Rejuvenation Flow: An easy acupressure routine
You can do this gentle acupressure Rejuvenation Flow routine in between meetings or to take a little break at your desk or in the car, in between chores, in the kitchen, and even the bathroom. What it does: this sequence helps you make contact with the back of the head, the shoulder, the forehead, chest and heart. This calms the nervous system and protects the heart for a moment of contact and self-regulation. The power of this simple routine is in the attention and intention you bring to this exercise. Simply remembering and deciding to do it begins to shift energy.
The power of doing a small routine reminds us of the power of “the seconds versus the minutes.” Use the seconds of the day to choose peace over and over again.
The Rejuvenation Flow sequence (see below) is a Jin Shin Do acupressure practice, which means you simply hold the points for a few seconds as you breathe. In just a few minutes you, give yourself a little treatment that may feel like a hug for both the mind and body.
Rejuvenation Flow
You can do this in between meetings or chores to take a little break at your desk or in the car, the kitchen, or the bathroom. The sequence brings attention to the head and heart together and encourages coherence through feelings of warmth, safety, and protection. As you become aware of your breath during the movements and the holds, the nervous system has a chance to come back to a calm state. This moment that you take to do this can remind you of life’s goodness. You give yourself a few moments to feel and think and let go of managing experience.
Begin Rejuvenation Flow
1. Take a conscious breath to begin. Place your right hand on top of your left shoulder, where it will stay for most of the exercise. Then, take your left hand and place it at the back of your head, at the occipital ridge. Adjust your hands so that the contact feels light and comfortable. Hold this position for about the length of three breaths. Eyes can be open or comfortably closed or half-closed.
2. Keep the right hand on left shoulder, but move your left hand to rest on your forehead.
The palm and fingers of your left hand touch your forehead. Hold this position for about the length of three breaths. Soften your eyes.
3. Come back to the first hold.
Bring your right hand onto your left shoulder, and then bring the left hand to the back of your head to return to position 1. Take three breaths holding your hands like this. Eyes can be closed or half-open as you notice the sensations and images that arise.
4. Finally: Give thanks!
When you feel complete, then you lower your hands slowly and thoughtfully. Ahhhh: Rejuvenation.
Points of Contact
The acupoints you are contacting are described below. Think of the acupoints as a map of consciousness. When you contact them mindfully you are having a conversation with yourself. The names, locations, and energetic notes come from A Manual of Acupuncture by by Peter Deadman and Mazin Al-Khafaji, with Kevin Baker and Acupressure’s Potent Points by Michael Reed Gach.
Shoulder Points
The points at the shoulder well (that point where the sides of the neck meet the shoulder):
Heavenly Crevice, Heavenly Rejuvenation (Triple Warmer 15)
Shoulder Well (Gallbladder 21)
The point where the two points meet on the shoulder can be the spot where you can receive physical encouragement in the form of a hug when someone puts their chin on your shoulder during an embrace. It is a set of points for treating pain and heaviness, both emotional and physical, as when you have a sense of heaviness or burden or being bogged down. In many people, there can be tightness in this area that can feel painful. The tightness then can lead to headache. Gallbladder points involve how you perceive the world, and this can involve thinking about the future. Triple Warmer points can be thought of as a set of controls for the body’s metabolism, which regulate heat, moisture, and body temperature. I think of the Triple Warmer as a sort of pressure gauge that can feel like flow or the opposite of flow.
Back of the Head Points
The points at the back of head, at the occipital ridge (that point where the back of the head joins the back of the neck) that get contacted in this routine are:
Gates of Consciousness, Wind Pool (Gallbladder 20)
Heavenly Pillar (Bladder 10)
Window of Heaven (Tiple Warmer 16)
Wind Mansion (Governing Vessel 16)
The poetic names of the points tell the story of these points having a special association with the Heavens, meaning expansive and inspirational energies that can motivate you and move you. Touching and supporting these points can alleviate tension in the head and neck, and so help with alleviating the head congestion associated allergies or headache.
Chest Points
The chest points you contact at the chest have names that are evoke a sense of elegant dwelling:
Purple Palace (Conception Vessel 19)
Shu Mansion, Elegant Mansion (Kidney 27)
The poetic names of the chest points tell the story of having the space and room to live your life. Touching and supporting these points can alleviate tension in the chest, and so help with alleviating constricted breathing and agitation. Placing your right hand on the left shoulder can also be like a shield of protection for these points, which can create a sense of safety un the body and the mind. In the body, the feelings of safety may have markers like slower breathing, slower heartbeat, reduced blood pressure, and warmth. In the mind, the feeling of time and space can give you a sense of overcoming challenging situations or working with obstacles.
Repeat the Rejuvenation Flow sequence as often as you need to. Let it serve as a reminder of compassion.