The unique system of Safety Energy Locks in Jin Shin Jyutsu
Over 25 years ago, I discovered something so simple yet so powerful that it became a lifelong passion: Jin Shin Jyutsu, the art of harmonising life energy in the body by using our hands. At the time, I suffered from intense migraine headaches. Without knowing anything about the practice, I placed my hands on two areas: the base of my thumbs and just below my ankles. Within ten minutes, the migraine was gone. That experience opened the door to a whole new world, one I’ve since studied, practiced, and taught to with countless others.
Fundamental to Jin Shin Jyutsu is a remarkable system of 26 Safety Energy Locks (SELs). These are sometimes referred to as the “keys” to unlocking our wellbeing. Understanding these Safety Energy Locks in Jin Shin Jyutsu gives us a practical, and quite frankly, elegant way to harmonise body, mind, and spirit.
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What are the Safety Energy Locks?
Safety Energy Locks are concentrated spheres of energy located throughout the body. Think of them as natural “valves” that regulate the flow of energy. When they’re open and functioning, energy moves freely, keeping us vibrant and balanced. When they “lock,” it’s the body’s way of warning us that something is out of harmony.
There are 26 Safety Energy Locks on the left side of the body and 26 mirror images on the right side. Each lock is about the size of a tennis ball in three-dimensional space or about the size of your palm in one-dimensional terms. That means you don’t have to worry about pinpoint precision – there’s a whole area to work with.
Best news is that these energy sites can help us on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, digestive and spiritual. The Safety Energy Locks in Jin Shin Jyutsu ‘came into the universe’ with a particular vibration and that gives them their individual number, colour, meaning, function and role.
I often hear people ask: “Why are there 26, and not say, 29?” Because each number came into the universe with a definite individual meaning and purpose, the number 26 symbolises completeness. So we ARE complete – we have everything we need to live a happy, healthy and long life. We have our locks – the 26 SELs – and the keys to unlock them: our hands.
The Purpose of the Safety Energy Locks in Jin Shin Jyutsu
Mary Burmeister, a foremost teacher of Jin Shin Jyutsu, calls the Safety Energy Locks (not surprisingly) our truest friends. They help us when we are in need, able to support us in times of stress, imbalance, or discomfort.
Mary also explained that these locks act as our ‘SAFETY’ alarm system. When we overuse or abuse our bodies, they lock. This is to ‘warn us that we are ‘heading’ towards ‘problems’. If we listen and respond to their message, we can release tension, restore harmony, and often prevent greater disharmony down the line.
This makes the Safety Energy Locks in Jin Shin Jyutsu not only therapeutic but also preventative. It’s like having a built-in roadmap for maintaining harmony.
How to Work with the Safety Energy Locks
One of the beautiful things about Jin Shin Jyutsu is that it’s completely natural and accessible. You don’t need tools, equipment, or years of training to start. You simply place your hands on the body, connect with the locks, and allow the energy to flow again.
Knowing where to place your hands is especially helpful. And, actually, we do this naturally already. You don’t have to teach a child to suck it’s thumb – the reason why they do that is to re-energise their being. Also, when our body needs help, we naturally go to where there is pain, and very often that’s where we find a Safety Energy Lock.
A great place to begin is Safety Energy Lock Number One, located on the inside of the knees. This SEL is known as the Prime Mover, because it moves the energy from the head to the toes and from the toes back up to the head. Holding here helps release stagnation and encourages energy to move freely throughout the whole body.
Try this simple practice:
- Cross your arms and place your right hand on the inside of your left knee, and your left hand on the inside of your right knee.
- Relax and hold for several minutes.
- Notice how your breathing softens, your mind clears, and any discomfort begins to ease.
This lock in particular is wonderful for headaches, digestive issues, when you have breathing difficulties or simply when you feel ‘stuck’. I have found it extremely useful in emergencies.
How the Safety Energy Locks can help us
When energy stagnates, discomfort, illness, or emotional imbalance can arise. By using the Safety Energy Locks in Jin Shin Jyutsu, we encourage movement and harmony again. As you get to know each SEL, you’ll discover a rich language of healing within your own body.
Working with the Safety Energy Locks can:
- Revitalise body and mind
- Relieve physical pain and tension
- Support digestion and breathing
- Ease emotional stress
- Promote relaxation and better sleep
- Create a deeper connection with your inner self
The best part? It’s self help. You don’t need to rely on external tools – you already carry this potential to harmonise and heal in your hands.
The Safety Energy Locks really are our truest friends, always ready to help us when we need them most. All we have to do is place our hands, breathe, and let the energy flow.
Want to know more?
If this sparks your curiosity, I encourage you to explore the Safety Energy Locks in Jin Shin Jyutsu more deeply. I offer regular classes where we delve into the meaning, location, and functions of each Safety Energy Lock, learning how to apply them for everyday self help. See more here: Skills for Life Jin Shin Jyutsu Courses
Also, if you’d like to practice Jin Shin Jyutsu regularly, I offer weekly group practice sessions where we get together from all over the world and we practice different flows, different sequences, each week. It’s all very exciting and the group energy is absolutely amazing. For more see: RealTime Weekly Jin Shin Jyutsu Group Practice