Most of us don’t respond like a kung fu champion, leaping out of bed each morning, raring to meet the day. More often we hesitate, testing those muscles and joints, probing for aches and pains. (If you are the kung fu exception, you may want to stop reading now. I encourage you to go on.)
 
So it’s easy to know when you’re out of balance. But how will you know it when you get back in?
 
One thing I’ve noticed when doing self-care Jin Shin Jyutsu (JSJ) is what I call the “click.” It’s that moment when the Safety Energy Locks that I’ve been holding release, and my breathing gets easier, my mind feels clear, and whatever pain I was experiencing is gone — or at least, has dimmed down a notch.
 
It’s an all-over feeling of calm assurance that all will be well.
 
Let me back up a bit here, in case you’re not familiar with the concept of Safety Energy Locks. In Jin Shin Jyutsu, there are twenty-six pairs of points on the body, similar to but not the same as acupuncture points, that act as gates for the energy (“Qi,” “Ki,” “Prana,” life-force, whatever you want to call it) that flows through and around our body.
 
The energy flows smoothly when the gate-points, the Safety Energy Locks, are open. But negative thoughts, “stuck” emotions, physical over- or under-exertion, poor nutrition, erratic sleep habits — anything that creates too much stress for our body, mind and spirit — disrupts the energy flow and can cause those Safety Energy Locks to close.
 
Holding the Safety Energy Locks (one pair at a time, or in a sequence called a flow) helps open them, restoring the normal flow of energy and bringing body, mind and spirit back into balance. For me, it feels like a “click.” What does it feel like for you? Try this simple experiment and see:

Sitting comfortably, with your back straight and your feet flat on the floor, hold your inside right knee, right at the side where there’s a bulge, with your left hand — use your fingertips, flat fingers, or whole hand, whatever feels best for you. At the same time, hold your left knee at the side, at the bulge, with your right hand.
 
You can hold each knee lightly; no need to press on it. While you’re holding your knees, pay attention to your breathing, in and out through the nose. Within two to five minutes you will probably exhale deeply as you feel something loosen up.
 
If you’re sensitive to your body’s energy you may feel something in your hands — they may start to tingle, or get colder or warmer. You may even feel a pulse moving between your hands. That’s a sign of the energy moving into balance. However, if you feel nothing, know that it’s still working.
 
After about five minutes, stop and take stock: how does your body feel? How do you feel emotionally? What thoughts are you noticing?
 
The points on each knee that you were holding are Safety Energy Lock 1, the “Prime Mover.” In JSJ, these points can be the first step to unlocking “stuck” energy and dis-ease everywhere within and around your body.
 
Want to know more? Send me an email or give me a call!

Recently I saw once again how well and how easily Jin Shin Jyutsu works to relieve pain and bring the body back into balance.
 
I was at a friend’s house taking care of her cat when I was suddenly stung by a wasp - on my right middle finger. The pain was sharp, and my finger began to swell almost immediately. I didn’t know where her first aid kit was, so I held my finger under cold water for a minute or so.
 
Then I remembered the Jin Shin Jyutsu self-help mantra:

What this means is, if you have bleeding, hold your hands on the area, right hand first and left hand on top. Even without heavy pressure you’ll find the bleeding will soon abate.
 
If you have a puncture wound, such as a bee sting or a sliver, put your left hand down on the area first and your right hand on top. Many people have felt the foreign object disengage on its own by using this process.
 
Well, the sting was in my right hand, so I could certainly put my left hand on it. But it was a wasp sting, so there was no barbed needle to come out. And it would be difficult to put my right hand on top of my left, since that was where the sting was.
 
Nevertheless, as I held that finger I felt the pain ebb away, and when I took my left hand away, the swelling was gone. Later that evening you’d never know I’d been stung at all.

[NOTE: JSJ does NOT take the place of an epi-pen! If you are allergic to bees and wasps, always carry your epi-pen with you, and get medical help right away if you are stung.]

And one added bonus: the middle finger represents Anger in Jin Shin Jyutsu, so holding it helped me harmonize any ill feelings I had toward the wasp. (I saw it later, clinging to the back of a chair and seething - at least, that’s how it looked to me.) I decided to leave it alone (after warning my friend), hoping it will find a way outside.
 
Jin Shin Jyutsu has a wealth of self-help practices - as well as energy flows that a practitioner can use to help you get back into balance in body, mind and spirit. Want to know more? Send me an email or give me a call at 404-406-4204!