Читать книгу Acupressure: Simple Steps to Health: Discover your Body’s Powerpoints For Health and Relaxation - Jacqueline Young - Страница 31

To give your body an overall tone-up, and to promote general good health and vitality, this complete Acupressure Workout can be done morning and evening or whenever you have spare time.

The routine consists of acupressure to one or more of the major acupoints on each meridian in the order of the flow of energy along the meridians. By stimulating these points, every part of the body, internal organ and major body system is energized.

This routine can be easily learnt and safely practised by anyone, although there are certain points which should not be given strong acupressure during pregnancy. (These are generally points which are used to assist labour.) Such points are clearly marked with a caution in the text. Instead of using acupressure, pregnant women can just lightly touch the relevant points with the fingertips and, taking a couple of gentle, deep breaths at each point, visualize vital energy gently suffusing the meridians.

As for all acupressure, your fingertip or thumb pressure should be firm and even. You should feel the sensation of pressure or tingling but not pain. Remember to apply pressure perpendicularly below the skin, or angled slightly in the direction of flow of the meridian, to breathe deeply and evenly and to visualize energy flowing into the meridian and appropriate body parts.

Each time you practise this workout, focus awareness on the different sensations at your fingertips and in your body. Notice how sensations change each day and also any changes in your physical health. It is quite normal for sensations to vary according to the weather, diet, environment and menstrual cycle. For example, women tend to feel more skin sensitivity around the time of their periods, certain foods may increase skin sensitivity and skin sensations may be heightened during stormy weather because of the electrical charges built up in the atmosphere. By increasing your awareness of the body’s responses to different situations such as these you will develop a fine understanding of how your body works and how to take care of it.

This workout can be performed standing or sitting on the floor, on a bed or in a chair. Follow the order given below. Take your time and stay relaxed, breathing freely throughout. The complete workout should take 15–20 minutes, but you can make it last longer if you wish by spending more time focusing on your breathing and visualization at every point.

To Start

 First stretch your body and take a couple of deep breaths.

 Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable and free your mind of any mental worries.

 Don’t perform the workout directly after eating or when very hungry or exhausted. Take a light snack or some rest first.

 Rub the palms together and do a few gentle finger and hand stretches and wrist exercises to loosen up before starting.

 Loosen any tight clothing, get in a comfortable position and rub the hands together to warm them.

Work through the points in the order shown below. Remember to apply pressure to points on both sides of the body except for the Conception and Governor Vessel points on the front and back midline of the body. Begin by applying the acupressure to each point on the left side of the body first and then on the right. The next time you practise, apply the acupressure to each point on the right side of the body first and then on the left. Alternating the side that you start with in this way will help to maintain balance in the body. Check regularly during your practice that you are still relaxed, comfortable and breathing deeply.

Remember to always locate the point correctly first and then apply pressure.