Take relieved exercise, protect eyes and the liver

In spring, the weather gets warmer gradually, trees turn green, flowers bloom, and beautiful scenes are all around us. Everywhere is full of beautiful scenery. It is suitable to take outdoor exercises are recommended.

Whether you are ill or healthy, it is beneficial to go for an outing in spring in the natural forests or parks. Forests are known as natural oxygen bars where there are plenty of negative ions in the air which are called ‘air vitamins’.

It is best to go to the waterfalls, streams, and fountains to enjoy the beauty of the plants because the negative ion concentration there is much higher.

Do not dwell live alone and sit silently ruminating which may lead to the liver qi stagnation. It is best suitable to do some exercises that are slow and not too violent, such as Taijiquan, the Eight Pieces of Brocade Exercises (Bā Duàn Jǐn), the Classics of Tendon Changing (Yì Jīn Jīng), Five-Animal Exercises (Wǔ Qín Xì), and other traditional exercises; people can also choose to fly kites or walk around the parks.

Moderate exercises can strengthen the heart and pulmonary function, increase the secretion of digestive juices, increase the appetite, promote the human body’s metabolism, and bring more vitality. Not only is the physical health improved and with plenty of energy increased when one does these exercises, but it can also help delay aging and allow one to become more vigorous with age. 

The exercise intensity should be appropriate and one should try to avoid exhaustion. It is advisable to exercise for 30 to 60 minutes per day. In case of strong wind, fog, cold front, or other bad weather, it’s better to choose take indoor activities.

The liver stores blood and is important for the functions of the eyes. Spending a long time on books, computers, or TVs will lead to excessive use of the eyes, as well as staying up late to browse Weibo (like Twitter), check WeChat moments (like Facebook), or play computer games. Overuse of the eyes will affect vision and cause liver blood deficiency, that are manifested as dry or fatigue eyes, and in severe cases there may even be abnormal mental states, blood and fluids stagnation, digestion and absorption disorders, or other problems due to loss of liver to govern the free flow of qi.