I found this article interesting and informative, and the results of the study to be surprising and helpful. It’s great to know that even with limited time to spare, we can have a positive effect on our health and body strength!
Don’t have time to exercise? Apparently, 3 seconds is all you need!
Do you often find yourself thinking that you would work out more often if you simply had the time? Well, according to scientists at Australia’s Edith Cowan University and Japan’s Niigata University of Health and Welfare, all you really need to see significant strength improvements is three seconds a day.
Yes, that’s right, their new study suggests that lifting a dumbbell just once or twice a day can be enough to improve your strength, especially when it comes to combating the effects of aging. For the study, the team examined the effects of different kinds of bicep curls and identified one form of bicep curl that was remarkably effective.
The study involved 52 healthy university students, 39 of whom were made to perform a bicep curl at maximum effort for three seconds a day, five days a week, over a period of four weeks. The other 13 students performed no exercise over the same period.
Those who were made to exercise also had to complete one of three types of bicep curls, either a typical concentric curl where the dumbbell is raised toward the shoulders (this shortens the muscle), an eccentric curl where it is slowly lowered back below the hips (lengthening the muscle), or an isometric curl where the arm holds it at a 90-degree angle (this keeps the muscle stationary).
During the experiment, the researchers measured the maximum voluntary contraction strength of the subjects’ muscles before and after the four-week period—and the results were surprising.
Which bicep curl is the most efficient?
Those who were assigned the eccentric bicep had the best results by far, demonstrating significant improvements in their concentric strength (12.8 percent increase), isometric strength (10.2 percent), and eccentric strength (12.2 percent). Plus, they enjoyed an 11.5 percent boost in overall muscle strength.
That said, all exercising participants showed some improvement, with the concentric group improving their isometric strength by 6.3 percent, and the isometric group increasing their eccentric strength by 7.2 percent. However, there were no other improvements in other parts of the body, which suggests that eccentric contractions are probably the best way to gain strength if you have limited time.
“Although the mechanisms underpinning eccentric contraction’s potent effects are not clear yet, the fact only a three-second maximal eccentric contraction a day improves muscle strength in a relatively short period is important for health and fitness,” said Professor Ken Nosaka from Edith Cowan University.
“We haven’t investigated other muscles yet, but if we find the three-second rule also applies to other muscles then you might be able to do a whole-body exercise in less than 30 seconds,” Nosaka added. “Also, performing only one maximal contraction per day means you don’t get sore afterward.”
These findings could be extremely important in terms of preventing the loss of muscle mass and strength associated with aging.
(Article originally published on February 10, 2022)
Here’s to being healthy & free in 2023!
p.s. Be sure to follow Self-help Health to receive helpful tips on a regular basis. And check out my website’s To Your Health page for even more useful information and resources for creating better health and well-being.
Here’s a quick post to let you know about another great way to start off the new year! Donna Eden, who has been a pioneer in the field of energy medicine for decades, is hosting a week-long “challenge” to get people in the habit of doing her famous 5-minute energy routine on a regular basis. I used to do this series of exercises almost daily, but hate to say I haven’t done it for awhile, even though I always felt better when I did. There’s also a longer version, which is what I used to do, that includes some massage of the lymph, which I think is a great add-on.
Anyway, the challenge starts TODAY and Eden Energy Medicine didn’t get an announcement ahead of time, so sign up asap, if you’re interested. I will include a link at the bottom of this post to today’s first video that will allow you to jump right in. I just finished doing the routine myself and my body feels really happy I did! 🙂
Join us for the 7-Day Daily Energy Routine Challenge!
Let’s all start off January 2023 with the best ENERGY possible.
Healthy underlying energy supports:
A pain-free body that is more resilient to disease and can participate fully in all life has to offer!
A clear and calm mind that can handle life’s challenges with more creativity and ease.
An inner state of joy that comes from within and can sustain itself no matter what is going on around you.
One of the best tools that we have to help with all of the above (and more) is Donna’s Daily Energy Routine! When done repeatedly, your body begins to establish healthy energy habits that, over time, will activate your body’s innate self-healing abilities. It’s a simple, yet powerful routine and we’d love for you to do it with us, every day – starting today!
1/12/23 UPDATE: So far I can tell a difference from doing the challenge the last few days, and I was happy to see that in Day 4 Donna added in how to do the lymph massage that I used to do back when I first started practicing the routine years ago. It’s a really good add-on to know about!You can access it here.
Here’s to being healthy & free in 2023!
p.s. Be sure to follow Self-help Health to receive helpful tips on a regular basis. And check out my website’s To Your Health page for even more useful information and resources for creating better healthand well-being.
Steven Washington is offering another one of his free Qigong classes and I love that he always provides a replay for those who can’t catch it live. PLUS, he breaks it out into sections where you can pick which part(s) you want to focus on….pilates, calming Qigong, Mindful Meditation, or “all of the above”…..
Join Steven for this upcoming FREE Class!
January 24th, 2023
at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK
Extraordinary change can start with one small step… and this fun, free class with Movement Master Steven Washington is an easy way to get started/stepping toward a happier and healthier 2023!
Here’s what’s included:
30 minutes of Pilates strengthening and stretching exercises
30 minutes of energy-igniting and calming Qigong movements
A peaceful Mindful Meditation
Replay of the full class plus short and Qigong-only versions.
Also, Steven recently shared a new short 5 minute video to start off the new year. In it he briefly and humbly talks about a part of his past when his life was run by addiction, and how he found recovery and was able to become grounded, peaceful and courageous. At the 2:05 minute mark he teaches an easy to do flowing Qigong exercise to circulate the energy within your body and bring about emotional balance,….. something we can all use more of these days!
Here’s to being healthy & free in 2023!
p.s. Be sure to follow Self-help Health to receive helpful tips on a regular basis. And check out my website’s To Your Health page for even more useful information and resources for creating better health and well-being.
For millions of years, humans were nourished by and lived in deep symbiosis with a beautifully biodiverse ecosystem. But we have lost our way.
We have systematically sterilized our environment and isolated ourselves from nature.
Now we are on the brink of a total collapse in our global food system. We are engineering the sixth great extinction on this planet — but it doesn’t have to be that way.
At this pivotal moment, can we find ourselves back into nature? Can we change our mindset from consumers to producers and co-creators? Can we establish cycles that are regenerative versus destructive?
You can be part of a future that is more diverse and more intelligent than the planet has ever expressed before. The paths are many, but they all revolve around reconnection — with each other, with farmers, with wisdom that is old and true, and with natural patterns.
To that end, this program gathers together thought leaders and changemakers, including special guest Charles Eisenstein, focused on regenerative agriculture, because healthy soil, communities, economies, and people all form one essential ecosystem.
This course runs from Nov 17th – 20th and is for…
Anyone who eats food!
People who care about being a life-giving force on the planet
People curious about the regenerative movement and how they can be a part of it
People looking to unite family and friends around a hopeful, healthful vision for humanity
Join this course to…
Learn how human & soil health are intimately related
Discover why past movements – such as “organic” – failed to change the paradigm
Listen to the challenges farmers and agricultural businesses face
Understand what it takes to heal an entire ecosystem
Reconnect with where your food comes from
Explore what regeneration looks like in your life
“As you listen to the many voices in this program, I hope regenerative agriculture will move from an abstract concept to an engaged experience. You will not only better understand the realities of our current farming landscape, but also better understand your role as a stakeholder in this food system. Because at the root of what it means to be regenerative is also what it means to be human.” ~ Zach Bush, MD
We can completely overcome the common paradigm – not through an “anti” mission – but through an alternative mission. Not through an effort to be more “pro” this or that, and thus heighten the polarization of our culture, but to literally rise above the old arguments.
Buckminster Fuller said, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
About Your Host
Zach Bush, MD is a physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care. He is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. Dr. Zach founded Seraphic Group and the nonprofit Farmer’s Footprint to develop root-cause solutions for human and ecological health.
About Farmer’s Footprint
Farmer’s Footprint is a non-profit supporting farmers across the nation who are bravely stepping forward and transforming chemically farmed acreage to regenerative agriculture. Their vision is to unite, inspire and accelerate the movement towards regenerative food systems as a means to restore human and planetary health.
And Steven Washington is offering another free Pilates/Qigong Fusion class just in time to get you in shape for Thanksgiving! Here are the details and sign-up link…
Join the party with a FREE class!
Tuesday, November 22nd
11am Pacific / 2pm Eastern / 7pm UK
It’s been 2 years since Steven’s first Pilates/Qigong Fusion class and he’d love you to join him in celebrating!
Your FREE, 65-minute class will include:
30 minutes of classic Pilates exercises to strengthen and stretch
30 minutes of energizing andcalmingQigong movements
A peaceful and relaxing guided Mindful Meditation
Replay of the full class plus condensed and Qigong-only versions.
p.s. Be sure to follow Self-help Health to receive helpful tips on a regular basis. And check out my website’s To Your Health page for even more useful information and resources for creating better health.
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts. Also check out my website Evolution Made Easier and blog of the same name for more helpful information, tips, tools and resources.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
I just received an e-mail about this workshop from The Shift Network and immediately signed up, Thought some of you might be interested in it, too…..
What if growing older didn’t have to be synonymous with a decline in physical health or mental acuity?
What if there was an ancient wisdom system that’s just as impactful today — full of practices that provide the path to a meaningful, disease-free, graceful life?
During the recent Qigong Summit, celebrated master Robert Peng introduced Jieqi Qigong, which is associated with your vertebrae, and offered a simple movement and meditation practice to improve your spinal health.
… helping you age with energy, strength, clarity, and grace — and unlocking your own fountain of youth.
Qigong’s 8 Cycles Movement is a series of gentle Qigong exercises you can safely practice to energize your body, calm your mind, activate your energy centers…
… and massage your internal organs — leaving you feeling nourished and invigorated so you can live a healthier, more vibrant life.
Be guided in the movement practice of Playing the Tai Chi Ball (one of the 8 Cycles Movements), to improve balance between your brain and body, harmonize your yin and yang energy, ease inner emotional turmoil in times of crisis — and nourish your body, mind, and spirit
Explore the physical, mental, and energetic disconnections that result when the left and right brain hemispheres are out of balance — and how Qigong can empower you to restore this balance
Discover the Hegu acupressure, part of the 312 Meridian Healing Protocol — and explore how a simple acupressure exercise can ease pain in your head, face, neck, and shoulders
Learn Qigong’s secret for easing stress, cultivating inner joy, and experiencing contentment, calm, and peace
Discover how to cultivate and nourish your Qi to achieve balance in your 3 energy centers (or dantians) and your central meridian — the “Four Golden Wheels” that represent the wisdom, love, vitality, and harmony in your life
These modalities can help you feel more connected to others and the world around you, more content with yourself, and more hopeful for the future.
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional/your inner knowing before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
Boy, I sure wish I’d come across this particular Jin Shin Jyutsu article by Astrid from Flows For Life a few days ago! Recently I’ve had several middle of the night spells where I couldn’t get back to sleep, plus a sudden bout of extreme fatigue earlier this afternoon, so it would have really come in handy. I actually learned this routine several years ago when I was studying JSJ, but had forgotten about it. It’s so simple to do and helps with a number of things. AND with the world in its current state, it’s great to have something easy and quick as a way to help keep our energy balanced, so be sure and give it a try!
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I remember the first time I really felt the power of this self help. It’s difficult to describe the kind of exhaustion I felt; I didn’t know what to do with myself. Unfortunately, I wasn’t at home where I could lie down either. I needed to come up with something to get me going again, and I had to do it fast!
A gem of a self help hold
When I placed my hands in the proper position, I immediately felt comforted. Forty minutes later, I was back to feeling myself again, only better. This self help hold really did beat my (temporary) fatigue!
Since then, I have used this hold to help with many projects.
If I wake up in the middle of night and can’t go back to sleep, I will get into this position and that’s the last I am aware of until morning. It’s like a lullaby that lulls you to sleep.
The self help exercise
To clear the right upper body and left lower body (shown): Place the left hand on the right upper arm and place the right hand on the left inner thigh
To clear the left upper body and right lower body: Place the right hand on the left upper arm and place the left hand on the right inner thigh
Use it to balance energy
You can also use this self help when there is too much energy (waking up at night) or not enough energy (finding it hard to get up).
Mary Burmeister says of this self help hold: “It is supremely powerful. Use with humility and awe.”
Use it to help so much
Use this Jin Shin Jyutsu self help hold if you have a tight chest, shortness of breath, allergies, hay fever, cough, heart discomforts, sudden fatigue, to clear congestion in the breast area…in short, this is what Mary Burmeister, who helped introduce JSJ to the US, calls ‘the most important self help.’
Furthermore, it is said that Mary never really preferred any one hold above another, but she did call this one ‘a little gem.’
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional/your inner knowing before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
Oh, I was so glad to find this article from Astrid at FlowsforLife.com in my inbox recently. I used to do this particular Jin Shin Jyutsu routine/flow on a regular basis, but somehow got out of the habit somewhere along the way. It was always a favorite of mine,…. it helps with so many different things, plus is easy and comfortable to do. I usually did it while lying in bed first thing in the morning, or sometimes before going to sleep at night…or when I would wake up in the middle of night, because it helped me get back to sleep.
If you want to give yourself a little break during the day, try this routine and hold any or all positions that seem pertinent at the time. And as we head into winter, at least in my part of the country, this is a great one for tuning up the body and strengthening your life force energy. Circulation, heart health, thyroid and parathyroid, mental clarity, spine, stomach, metabolism and more….Main Central’s got you covered!
PERSONAL TIP: When doing this routine, make sure you are as comfortable as possible, so you can sink into the full relaxation response Main Central will trigger in your body. Usually my muscles begin to let go and my breathing slows and deepens within a minute or two of starting this “flow.” To make myself extra comfortable, I put a pillow under my right arm to help hold it in position w/ my hand on my head and pull the covers up over it to make sure that part of my body stays warm in the winter. And I use a small Vibes Up therapy teddy bear under my left arm/elbow/wrist, depending on the point being held by my left hand/fingers. What’s cool is the bear not only supports my arm position, but also just so happens to add additional balancing/harmonizing and grounding energies to the body!Good deal!
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In Jin Shin Jyutsu, the Main Central IS the Source of Life. This is the energy that goes DOWN the FRONT of our body and UP the BACK. Main Central feeds all of our 144,000 energy functions. I liken it to the trunk of the energetic tree.
Be comfortable
To practise Main Central get into a comfortable position. You can do the exercise sitting down, but I prefer to lie down and support my arms (especially my right arm as it’s going to be in the same position for a while) with pillows and cushions. Hold each position for a few minutes each, or as long as you like! Some positions will feel so comfortable, you might spend an hour just in one hold.
There aren’t any rules – just enjoy!
Jin Shin Jyutsu Main Central Exercise
In this exercise, the right hand will remain on top of the head until the last hold when it moves to the coccyx, and the left hand moves down the front of the body as explained.
Top Tip
You can do the whole exercise or just choose the position that feels right for you in the moment. For instance, you might want to clear the head, so you could practice just the first position for a few minutes.
Clear the head
Position 1: Place Right Hand/Fingers on Top of Head Maintain the right hand in this position during the routine through Positions 1 to 7. AND Place Left Fingers between Eyebrows The Vital Force of Total Being. Revitalizes the deep energy circulation, improves memory, dissipates senility, harmonizes the pituitary gland and the pineal gland, controls blood pressure.
Release the pelvic girdle
Position 2: Place Left Fingers on Tip of Nose Revitalizes superficial body energy circulation, releases tension in the pelvic girdle and reproductive organs.
Prevent heart attack
Position 3: Place Left Fingers on Center of Chest on the Sternum Look for the ‘bump’ on the sternum, and place your fingers there. Revitalizes the Thyroid and Parathyroid; helps with facial muscular problems, helps prevent heart attacks, strokes, etc. Regulates metabolism and maintains mental balance. Helps us adapt to our surroundings and situations.
Help the immune system
Position 4: Place Left Fingers between Breasts on Sternum Revitalizes the immune system for the prevention of cancer, AIDS, etc. Assists in child growth and mental development. Governs reproduction, generative and regenerative functions. Relieves nausea and anxiety. Assists with breathing.
Support the adrenals
Position 5: Place Left Fingers at Base of Sternum The Controller of Human Destiny. Revitalizes the energy path of the spleen and the adrenals, assists in the secretion of digestive juices and hormones. Gateway to the solar energy system revitalizing the nervous system. Prevents diabetes.
Tone the abdominal muscles
Position 6: Place Left Fingers about an Inch above the Belly Button Revitalizes abdominal muscle tone and intestinal function.
Strengthen the spine
Position 7: Place Left Fingers on Pubic Bone Revitalizes the descending energy (down the front). Helps strengthen the spine.
Aid circulation in the legs and feet
Position 8: Right Hand moves from Top of Head to Base of Spine (Coccyx). Revitalizes the ascending energy (up the back), helps circulation in the legs and feet, helps cold and clammy hands and feet. Alleviates menstrual cramps.
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional/your inner knowing before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
Several years ago I featured an article by Dr. Mercola on the Nitric Oxide Dump routine and it has become one of the more frequently viewed posts, so I thought it might be of interest to a number of you to know about this simplified version I just found out about recently that I’m really enjoying, because it’s so easy to learn and quick to do, plus gives your body a workout where you end up feeling pooped and energized at the same time. HA!
And while you’re catching your breath from one of your 4-minute workout sessions, you can do the JSJ routine for cleaning, tightening and rejuvenating the skin. So in less than half an hour you can really have a positive impact on your overall health and well-being. How does it get any better than that?!
4-MINUTE AT-HOME WORKOUT FOR WHEN YOU CAN’T GET TO THE GYM OR NEED A LIFT
For the past two months, I’ve been testing a four-minute workout routine that promised to give the same benefits as if I’d worked out in the gym for an hour. Created by Dr. Zach Bush, it’s a new version of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). The three-to-four-minute workout consists of four basic exercises — squats, tin soldiers, snow angel and military press— which work all 16 major muscle groups. It takes about 4 minutes and I try to do it 3 times a day; on very busy “out-and-about” days, as little as once or twice.
It’s designed to stimulate the release of nitric oxide, which is actually a soluble gas and free radical stored in the lining or endothelium of your blood vessels that can catalyze and promote health.
The results have been impressive. I’ve gotten quite a bit leaner, developed muscle and strength, and lost about 5 pounds, which I’ve kept off easily (no mean feat for my aging self). Normally, if I go a day without doing my usual 45-minute exercise routine, I start to gain weight; if I can’t do my regular exercise, I can easily do this routine at home.
The simple routine is easy to do during my day and has proven an energizing break while working; I feel the effect immediately. It’s best to wait at least two hours between sessions, to allow the body to synthesize nitric oxide for subsequent release. ( I put a little sign up on my fridge, and sometimes set a timer, to remind myself to do a session). And for best results, I breath through the nose, not mouth. Over time, as the sequence has gotten easier to do, I’ve added more reps to keep myself challenged.
You can read all about how it works here at Mercola.com. I recommend following Zach Bush’s video at the top of the page as Dr. Mercola, whose info can be excellent, often take things to an extreme. I find his version pushes too hard.
Note: Wary of squats and of pushing too hard, too fast, I took the workout slowly the first few times, listening to how my body was handling it, and gradually increasing the intensity. Listen, listen, listen to your body…
UPDATE 1/11/22: Need further motivation to give the routine a try? Check out this 2 min. video of an interview where Dr Bush is asked about this quick, yet highly effective work-out…
BTW, Dr Zach Bush is one of the most knowledgeable, well-spoken natural health advocates I’ve come across and has given some great interviews on GMOs, and glyphosate (among other things) and how they are tied to inflammation, leaky gut, autism and so much more. They’re actually worse for our health than I ever imagined. I highly recommend checking out his website and education resources. Here’s just one of the interviews I’ve watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=jWgnkgYtqnw&feature=emb_logo
And now on to the facelift! Here’s an easy to learn Jin Shin Jyutsu flow/hold from Astrid at FlowsForLife.com that has multiple benefits and uses, including rejuvenating the skin ….
Regenerating for the Deep Skin
Imagine if you had your own personal ‘plastic surgeon’?
Well, I am here to tell you that you have a special energy function that helps clean, rejuvenate and tighten the skin.
This is Jin Shin Jyutsu for a facelift!
There is a special energy function that helps regulate the temperature in your body. It also relaxes the muscles in the body, and circulates to clean, purify, and regenerate the deep skin.
All you have to ‘do’ is palm the backs of your calf muscles on the lower legs daily for a magic effect!
I have a friend who practices this hold every morning because she wakes up feeling a bit tight and stiff . She was delighted when I said to her: “No wonder you look so vibrant and so much younger than your age.”
Hold 20 minutes every day for two weeks, and you might find that your friends start wondering what you’ve been doing because you look so good.
Sunburn gone!
A few years ago, I went to the beach on a sunny day. I came home and realized I was quite sunburned. My skin felt tight and very uncomfortable. I decided to put this exercise to the test.
Instead of getting lots of lotions to put on my skin, I practiced the Jin Shin Jyutsu self help exercise below.
I was amazed that, after a few minutes, all the discomfort just melted away. There’s no other way to describe it. Also, the redness and heat dissipated, and I didn’t peel. It was quite extraordinary.
Hot hot hot!
This Jin Shin Jyutsu exercise is also great if your body gets really hot. Because this special energy travels up and down the whole body, it helps cool it! So we all have a natural built-in air-conditioning system. It’s so clever.
Jin Shin Jyutsu for a facelift
Cross your arms. Place the palm of your RIGHT hand (with fingers facing down towards your feet) on the LEFT calf (the fleshy part at the back of the leg below the knee). Do the same for the palm of the LEFT hand on the RIGHT calf.
If you’re working on someone else, lie them face up and stand at their feet facing their head.
Then place your LEFT palm on their RIGHT calf muscles, fingers facing up towards their head, and your RIGHT palm on their LEFT calf, fingers facing up towards their head.
So when you work on yourself, you cross your arms. When you work on someone else, you don’t.
Note: if you find it difficult to hold this position for a while, try lying on your side. Or just shorten the sessions but do them more often. The time I share with you is a guide. However, the more you do, the more effective this exercise will be!
Simple and effective. But don’t take my word for it. As Mary Burmeister says, “Be your own testimony.”
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional/your inner knowing before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
I have been out of the blogging loop for awhile now due to A) an unexpected move (still in the process of getting settled), followed by B) an amazing Mastering Alchemy conference in Atlanta, and then C) some kind of extreme physical yuck w/ a temp of over 103° that I think was at least partially triggered by all the shifts and changes set in motion by A and B. 😦 But I did lots of neti potting, used the Kick-Ass Flu Remedy protocol, elderberry syrup, colloidal silver, and a few other odds and ends and actually bounced back quicker than anticipated. YEA!
Anyway, I’m glad to finally get around to posting this information about Prime Mover that’s been in my draft section for ages. If you weren’t around when I featured an article I wrote for Sivana Spirit about Jin Shin Jyutsu, one of my absolute favorite self-help health tools, then be sure and read that before this one, so you’ll have some background appreciation of this simple, but effective form of energy medicine.
The following article is by JSJ teacher and practitioner Astrid Kauffmann at Flows For Life and focuses on one of the most important, yet simple, flows/holds you can use….
CHANGE YOUR LIFE WITH PRIME MOVER
The Insides of the Knees is the One!
The mover and shaker in Jin Shin Jyutsu is the energy site that is found on the inside of the knees: the energy site that is Number One, as in SEL(Safety Energy Lock) #1.
This one is truly the Power of One! People have told me that when they held their ones for an hour every day, their lives changed!
If you feel stuck
So, if you feel stuck, start holding the inside of your knees. It doesn’t matter whether you cross your arms or not – do whatever feels comfortable for you. Hold for at least 20 minutes at a time if you can.
It’s wonderful that Jin Shin Jyutsu can help us move the energy so that we can get ‘unstuck’ and open up to receive the abundance that life offers.
SEL #1 is called the ‘The Prime Mover’
It is found on the inside (medial side) of the knees. It connects extreme heights with extreme depths and harmonizes us from head to toe because it helps the descending energy (which moves down the front) and the ascending energy (which moves up the back).
It’s ALL about harmonizing the breath; as we exhale, we let go of the old (dirt, dust, grease and grime) and as we inhale, we let in the new (pure energy and abundance).
Also great for emergencies
Holding this energy site is also very helpful in emergencies like breathing difficulties, stomach cramps, menstrual cramps, nausea, vomiting, shock, etc.
I remember years ago I had a situation when I ate something that really did not agree with me and,boy, did my stomach complain. I had severe stomach cramps. They were so bad they took my breath away (literally!).
I was in the middle of nowhere, so I quickly placed my hands on the insides of my knees and held on for dear life.
After a couple of minutes I could feel things starting to ease, although I was still in pain. I held on and waited. Ten minutes in, the pain disappeared and I was back to normal.
And a story involving Prime Mover from Willow Walker, the lady I first learned Jin Shin Jyutsu from….
“Earlier this year, I attended a three-day, 5 Rhythm Dance Workshop. Two hours into the second day, my right knee completely locked up, and would not bend without extreme effort and pain. I tried to shake it out, and dance my way through it. But instead of getting better, it just got worse.
I thought, “How am I going to dance the rest of today and tomorrow when my knee won’t bend?!?” Even worse than the sharp pain, was the thought that I would have to stop dancing for the weekend. Anyone who knows me well knows that this is a serious situation.
I sat down on the side of the room to collect myself, and remembered Jin Shin Jyutsu! I started using self-help flows to specifically address the injury first, then the knee in general, and then the specific “Safety Energy Lock” (SEL) where the pain was located. I wanted to create movement and flow around and through my knee, so the SEL could safely open again. I spent about 15 minutes holding places on my body and leg lightly with my hands as I waited for my knee to return to its normal state; the ability to support continual, creative movement on the dance floor.
A SEL acts like a fuse for our electrical body, switching “closed” when it gets overloaded. When that happens, our energy flow may accumulate there, manifesting as physical pain. Boy, did it ever!
Out of the 26 SELs on each side of our body, the very first one can be found on the inside of the knee. It is known as “The Prime Mover.” And no wonder. You literally cannot move forward without it!
The music ended about the time I finished my self-help flows, and we were invited to dance/move across the floor, propelled by our hips. My knee was still very stiff, and hurt at the slightest movement, and at first I wasn’t sure I could stand the pain. But the alternative of not dancing the rest of the weekend was just not an option. So, I went for it, trusting Jin Shin Jyutsu to open the flow of energy in my body and restore harmony once again.
After crossing the floor once, my knee felt a little less stiff and painful. By the end of the exercise 30 minutes later, my knee was back to normal; 100% pain free with complete range of motion. It continued to feel great, and provided eight more hours of ecstatic dancing without complaint that weekend.
I’ve been holding my 1’s more often this past month myself, and the shifts so far have been absolutely amazing. Now that I have experienced what the Prime Mover can do both within and around my body, I plan to continue holding my 1’s as often as possible, regardless of whether my knee is injured or not.
Anyone and everyone can use Jin Shin Jyutsu to help themselves and others. In fact, you already do and you just don’t know it. Our bodies know what to do when we just let them be.
I feel so blessed to know about this resource that allows us to help ourselves with nothing more than our hands, our intention to help ourselves, awareness of our energetic body, and a little bit of time. So simple. So beautiful.” — Willow
There’s also a story told of a man who was on the verge of total financial collapse, standing to lose everything if his company’s business didn’t soon turn around. His wife knew someone who knew Mary Burmeister, the woman who brought Jin Shin Jyutsu® to the west. When Mary was asked how he could help himself, she recommended that he hold the inside of his knees for an hour each day every day for a month. And so he did. During those 30 days, things shifted dramatically in every part of his life, and he achieved his greatest financial success to date!
And here’s a short little video I found that gives you a quick tutorial on the primary finger holds mentioned in my previous post on JSJ, as well as some interesting input about the Prime Mover/SEL # 1, including how it can be used in place of the Heimlich maneuver in certain situations:
Also, Astrid offers a free download of a 15-page booklet on JSJ on her website. You can check it out here.
10/26/19 UPDATE: A friend read this post and asked me exactly where SEL #1 was, because she wanted to be sure she was holding the right place. I just checked my book The Touch of Healing, which I highly recommend for people interested in JSJ; it’s what we used as a reference for the JSJ class I took a number of years ago. Anyway, I thought I would share the info that I gave her, in case anyone else had the same question.
The book says “SEL #1/Prime Mover is located on the inside of each knee, right at the bulge, where the thigh and shinbone connect. It unifies the descending energy (which travels down the front of the body) w/ the ascending energy (which flows up the back) and thus harmonizes from head to toe. SEL #1 is considered ‘the prime mover’ connecting extreme heights w/ extreme depths. It helps all forms of abdominal distress (bloating, discomfort, etc) and headaches. It also promotes deeper and easier breathing.”
The book also mentions “There is no need to be overly concerned w/ precision. There is a 3 inch effective radius around every SEL. In time, as one’s awareness grows, one may learn to ‘bull’s-eye,’ but this is not essential.”
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained health care practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
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