Jin Shin Jyutsu Holding the Fingers

Jin Shin Jyutsu is a powerful healing modality.  It is a form of gentle acupressure that was developed in Japan.  I love to teach Jin Shin Jyutsu self-help techniques to people.  As a healer and a meditator, it is very satisfying to witness the individuals and the groups become relaxed and still as I lead them through simple self-help holds.

After their first Jin Shin Jyutsu experience, people are surprised by how much better they feel.  They regularly report less pain, reduced nausea, reduced anxiety, and an overall sense of improved well-being. 

Holding the Fingers is a simple series of holds that can address a multitiude of issues or projects - the preferred term in Jin Shin Jyutsu land. 

Holding the Fingers - How to do it

Simply wrap the fingers of one hand around each of the fingers of the other hand, one digit at a time.  I usually start by wrapping the fingers of my right hand (since I am right handed) around the thumb of my opposite hand, covering as much as possible of the thumb and subsequents digits.

Use a light touch and hold for several minutes, for 36 breaths, or until you feel pulsation in your fingers.  Then move on to the next finger.  When you finish with the first hand, move on to your opposite hand.

After holding each of your fingers,  touch the center of your palm with your thumb.  Switch hands after several minutes.  You have completed Holding the Fingers.

Use this practice whenever you don't have to use your hands - while going to sleep at night, upon waking in the morning or in the middle of the night, in meetings, watching TV or a movie, waiting for an appointment, riding in a car or a plane.  Find other ways and places to practice.

Work with it and see what works best for you.

Organs and Attitudes Associated With Each Finger

Jin Shin Jyutsu is about balancing the body's energy system.  The fingers are energetically connected to major organs.  Holding the fingers harmonizes these energies and improves our emotional states or attitudes.

Thumb        Stomach, Spleen                Worry

Index           Kidneys, Bladder                Fear

Middle         Liver, Gallbladder               Anger

Ring             Lungs, Large Intestine      Sadness

Little             Heart, Small Intestine        Try To

Benefits of Loving-Kindness Meditation

On Tuesday nights I lead a meditation group at Onsen For All in in the Princeton, NJ area.  When I started this class I chose a meditation sampler format in which participants experienced a range of meditative experiences over a 6 week period.  Since there are many ways in which to mediate and because we are so various in the world, with different orientations and responses, I believed that exposure to a different approach each week would be helpful for the participants.  

The common element from week to week was practicing basic, breathing, seated meditation at the beginning of the session for fifteen minutes and then the introduction to the meditation of the week and practice. After teaching this format for some time, I decided that people would derive greater benefit from working with a particular meditation for a month, while still including the basic seated meditation for 15 minutes.

Currently we are practicing Loving-Kindness meditation, also known as the metta meditation.  While I don’t recall meeting a meditation that I didn’t like, the metta meditation ranks as one of my favorites.  
One of the elements that I appreciate about this practice is its age and that it is said to have been given by the Buddha to his disciples.  When I teach this meditation, I mention that when we do this meditation we connect, in a way, with those people through the ages who have used this practice.  Over 2,600 years, that’s a lot of people.

The Buddha stated that there are eleven advantages of practicing loving-kindness and living accordingly. These benefits are that one sleeps well, awakens comfortably, has no disturbing dreams, is dear to human beings, is dear to non-human beings, is guarded by deities, is unharmed by external dangers, has a radiant face, has a serene mind, dies unconfused, and is reborn to higher realms.

Recent studies suggest that Loving-Kindness mediation may impact health and well-being.  Seven minutes of Loving-Kindness meditation can increase social connectedness.  It has been shown to reduce pain and anger in people with chronic lower back pain.  Use of this practice can help boost positive emotions and sense of well-being and also reduce reactions to inflammation and distress. 

For me, this practice brings a deep sense of connection to others, myself and to all of life.  I believe that this connection is what we all seek.