Donna Eden’s 10-Day Joy Challenge

May 31, 2023Leave a comment

Just a quick post to let you know about Donna Eden’s 10-Day Joy Challenge, which starts tomorrow, June 1st. I’m not familiar with this specific energy routine of Donna’s, but I have done her 5-minute energy process off and on for a number of years, and recently featured it on Self-help Health when she offered a free 10-day challenge that focused on it. The 10 days was enough to get me back to doing the routine on a regular basis, because I could tell my physical, mental and emotional bodies felt better and more balanced by the end of it.

Anyway, I did a YouTube search to see if I could find an example of what the Joy Routine is going to be like and came up with this video from a previous challenge Donna hosted. Some of the moves are similar to the 5-minute energy process and it looks like the routine, once you know the various parts, will take only a few minutes to do, so I signed up for the 10 day challenge.

I have to say that I really respect what Donna has done for the world of energy medicine and all the years she’s been helping our bodies be healthier and more in balance. However, I’m not really a fan of her or her daughters’ delivery styles, which seem a little over the top and hyper to me, but maybe that’s just because I’m sort of laid-back and low key by nature and they’re always revved up from doing so many different energy routines . HA! So I don’t let the messenger(s) keep me from receiving the message. 🙂

If you’re interested in joining the challenge, and I think you’ll be glad you did, see Eden Method’s invite below and sign up asap, since it starts June 1st….

Do you sometimes find it hard to muster enthusiasm, hope, or joy?

You might be feeling just a little exhausted. Perhaps overwhelmed. Or even depressed.

That’s natural when your body and mind are under on-going stress.

Stress robs you of your joy.

And that’s NOT all in your head.

It happens energetically.

The good news is that joy can be generated even when things around you aren’t so great.

Like everything else in your body, joy (and wonder and awe) are energetic. They are carried in an energy system called your Radiant Circuits.

And when you’re stressed, it’s hard for the Radiant Circuits to source enough energy to light you up – making it difficult to access that inner spark of joy.

That’s why Donna created a Joy Routine.

It’s a simple routine that builds an energetic habit of joy when done repeatedly.

Donna is challenging all of us to do her joy routine for 10 days in a row so that we can collectively move out our stress and let in our joy.

Click HERE and we will automatically add you to the daily challenge list >>

P.S. The Joy Challenge is completely free. From June 1st thru 10th we’ll send out the same routine taught by a different teacher, every day, so you can follow along. The goal is to master a simple routine that will begin to lower your stress and turn on your joy. Since we know it’s not easy to make space in your day for self-care, we are “challenging” everyone to do it for just 10 days and you can access the replays anytime. You can unsubscribe from the challenge at any time.

Related Self-help Health posts:

Donna Eden’s 5-Minute Energy Routine

Four Ways to Be Happier & Healthier

Here’s to a healthier you 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.

Kindness = Better Health + A Better World

February 17, 2023February 17, 2023Leave a comment

“Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”
SCOTT ADAMS

“Random Acts of Kindness” Day may be on a Friday this year, but the organization behind it hopes to remind you that being nice is an everyday endeavor.

Of course, being kind to people regularly is simply a great thing to do. However, research shows that those who help others reap a lot of benefits for themselves, too!

A “helper’s high”

According to research, placing the well-being of others ahead of our own without expecting anything in return, or being altruistic, stimulates the reward regions of the brain. Those feel-good molecules flood our bodies, causing a “helper’s high.” Volunteering, for example, has been proven to reduce stress and boost mood.

Not only that, but the same activity can lower the chance of cognitive deterioration and potentially help us live longer lives.

According to researchers, one reason for this is that compassion helps our sense of community and belonging. Studies show that this is a vital factor in living a healthier, longer life.

Lower blood pressure

Donating to others, often known as “prosocial spending,” has been demonstrated to lower blood pressure and improve heart health. In one study, hypertensive persons were instructed to spend $40 on themselves, while another group of people with high blood pressure were instructed to spend the money on others.

At the end of the six-week research, individuals who spent money on others had lower blood pressure. In fact, the advantages were comparable to those of a good diet and exercise.

Pain reduction

According to a recent study, giving appears to have the power to lessen our experience of pain. The study discovered that those who offered to donate money to help orphans were less vulnerable to an electric shock than those who opted not to. Furthermore, the less pain people felt, the more useful they believed their donation would be.

Why does this happen? The study discovered that parts of the brain that respond to painful stimuli appear to be quickly deactivated by the experience of giving.

Happiness

Researchers in the United Kingdom discovered that being kind can enhance happiness in as little as three days. The participants were divided into three groups: the first was required to perform an act of kindness every day, the second attempted a new activity, and the third did nothing. Happiness increased significantly in the groups that were kind and did novel things.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that you’ll feel much more joy if you’re inventive with your acts of kindness. Happiness researchers Sonja Lyubomirsky and Kennon Sheldon found that those who committed a range of acts of kindness throughout the week saw bigger improvements in happiness than those who repeated the same activity.

More good news? It appears that acts of kindness can be anonymous or apparent, spontaneous or planned, and as easy as complimenting someone or opening a door for them.

SOURCE: https://www.optimistdaily.com/2023/02/more-reasons-to-become-a-raktivist-being-kind-to-others-also-benefits-the-self/

Here’s to being healthy & free in 2023!

Another Free Qigong Class!

January 7, 2023Leave a comment

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!

Laughter Really IS The Best Medicine :-)

November 20, 2022January 7, 2023Leave a comment

I think most of us have come to believe that laughter truly is good medicine, but I found this article especially interesting and enlightening as far as the different statistics between men and women, plus how it helps improve memory. Can’t think of a better way to improve my health, longevity and memory recall, as well as have a more fun-filled holiday season! 🙂

Laugh a Lot, Live Longer

Legendary comedian Bob Hope lived until 100, while comedienne Phyllis Diller enjoyed life until the ripe old age of 95.

Sitcom favorite Dick Van Dyke is still active at 94, as is movie comedy-maker Mel Brooks. And beloved actress Carol Burnett is following close behind, still cracking jokes at 87.

These are just a few of our comedy legends who lived well beyond the average life expectancy. It makes you wonder, what’s their secret?

Good genes, education and financial wealth may help these funny folks tip the longevity scales, but the latest research reveals another important factor that’s attainable by anyone: a sense of humor.

A large study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine reveals that women with a good sense of humor live longer, despite illness such as cardiovascular disease and infection. Their male counterparts also seem to be protected against infection.¹

Your Body and Mind Love a Good Joke, Research Proves

Norwegian researchers conducted a 15-year study exploring the connection between sense of humor and mortality among 53,556 women and men in their country.

The team analyzed the cognitive, social and affective factors of humor that were addressed on the participants’ questionnaires.

Next, the researchers assessed death from specific conditions including heart disease, infection, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In a nutshell, the study shows that the greater the role humor plays in the participants’ lives, the better their chances of surviving until at least 70 years.

They found that women with high “humor scores” in the way they view everyday life– called the cognitive component in the study– experienced:

A 48 percent lower risk of death from all causes;
A 73 percent lower risk of death from heart disease;
And a notable 83 percent lower risk of death from infection.

These are substantial reductions in chronic disease and death!

But what might be most interesting is that these results did not completely translate to men.

In this study, men with a high humor score did have a 74 percent reduction in death from infection (compared with women’s 83 percent reduction.) But they did not have a lower risk of premature death from all causes.

What’s going on with these results?

The authors were equally baffled, but they suggested that any gender differences in the results may be because as men age, their humor scores dip slightly. (Don’t tell Mel Brooks that, though!)

Good Humor Positively Affects How You View Life

According to the authors, the cognitive component influences the way people view everyday experiences. It stands to reason that humor can serve as a buffer against the stressful situations of daily life and protects one’s health.

Additional research confirms the study findings that laughter is the best medicine.

A laugh does your heart good. A 2009 study at the University of Maryland Medical Center revealed that laughter and an “active sense of humor” can protect against a heart attack and prevent heart disease. The cardiologists discovered that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to exhibit good humor in a variety of daily life scenarios when compared to their peers without heart disease.²The researchers believe that laughter decreases blood pressure and improves blood circulation and oxygen intake.
Humor helps manage pain. Remember the movie Patch Adams, featuring Robin Williams? Based on a true story of a doctor who used humor to help his patients heal, it underscores how humor can be a great pain reliever even in a hospital setting. Studies suggest that laughter triggers the release of endorphins, promoting a sense of well-being, and even a reprieve from pain.³ What’s more, laughter also decreases the stress hormone cortisol so inflammation is minimized throughout the body.
Laugh more, remember more. That’s right, research shows that the more you laugh, the better your memory. Loma Linda University researchers dug into this premise in a 2014 study.⁴They examined the stress levels and short-term memory of 20 healthy adults in their 60s and 70s. One group was asked to sit in silence with no communication. The other group got to watch funny videos. According to the researchers, the “humor group had much higher improvement” in the ability to remember things. They experienced 43 percent better memory function following the funny videos compared to only 20 percent in the group that had to sit in silence before their cognitive testing.

I think the ability to laugh at ourselves as we age is so important, not only for our physical health but our mental health, too. Over the years I’ve talked to numerous alternative doctors, including many that treat cancer. They almost always tell me that attitude is vital to any recovery from diseases like cancer.

In fact, I recall one story where a cancer patient claims to have healed his cancer by watching old television comedies all day long for weeks on end! So, it stands to reason that good humor and laughter would also improve our lifespan.

These findings echo other research that we’ve explored on this site. Basically, those people who are positive, laugh easily and don’t take themselves too seriously seem to fare well in the longevity department.

If you aren’t feeling all that funny, try watching your favorite comedy on TV, or call a friend who never fails to make you chuckle. Laughing just feels good and best of all, one laugh seems to lead to another.

SOURCE: https://agingdefeated.com/laugh-a-lot-live-longer/

Here’s to a healthier you in 2023!

Free Pilates/Qigong Class + Being A Regenerative Force for the Planet!

November 13, 2022Leave a comment

You can be a regenerative force on this planet!

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.

You can sign up for the free course at: https://www.onecommune.com/a-path-for-healing-people-planet-free-sign-up?

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 and calming Qigong movements
A peaceful and relaxing guided Mindful Meditation
Replay of the full class plus condensed and Qigong-only versions.

Learn more and sign-up here: https://www.stevenwashingtonexperience.com/celebration

Here’s to a healthier you in 2022!

Jin Shin Jyutsu ‘Mediator’ For Harmonizing Emotions And Alleviating Fatigue, Allergic Reactions, Achy Shoulders And More!

September 9, 2022September 9, 2022Leave a comment

I don’t know about you, but the last couple of months have seemed especially tough on my nervous system and my emotions have been all over the place. So I was happy to be reminded in an e-mail from Astrid at FlowsForLife.com of this wonderfully easy JSJ energy routine to help bring a greater sense of balance and harmony to my body, mind and spirit!

Jin Shin Jyutsu Mediator

Something happens or someone says something and I find myself reacting badly. Or I overreact. I just can’t help myself! Not only that: insignificant things become big issues, and I am left feeling mentally, emotionally and physically drained. The good news is that harmony can be restored with this Jin Shin Jyutsu Mediator self help exercise.

But first: A bit about the ‘Trinity’ energies

Mediator energies are very closely related to the Trinity. These are Main Central and Left and Right Supervisor energies.

Main Central is the energy that connects each one of us to the Universal Source of Life. It flows down the front and up the back of the body in an oval, keeping us harmonized with source energy. I often describe it as the trunk of the tree. Because of this, it regenerates all of our other individualized energy functions. To harmonize Main Central you can simply do the Main Central Exercise.

If Main Central is the trunk of the tree, then the Left and Right Supervisor are the two main branches. The Left Supervisor ‘supervises’ the left side energies. It flows down the front and up the back of the left side, also in an oval pattern. The same happens on the right side of the body. There is a simple exercise to harmonize the Left and Right Supervisors.

So again, Main Central along with the Left and Right Supervisor form The Trinity.

On to the Diagonal Mediators

The Diagonal Mediator Energies ensure that the left and right side energies of the body are in balance. In essence, they ‘mediate’ between the two sides, making sure that left and right side are also in harmony with Main Central.

Mary Burmeister wrote: “It is of vital importance to keep [The Mediator] functioning properly for the total supply of energy to the whole man.”

What happens when Mediator is not harmonized?

Mary also said that ‘this energy is the cause for disharmony in the body’. Let’s look at that in more detail.

Fundamentally, attitudes are at the root of all disharmony. By attitudes I mean Worry, Fear, Anger, Sadness and Trying To’s (or Efforting).

These attitudes are born at the level of the Mediator energy.

The way I see it is that we all experience emotions such as Worry, Fear, Anger, Sadness and Trying To’s – we are human after all. It’s when we get ‘stuck’ in one of these emotions that they become an ATTITUDE.

How does that feel, to get ‘stuck in an emotion’? Well, I feel angry all the time. I am reactive and I overreact. I worry all the time and I just can’t stop. I’m anxious about everything. The smallest thing makes me cry. Life isn’t fair! Life isn’t fun! And on and on. You get the picture.

It’s pretty draining, isn’t it? Can’t think straight, let alone find the energy to function optimally from day to day.

Exhaustion is also a good indicator that mediator is overloaded.

Jin Shin Jyutsu Mediator also helps

So apart from balancing the emotions, it also helps take fatigue out of the body. Great for allergic reactions, especially if they affect the nose and eyes. Use it when your shoulders are tight and achey.

Self help exercise to harmonize Mediator energies

The following self help exercise harmonizes Left and Right Diagonal Mediator energies. Practice it every day for a few minutes or for as long as you like! Start with the side that you feel is the most tense. If you don’t know which side that is, then start with the left Mediator.

I find it really comfortable to do this exercise while lying in bed and placing pillows and cushions where I need them.

The left Mediator flow:
Place the right hand over the left shoulder and place the left thumb over the left ring fingernail. At the same time, bring the knees together. Relax the hands. Hold for 3-5 minutes, or longer, until you feel relief.

Tip: When lying in bed and knees are together, I like to flop my feet out to the side. It’s easier to keep my knees together that way.

The right Mediator flow:
Place the left hand over the right shoulder and place the right thumb over the right ring fingernail. At the same time, bring the knees together. Relax the hands. Hold 3-5 minutes, or longer, until you feel relief.

Mary Burmeister, a foremost teacher of this Universal Art said: “Happiness is the measure of our HARMONY.”

Astrid says you may also like:

In the Flow: Hands-on Self Help Mini eCourse

See my Jin Shin Jyutsu Online Resources

And if you’re new to JSJ, check out my original Self-help Health post on the topic:

Jin Shin Jyutsu – One of my favorite self-help health tools!

Here’s to a healthier you in 2022!

Free Live Long Qigong On-line Event

March 23, 2022Leave a comment

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.

On Saturday, April 16, you can join Robert for an energizing one-hour workshop, where he’ll share how Qigong’s 8 Cycles + 312 Meridian Healing Protocol can become your secret weapon…

… 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.

In this free online video event, Live Long Qigong: Uncovering Hidden Connections Between Your Movement, Health & Longevity, you’ll:

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.

It’s free to attend when you RSVP — here.

Here’s to a happier, healthier you in 2022!

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.

Jin Shin Jyutsu to Relieve Fatigue, Restless Sleep, Allergies, Balance Your Energy and More

April 8, 2021April 8, 20213 Comments

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.’

Video of self help hold to beat fatigue

SOURCE: https://www.flowsforlife.com/self-help-hold-to-beat-fatigue-and-more/

Also check out the archives for a number of other Self-help Health posts featuring more useful Jin Shin Jyutsu routines, including this initial post: Jin Shin Jyutsu: One of My Favorite DIY Health Aids

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Salud!

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.

Be Sure To Give Yourself A Hug Today!

December 24, 2020December 24, 2020Leave a comment

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I just finished reading part of yet another article about the devastating effect lockdowns and social distancing are having on the mental and emotional well-being of many people,….. sometimes more detrimental than the virus itself.

But great synchronicity was at work, because right after that article I received an e-mail with this Jin Shin Jyutsu hold/flow. I feel this could actually help alleviate feelings of disconnection and depression, plus what’s great about JSJ it’s so simple to practice and every hold has multiple benefits, so you always get more than you bargained for.

Hopefully you’re in a position to get real hugs on a regular basis, but if not, put this to work for you. As they say, a hug a day keeps the doctor away!

p. s. Do a search on this blog for more JSJ routines. 🙂

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Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwiUBe50_GI&feature=youtu.be

And try these easy JSJ finger holds to relieve stress, worries and a sense of insecurity and help relax the body:

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIe1DbtARgI

See this Self-help Health post to get a more in-depth understanding of JSJ and finger holds: Jin Shin Jyutsu: One of my favorite DIY health aids!

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Salud, and have an inspired and inspiring holiday season!

The Main Central: Jin Shin Jyutsu Source of Life Flow

December 16, 2020Leave a comment

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.

Source: https://www.flowsforlife.com/exercise-the-main-central-source-of-life/

Related Self-help Health posts: Prime Mover & Jin Shin Jyutsu

Salud!