The Five Benefits of Lu Jong
Lu Jong comes from the words Lu “body” and Jong “training” or “formation” in the Tibetan language. Therefore, it’s the practice of caring for your body by training your various dimensions.
This technique originated among the Tibetan monks in the Himalayas 8,000 years ago and was only taught to a select group.
What is Lu Jong?
Lu Jong stemmed from the traditions of both Bön and Tantrayāna Buddhism. Bön is an ancient belief system that’s much older than Buddhism. Bön is about praising nature, including its subtle aspects which we’re no longer in touch with.
Through careful observation of the patterns of nature, the Bönpos came up with practices that aligned people with the rhythms of the universe, the movement of the stars, the structure and development of the human body, and the connections between them all to help people reach their fullest potential. Subsequently, it gave rise to a series of therapeutic postures and movements.
By using proper breathing and moving the body in a certain way, the body frees itself from physical and mental burdens and reaches physical and emotional balance.
This practice wasn’t known in the Western world until a well-known Tibetan physician, Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche, adapted it and introduced it.
Five benefits of Lu Jong
Lu Jong merges form and movement in order to repeatedly place gentle pressure on particular points of the body to allow them to release blockages and to also allow the blocked energies to flow once again. Moreover, movements and postures promote healing and relaxation.
There are four groups of movements and two additional exercises in Level 1:
- The Five Elements Movements balance and purify the space, earth, wind, fire, and water elements in the body.
- The Five Body Parts Movements improve the mobility of the head, joints, spine, and hips.
- The Five Vital Organs Movements work with the kidneys, heart, lungs, spleen, and liver.
- The Six Conditions Movements address common ailments such as indigestion, tumors, water retention, low body temperature, incontinence, depression, and improve the five senses.
- Finally, there are two side exercises that address difficulty falling asleep and difficulty remaining alert.
The order is important
Tulku Lobsang developed this practice with careful consideration for the natural flow and progression of the body in order to create balance. Furthermore, their specific order is important and so is doing the whole set. On this note, it’s not wise to pick just one or two of the exercises, as that would lead to more imbalance.
“True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been; yoga cares about the person you are becoming. Yoga is designed for a vast and profound purpose, and for it to be truly called yoga, its essence must be embodied.”
-Aadil Palkhivala-
Lu Jong opens the chakras
This practice helps open the chakras (the body’s energy centers), favoring the free flow of the three principles of the life force of Tibetan medicine (dosha or humors) with the five elements.
These exercises eliminate physical, emotional, and mental blocks. Also, they generate inner peace, reduce stress, improve physical, energetic, and mental levels, and lead to increased positive energy, motivation, happiness, tranquility, and mental clarity.
Lu Jong appeases negative emotions
In Lu Jong, a person merges movement, breathing, and shape in a simple yet profound way that promotes full attention, which in turn favors the communion of body and mind.
This way, emotions appease and negative ones disappear. According to Tibetan medicine, negative emotions lead to disease.
It improves spinal ailments
The spine is the energy axis of the body. Furthermore, practicing Lu Jong strengthens it through the execution of postures and deep breathing.
Certain spinal points get massaged during this practice. Allow, it creates space around the vertebrae and improves mobility. Moreover, through this practice, organs receive oxygen and necessary nutrients that strengthen them.
In addition, Lu Jong helps the muscles that surround the spine and the abdominal center to tone up. In addition, it helps correct body posture. For this reason, it’s a particularly beneficial practice to relieve back pain and significantly improve sensation in the lower back.
It eliminates the dangers of a sedentary life
Leading a sedentary lifestyle is very dangerous. If you practice Lu Jong, you’ll move, break the vicious cycle, and, consequently, become healthier.