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Crane Stretches Wings
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Visualization and Philosophy
As you prepare to start Crane Stretches Wings imagine yourself as a great white crane standing tall with your breast bone forward. As you practice the move imagine you are opening your wings, stretching them back and forth in preparation for flight. This will warm up your arm, chest, and back muscles and increase the flexibilty in your chest for the breath and strength needed during flight.
Purpose/ Benefits
Crane Stretches Wings opens the central energy gates by stretching across the front and back rib cages. As these areas begin to stretch and relax it provides more room for the lungs to expand allowing more air to enter the lungs.
The effects of opening/stretching the heart and lung region of the torso are similar to Chi Breath. The heart and lung do not have to work as hard to get oxygen to the body which results in slowing the heart rate, lowering the blood pressure, and reducing stress.