What Is Jin Shin Do®
Bodymind Acupressure®
?
By Meret Bainbridge,
L.Ac. I
magine that you are lying comfortably and fully clothed on your back on a treatment table, your head on a shallow pillow, your knees supported by a bolster to keep your lower back from being
strained. Your eyes are closed. You breathe deeply. The practitioner slides her hands under your neck and shoul- ders, and seems to intuitively find the sore spots in the tense muscles. S/he begins to press points gently yet firmly, holding each for several minutes. The pressure is enough to make you aware of the tension, without being painful. Soon you begin to feel a gentle pulsing in each point, like a soft vibration. There is a sensation of warmth being released, as the points begin to open up and soften, and the muscle tension melts away. The practitioner’s fingertips seem to just follow that opening,
slowly sinking deeper into the tissue as your body feels comfort- able with the finger pressure. Then s/he moves on to the next points, opening them up as well, and on from there, two points at a time, connecting them energetically. You feel yourself drifting off into a state of deep relaxation.
Waves of energy pulse through your body. You see shapes of colors that keep changing. At times you might get an image, something that might remind you of something, like a memory stored in your body. As your body relaxes and releases tension, you might feel emotionally more open. Tears might start to flow; maybe a feeling held under the surface is finally coming up and out. The practitioner assures you that this is okay, that this is a safe space to let that hap- pen. You feel held and cradled. Somebody is there to witness the process happening in you. The JSD acupressurist invites you to talk about your experience
if you wish. You have the option to follow this invitation and pro- cess some of your feelings, sensations, images or emotions. Or you can choose to remain silent and be in the moment, without having to talk about what is going on. A gentle dialogue might enfold. The practitioner encourages
you to find words and images describing your experiences. When you begin to get too much into your head and start interpreting what is happening, s/he gently brings your awareness back into your body: “What’s happening in that area now? “Stay with that sensation.” “What does this block feel like? Is it dense or soft? Light or dark? Sharp or dull?” Such questions help you go deeper into your awareness. You are amazed at how such a simple form of acupressure can have such profound effects—how holding a few points without too
26 Essential Living Maine ~ September 2014
much pressure, with the fingertips being steady and still, can move so much energy. The setting is helping you to feel safe. You remain clothed; you
can open your eyes and see what is going on if you wish; there are no medical devices. The practitioner checks in with you frequently to ask how you are doing, if the finger pressure is comfortable, if being touched in a certain area feels safe to you. You feel like you’re in charge of the flow of the session— its pace and its intensity. The JSD acupressurist follows your process, listening to your body. S/ he follows the prompts of your body, moving to areas that call for attention. S/he is just being present with you. The time passes quickly. At the end of the session you feel deeply relaxed, open, more connected and centered than before. You have just experienced Jin Shin Do® acupressure.
The Development of Jin Shin Do® pressure®
Bodymind Acu- “Jin Shin Do” in Japanese means “The Way of the Compas-
sionate Spirit.” This refers to the practitioner’s intention to just stay present with whatever process happens, compassionately, without forcing or judging. This compassionate presence is rooted in the Taoist philosophy of Wei Wu Wei, doing-by-non-doing, just going with the flow of what is. Jin Shin Do®
acupressure was developed, beginning in 1976,
by California psychotherapist Iona Marsaa Teeguarden. It is a unique synthesis of a traditional Japanese acupressure technique, classic Chinese acupuncture theory, Taoist yogic philosophy and Qigong breathing methods, and Western bodymind work such as Ericksonian hypnotherapy and Dr. Wilhelm Reich’s theory of seg- mental armoring. While JSD has practitioners world-wide, and is popular on the
West Coast and in Europe, it is barely known on the East Coast. It is recognized as a major form of Asian Bodywork Therapy by NC- CAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine,
nccaom.org) and AOBTA (American Organiza- tion for Bodywork Therapies of Asia,
aobta.org). JSD acupressure uses the same points as acupuncture, but instead of needling, the points are held firmly yet gently with the fingertips. Usually two points are combined—one in an area of
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