Autumn is about letting go, just as the leaves let go of the branches of the trees as they prepare for the bareness of winter.

In Chinese medicine, the metal element is associated with Autumn. There’s no mistake that the two organs that correspond to the metal element are the ones that allow you to let go – your lungs and your large intestine. In order to fuel more energy with your breath, the lung must exhale to unload all the baggage…all the gaseous toxins that don’t belong. The large intestine also functions to help you let go of all the food waste in your body. What happens when these two organs get backed up? Well, with the lungs you may experience breathing difficulties with labels such as asthma or bronchitis, and with the large intestine…well no one wants to experience constipation. I’ve had my share of relieving clients from both types of health projects and myself with more of the lung one.

Recently, I traveled to the Andes in Peru on a sacred spiritual journey. Heck, life is one sacred spiritual journey, isn’t it? Anyhow, what I want to share with you is how I avoided altitude sickness which could look like breathing issues and constipation issues. There’s a hand pose that I did to get ready for the trip and while trekking in the high altitudes in Cusco, Peru, and it is one that you could use to boost your immune system and help your lungs and large intestine. Check it out below!