Part of the Jin Shin Jyutsu A–Z Index
In This Article:
1. How fatigue shows up
2. JSJ for fatigue and low energy
3. The ‘little gem’ hold for sudden exhaustion
4. Hold the centres of the palms
5. Take fatigue out of the body
6. JSJ for mental fatigue and head fog
7. The Spleen Flow for vitality and calm
8. Which hold should I choose?
9. A simple daily fatigue routine
10. Workbook on how to “Ease Fatigue”
Fatigue can show up in different ways
Sometimes fatigue is physical: the body feels heavy, weak, sleepy, drained or unable to get going.
Or fatigue can be mental: the head feels foggy, thoughts go round and round, concentration is difficult, and even simple tasks feel too much.
At other times it can be emotional: we feel low, despondent, overwhelmed, flat, or as though we have been carrying too much for too long.
And then, of course, it is all of these together.
There can be many reasons why we feel fatigued. We might be recovering from stress, poor sleep, overwork, emotional strain, exercise, heat, digestive imbalance, or simply the pace of modern life. Fatigue can also be the body’s way of asking us to pause, rest and regenerate.
In Jin Shin Jyutsu, we use the hands to help the body’s energy move, harmonise and restore itself.
Mary Burmeister, who brought Jin Shin Jyutsu from Japan to the West, said:
“We need never know FATIGUE.
Energy can never TIRE.
It is our PERSONAL imbalance that causes fatigue.”
Watch the Video: Jin Shin Jyutsu for Fatigue
Jin Shin Jyutsu for fatigue and low energy
When energy is flowing freely without obstructions, we tend to feel more alive, full of energy, and enthusiasm for life. When energy becomes stuck, overloaded or out of balance, fatigue can appear.
The good news is, by using our hands and our system of 26 energy sites or Safety Energy Locks (26 on the left and 26 on the right), we can energise spirit, mind and body – and therefore, calm our mind and nervous system.
It is very clever, because you only need your hands and a few quiet moments. One of my clients once said to me: “Jin Shin Jyutsu is such an elegant way to help ourselves.” And I wholeheartedly agree.
Below are some of my favourite Jin Shin Jyutsu self-help exercises for fatigue.
You do not have to do all of them at once. Choose the one that resonates with you today.
A Jin Shin Jyutsu hold to ease fatigue
This is one of the most important Jin Shin Jyutsu self-help holds for fatigue.
Mary Burmeister called this hold ‘a little gem’, and also described it as ‘supremely powerful’. It is wonderful when fatigue comes on suddenly, when the body feels depleted, or when you need to get going again. This hold helps when fatigue is physical and mental.
It is also useful when there is tension in the chest, shortness of breath, allergies, cough, heart discomforts, or congestion in the breast area.
You can use this hold when there is too much energy, such as waking up in the night and not being able to settle. You can also use it when there is not enough energy, such as finding it hard to get up in the morning.
To practice, sit quietly for a few minutes. Close your eyes and drop the shoulders.
Simple, yet powerful
- Place right hand on left upper arm at HI 19, and
- place left hand on right inner thigh at HI 1, just above the knee.
Hold for a few minutes, or for as long as feels good.
Then reverse the hands:
- Place left hand on right upper arm at HI 19, and
- place right hand on left inner thigh at HI 1, just above the knee.
Hold again for a few minutes.
You can also do this while watching TV or sitting in a chair. The longer you hold, the more you may feel the body begin to relax and revitalise.
To be sure, it is one of the most powerful Jin Shin Jyutsu exercises in the self-help toolbox!
For the full post and video, see: Use This Jin Shin Jyutsu Hold to Ease Fatigue.
When there is sudden fatigue, accompanied by overwhelm and a lot of emotions or Attitudes (Worry, Fear, Anger, Grief, Effort) then the Diagonal Mediator Energy might need help. In that case, practice this exercise too: Jin Shin Jyutsu Mediator Self Help to Calm
Hold the centres of the palms
The centres of the palms are very special in Jin Shin Jyutsu. Mary Burmeister said that the centres of the palms and the soles of the feet help release general tension and stress from the whole body.
They also represent the Main Central Vertical Universal Harmonising Energy Flow – the Source of Life energy in Jin Shin Jyutsu. So if I don’t have time to practice the Main Central, I can use this as a quick hold.
This is a very easy practice when you feel really fatigued or despondent.
To practice:
- Place the fingers of the left hand on the centre of the right palm, and
- place the fingers of the right hand on the centre of the left palm.
Relax the hands, and hold for a few minutes.
That’s it.
You can hold the palms while sitting, lying down, listening to music, meditating, or simply resting. It is a lovely way to come back to MYSELF.
If you cannot comfortably do any other exercise, just hold the palms.
You can also hold the soles of the feet, or combine the palms and soles, for a deeper practice and when fatigue comes with emotional heaviness or despondency. For the full exercise, see: Easy Self Help for Fatigue and Despondency.
Take fatigue out of the body
This is a wonderfully simple self-help hold, especially when fatigue feels very physical.
It can be useful after a poor night’s sleep, when you wake up with that heavy ‘hung over’ feeling, or after exercise or work when the body feels tired and the muscles are sore.
To practice:
- Sit on your hands with the palms facing up.
- Let the palms rest against the sit bones at SEL 25.
Sit comfortably for a few minutes. If you can, give it about 20 minutes, or until you feel relief.
For the full post, see: Jin Shin Jyutsu Self Help Hold for Fatigue.
Jin Shin Jyutsu for mental fatigue and head fog
Fatigue is not always physical. Sometimes the body may be resting, but the mind is still very busy.
We can feel stuck in the head, with thoughts going round and round. We may feel foggy, stressed, scattered, overwhelmed, or unable to concentrate. This kind of mental fatigue can be just as tiring as physical fatigue.
Luckily, there is a simple Jin Shin Jyutsu flow to calm the mind and clear the head.
In this flow, we work with Safety Energy Locks that are wonderful ‘mind specialists’ and can help harmonise the whole being.
Hold each position for 2–3 minutes, or for as long as feels good.
To practice:
- Place left hand on left side of neck at SEL 12, and
- place right hand on right forehead at SEL 20, then
- place right hand on right base of cheekbone at SEL 21, then
- place right hand to base of right collarbone at SEL 22.
To practice the other side, simply reverse the hands:
- Place right hand on right side of neck at SEL 12, and
- place left hand on left forehead, then left base of cheekbone, then left base of collarbone.
This is a lovely exercise when fatigue comes with mental stress, head fog, too many thoughts, or feeling ‘stuck in the head’.
For the full post and real-time practice video, see: Jin Shin Jyutsu Self Help to Harmonize the Mind.
The Spleen Flow: A pièce de résistance for vitality and calm
An exercise I talk a lot about is the Spleen Flow: for so many years it has been my go-to flow when I’m tired.
In Jin Shin Jyutsu, the Spleen energy governs our energy levels. This flow is powerful for vitality and calm – because, believe it or not, we need energy to be calm.
The Spleen Flow can be used for mental and physical fatigue. It helps revitalise and re-energise the whole being. It can also help regulate body temperature, calm the nervous system, support digestion, and help us feel more balanced.
See the whole flow here: Jin Shin Jyutsu Flow for Vitality and Calm.
Which Jin Shin Jyutsu hold for fatigue should I choose?
Here is a simple guide:
- For sudden exhaustion, try the ‘little gem’ hold.
- When fatigue feels physical, heavy or like a ‘hung over’ feeling, sit on your hands.
- For a daily practice to support energy, stamina and calm, do the Spleen Flow.
- Mental fatigue, head fog or busy thoughts respond well to the flow to harmonise the mind.
- When you feel overwhelmed and reactive, practice the Mediator exercise.
- For emotional depletion or despondency, hold the centres of the palms.
- Too tired to think? Simply hold any finger.
A simple daily Jin Shin Jyutsu fatigue routine
If fatigue is something you experience regularly, try this short routine once a day:
- Hold the centres of the palms for a few minutes.
- Practice the Spleen Flow for vitality and calm.
- Hold the little finger to release effort.
- Finish by sitting quietly with the hands on the body wherever they naturally want to go.
Choose what feels easiest to do.
If fatigue is severe, persistent, unexplained, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms, please seek appropriate medical advice.
For broader support of this and other ailments, see the Jin Shin Jyutsu A–Z Index for Everyday Ailments.
If fatigue is something you work with regularly, my Alleviating Fatigue workbook goes much further
Alleviating Fatigue Workbook
If fatigue is something you work with regularly, my “Alleviating Fatigue” workbook goes much further:
Want to practice Jin Shin Jyutsu regularly?
If you’d like to deepen your Jin Shin Jyutsu practice, I offer weekly group sessions where people from around the world come together to explore harmonising exercises in a supportive space. Each week brings a new focus and a shared sense of calm.
Learn more here: Jin Shin Jyutsu Group Practice.