The Metal Element governs clarity, discernment, and release, guiding us to let go of what no longer serves and to draw in what is pure and essential. It helps us connect to our inner worth and the cyclical nature of receiving and releasing.

In the body, this energy flows through the Lung and Large Intestine meridians, influencing our capacity to breathe deeply, to release stagnation, and to maintain healthy boundaries between self and other.

When balanced, Metal energy allows us to feel clear, open, and present, able to grieve and let go without resistance, and to receive life’s inspiration with grace.

When imbalanced (either stagnant or deficient) we may experience grief, rigidity, shallow breath, skin issues, or a sense of emptiness and disconnection.

By working with these meridians through movement and awareness, we can support healthy respiration, emotional release, and a renewed sense of vitality and spaciousness.

Below, explore the pathways of the Metal element meridians, their relationships with the chest, shoulders, arms, and face, and ways to restore balance through breath, fluid movement, and mindful release.

Pro tip: Use your hands to gently trace the channels from the chest down the arms and out through the thumbs, then from the index fingers up along the outer arms toward the nostrils. Notice how your breath responds. Imagine clearing a gentle breeze through these pathways—what might it feel like to breathe freely, to exhale fully, and to let go with ease?

LUNG MERIDIAN

Lung Meridian – Clarity & Release

Muscles: Pectoralis major and minor, anterior deltoids, biceps, intercostals.

Function: Governs breath, inspiration, and the capacity to take in life fully. Supports emotional release, healthy boundaries, and a sense of inner spaciousness. Helps us let go of what’s no longer needed while drawing in vitality, integrity, and renewed perspective.

Imbalances: May show up as tightness in the chest or shoulders, shallow breathing, grief, rigidity, or skin issues. Emotionally, you may feel closed off, resistant to change, or weighed down by sadness or perfectionism.

Stretch Focus: Lung On Blocks to expand the chest, deepen the breath, and invite clarity and lightness.

LARGE INTESTINE MERIDIAN

Large Intestine Meridian – Letting Go

Muscles: Upper trapezius, Triceps, brachioradialis, posterior deltoids, levator scapulae, and neck extensors.

Function: Governs elimination—physically and emotionally. Supports the ability to release what no longer serves, clear stagnation, and create space for renewal. Encourages discernment, adaptability, and a clean energetic slate.

Imbalances: May show up as shoulder or neck tension, arm pain, constipation, skin irritation, or headaches. Emotionally, imbalance can manifest as holding on to the past, resentment, self-criticism, or difficulty setting boundaries.

Stretch Focus: Shoulder Crank Lunge to encourage release through the upper back and arms, promoting ease, clarity, and a sense of spacious surrender.