Simple Acupressure Routines

From time to time in class we've talked about identifying acupressure points and what the various points do. If you've been around for a while, you've no doubt learned about the Bubbling Spring (aka Yongquan or Kidney 1).

We've also talked in detail about the Great Eliminator (Large Intestine 4, Hoku), which is the point we're trying to stimulate when we use the Tiger Mouth hand position and when we point in Draw the Bow.

It's easy enough to learn to find acupressure points. Once you know that feeling of tenderness when you press on one, and you know that they tend to hang out in natural folds or indentations in the structure of the body, you're well on your way. From there, it's a matter of knowing how to stimulate points, and which points to stimulate depending on the problem you're trying to resolve.

There are a number of great resources online to help you. I recommend this article at Eclectic Energies to learn two basic techniques for working on points: pressing and reducing. Most people are familiar with pressing and holding as an acupressure technique, but you can also press and perform small counterclockwise circles. This circular massage clears stagnant energies from the point and its associated channel and organ. Pressing and holding moves new energies into the point. (The article I've linked to there includes a little image of someone working on a foot. If you click on it, it plays a small video of how to reduce a point.)

If you're interested in learning more about acupressure points and how to combine them into little routines to help with common ailments, then AcupressureOnline.org is a great place. The site features short guides to acupressure routines that can help you with numerous different types of headache, nervous system issues, menstrual and menopausal issues, and body aches. When you click on a symptom, it opens a little chart that guides you, with illustrations, on which points to stimulate and how long you should work with each point. Personally, I often use the reducing technique as well as the pressing technique (from Eclectic Energies, above) when I work through an acupressure routine. It's the only thing I would recommend adding here. I've used Acupressure Online for headache and digestive issues with great results.

The site has links to mobile versions of the charts that you can download to your phone or other device. The complete acupressure guide is also available as a small paperback book if you prefer a physical book for when you're offline or away from your toys.

It's another tool for your toolkit.