In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidney is a yin organ that corresponds to the element of water. Regarded as the “root of life,” the kidneys are vital to conception, birth, aging, and decline, as they hold our essence, or jing, and “are the foundation for all the Yin and Yang energies of the body”(Maciocia, 2015, p.155).

Yin-Yang theory is a foundational concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine. As reflected in the well-known ☯︎ Taiji ☯︎ symbol, it teaches the importance of holding a dynamic balance between opposing forces in nature. Based on this philosophy, here’s why going to the ocean might help you feel more calm and grounded when you’re stressed.