1. Interlock your fingers and gently tap your thumb in the middle of your chest for 3 minutes. While tapping your chest, say, “Ah-h-h!” to release stress and congested energy from your chest.

2. Release your fingers and tap all over your chest with your palm lightly. Focus on the areas where you feel achy and stiff, then exhale and breathe out all the impure energy accumulated in those areas.

3. After tapping, sweep your chest, making a circle with overlapped palms and exhale completely.

Cobra Posture

1. Lie on your stomach. Place your arms on either side of your body, with your palms touching the floor.

2. Inhale and slowly raise your upper body, then raise your head up and hold it in this position while concentrating on your spine.

3. Exhale and return to Step 1. Repeat several times.

— Chungsuk Lee