How long do I hold for?
You’ve discovered Jin Shin Jyutsu self help and you’ve started practicing. So then the question you might ask me is: “How long do I hold each position for”?
My response is always first: ‘Until you feel relief!’
Sometimes relief is immediate, and sometimes it takes a bit of time to arrive.
It’s all about moving energy
In essence, by practicing Jin Shin Jyutsu we are facilitating the movement of energy. The time it takes to move and harmonise the energy is different for every individual. Moreover, it is based on what is going on for each individual energetically in that moment. Whew.
General guidelines
Generally, working on an empty stomach brings about faster results. In an acute situation, such as a breathing difficulty, or headache or pain, then it is wise to do the hold until there is relief. If there is no relief after a few minutes, try a different hold. If you feel worse, stop! and go back to it at another time.
Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioners give treatments that last no more than an hour. When you work on yourself, there is no time limit as such, but I would say that if you are not feeling on top of the world then use holds that are most comfortable for you – remember to keep it simple!
Babies and the infirm require less time, so the guideline is to work no longer than a few minutes at a time on them.
Pulsations in the fingers
When you place your hands on your body you might start to feel a pulsation in your fingers. Maybe first in one hand, but not in the other. Wait for the pulse to appear in both hands and wait for it to synchronize. It’s like listening to the river flowing.
Once you hear a steady pulse in both hands, listen to the texture, the tone, the rhythm of that pulsation. Is it quiet, or booming? How does it change after a few minutes…does it calm down? Does it get stronger?
I like to hold until the pulse has a calm steady beat to it.
No pulsations? Don’t worry (or hold your thumb)
Now, do not get all upset or worried if you do not feel a pulse in your fingers! Just keep going and hold each position for 2-3 minutes or longer. If it feels good, if the discomfort and tension eases then I am not worried about getting a pulse. And very often I don’t hear a pulse in my fingers because I’ve gone beyond the physical pulse. But more on that another time…
Learn to listen
Jin Shin Jyutsu is fundamentally about listening. When a new client comes to see me, they ask me: ‘How can you sit so quietly doing NOTHING for a whole hour?’ Ah, but you see, I am listening to the symphony of the pulsations which are going through cycles, telling their ‘story’. And as the pulsations harmonize, time becomes timeless, NO-THING.
It’s a beautiful experience for me (and of course for the person I am working on).
So, spend time on one hold and you can go to a deeper place of relaxation and harmony – a timeless, blissful, no-thing state.
See also:
How long does it take to heal?
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