Did you know that pressing thumbs to the inner corners of the eyes near the eyebrows can soothe a headache? Back pain disperses when you knead the spot between the second and big toe bones. Fear dissipates while massaging the Bubbling Spring point on the sole of the foot.
Acu-Yoga, a hybrid of Yoga therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), features finger or hand pressure at meridian skin points to remove harmful toxins, boost endorphins and restore vital energy.
While in yoga poses — or even sitting at your desk — you can delight in the right touch.
Steps for Windows of the Sky Hands:
Press interlaced hands gently into the back of the neck — the Windows of the Sky area in TCM. Push the head and neck back into the hands. Tuck your chin to the chest and bend head forward. Breathe into the neck and relax shoulders.
Steps for Windows of the Sky Hands with Bridge Pose
Caution: If you have neck pain, avoid this posture unless guided by a qualified yoga teacher.
1) Lie on your back. Interlace hands under your neck.
2) Bend the knees with feet on the floor close to the hips. Keep thighs and feet parallel.
3) Inhale fully. On a slow exhale, press feet into the floor to lift the tailbone upward one inch. Body weight will rest on the shoulders. Lift pelvis higher, only as far as it feels good. Don’t put weight on the neck itself.
4) Hold a few seconds, hands drawing skull away from shoulders, easing into the ground. Repeat, once every minute for 10 minutes.
Acu-Yoga bridges body and mind back into harmony so your natural life energy can shine. You have new strength to face any challenge with less stress, more joy and just the right touch, which is the light touch.
RESOURCE: Acu-Yoga by Dr. Michael Reed Gach (Japan Publications, 2000)
Marya Mann, Ph.D., teaches yoga at Club Rehab in Kealakekua, works as an energy medicine specialist at Kona Coast Wellness and the Lotus Spa and is the co-author of “Healing Our Planet, Healing Our Selves.” She can be reached at marya.mann@gmail.com.