Waiting for the “click”

How do you know when you’re in balance?

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!

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