I’d like to share my favourite Jin Shin Jyutsu flow with you, but first, what a flow is, as explained in The Touch of Healing by Alice Burmeister with Tom Monte:
“Life energy moves through the body in distinct pathways, known as flows. These flows unify and integrate the body.” We JSJ practitioners also call a “flow” when we place our hands in a specific sequence of locations on the body to unblock the energy.
My favourite flow is the MAIN CENTRAL VERTICAL HARMONIZING ENERGY (often referred to as the “Main Central”). It serves as the foundation for harmonising your body’s energy. As the key centering and balancing flow in Jin Shin Jyutsu, the Main Central supports and enhances overall well-being. This flow boosts your energy, providing a comprehensive tune-up for your body, mind, and spirit. It is recommended that you do the Main Central every day.
The “Main Central”:
- harmonises your lymphatic, endocrine, blood and nervous systems;
- balances the appetite, and supports digestive projects;
- aids issues related to the eyes, head, throat, chest and pelvis;
- is the best flow for any type of spinal or back projects;
- is excellent to help with depression.
Where I do the main central:
You can do it sitting up, but my preference is to do it lying down.
When I do the main central:
- I usually do it in bed at night before sleeping to help me fall asleep.
- If I missed the night before because I did some other type of JSJ self-help, I will do it first thing in the morning after waking up. Your body knows what it needs and the “Main Central” gives you what you need.
- If I’m feeling exhausted after a busy day and I need to go out in the evening, I’ll take approximately 20 minutes and do it to recharge.
How to do it:
I place my right hand on the top of my head and put a pillow under my right arm to support it. It is very important for you to be comfortable.
- I stay in each position for a few minutes, depending on how much time I have and how tender the spot is.
- A gentle pressure is all that is needed.
- If I feel a pulsation, I wait until it subsides before moving to the next step.
- If you don’t have time to do all the steps, you can just do the first or last one. I have outlined each step with a photo for you to follow along.
- Focus on your breath and visualise the energy rising up the back of your body with each inhale, traveling from your toes to the top of your head. As you exhale, imagine the energy flowing down the front of your body, from the top of your head to your toes.
Image credit to Marie-José Janssen
Here is a step-by-step explanation of how to do the “Main Central” with the benefits of each step:
STEP 1:
Photo credit: Acupoints.org
Place your right hand flat on the crown of your head. If you draw a line from one ear to the other over the top of your head, the spot on the very top is where the Governing Vessel 20 (GV20) acupuncture point is located in Traditional Chinese Medicine. GV20 is considered the “meeting point” of all the yang meridians on the head, making it a vital point for balancing energy flow and promoting overall well-being.
Your right hand stays in this position until the last step, so put a pillow under your right arm to be comfortable.
Place your left fingers between your eyebrows.
Aids: This step helps to revitalise the deep body energy circulation that moves up the back, aids memory, clears the head and dissipates senility.
STEP 2:
Move your left fingers so that they are resting on your nose. I can fit all four fingers with my index on the bridge of my nose and my little finger resting on the tip of my nose, but I guess it depends how big your nose is.
Aids: This step revitalises superficial body energy circulation, which moves down the front of your body and your reproductive functions
STEP 3:
Move your left fingers to the notch where your collar bones meet.
Aids: This step helps your thyroid function.
STEP 4:
Move your left fingers so that they are between or just above your breasts on your sternum. I move my fingers along my sternum until I find the tender spot. Don’t worry if you don’t feel a tender spot.
Aids: This revitalises breathing (lung projects) and pelvic girdle energy.
STEP 5:
Move your left fingers to the base of your sternum at your diaphragm (where your ribs meet).
Aids: This revitalises the Source of Life energy, which ascends and descends.
STEP 6:
Move your left fingers over your belly button.
Aids: Helps you to get to know your subconscious and connect with your intuition.
STEP 7:
Move your left fingers on top of your pubic bone (the bone below your abdomen).
Aids: Revitalizes the descending energy (Source of Life) & aids in strengthening your spine.
STEP 8:
Sometimes Lucky likes to join me!
For this last step, I tilt my hips & body to the left, so that I can place my right hand on my coccyx (tailbone or base of spine). Leave your left hand on your pubic bone.
Aids: Revitalizes the ascending Source of Life and aids circulation of legs and feet.
I encourage you to try the Main Central and would love to hear your thoughts after you’ve experienced it a few times! You can contact me here.
