by Kim Irle-Kaiser

 

 
Acupressure as a health practice has been used and refined for over four thousand years.  Present day, it is a powerful traditional health technique that has been practiced by millions of people in China, Japan, Korea, the Himalayan Kingdoms, Southeast Asia and increasingly in the last three decades, the Western world.  Acupressure can be used at many levels ranging from simple self-application to advanced and highly technical therapeutic application.  In many parts of the world, particularly the East, the population over the centuries has greatly exceeded healthy ratios of skilled medical doctors to the number of individuals in local populations.  The health art of acupressure, along with basic breathing techniques, grew in time to help fill this community need.  As a tool, it is not meant (particularly in the West) to replace proper qualified medical care.  The following are two examples of powerful points which assist in freeing up or enhancing the flow of blood, fluids, lymph and ultimately, circulation of energy:
 
Point Name: Lung 1 "Letting Go" (Chinese name)
Location:  On the outer part (later) of the upper chest four finger widths going up from the armpit crease and one finger width in toward your sternum.  You should be under the clavicle bone.  Using your index finger, 1st two fingers together or your thumb, press into this point and hold for 1 to 3 minutes.  Find the same point on the opposite side of the body (points that do not fall on the mid-line of the body have a partner point on the opposite side of the body.) and hold for 1 to 3 minutes as well.  Repeat later in day.
Benefits:  Relieves chest tension or congestion, coughing, asthma, shallow breathing, depression, asthma, shallow breathing, depression, repressed emotions, grief and assists with skin disorders.
 
Point Name:  Bladder 2 "Drilling Bamboo"
Location:  In the indentations outside of the bridge of the nose on the inside edge of the eyebrows.  Use your index finger or thumbs and place on the upper ridge of your eye sockets close to the bridge of your nose.  Press upward into the indentations of the eye sockets as you breathes in deeply for one to three minutes.
Benefits: Relieves red and painful eyes, headaches, foggy vision and hay fever.  Repeat throughout the day.
 
For more information on Acupressure contact Kim Irle-Kaiser, Certified Practitioner of Acupressure AOBTA, Clarus Center 630-393-9800 x 222
 
Contributing authors:  Iona Tee Giarden, MA and Jin Shin Do Acupressure Therapist;Michael Reed Gach, PhD and Acupressure Therapist

 

Stability/Mobility-a concept that I learned about 7 years ago when I was enrolled in a post graduate certification course to become a Laban Movement Analyst.  I thought it fascinating, this concept, which basically suggests that one part of the body needs to "stabilize" so another part of the body can "mobilize" (it happens all the time in every movement we make and goes completely out of our awareness).  The theory also suggests that the more mobile you are the more stabile you need to be and vice versa.  In other words, all parts of the body are in constant dialogue with each other working together to accomplish a task. At one moment a part may be a stabilizing force and at the next a mobilizing one. Sounds like a harmonious relationship to me and one that is dynamically engaged in re-balancing itself to find equilibrium.
 
But what if you were injured and a part of you was no longer able to move effectively?  You might become unsteady, fearful of re-injuring, unable to move to your full capacity etc.  This type of "injury" and subsequent imbalance also happens to us emotionally, cognitively and spiritually. 
 
Since I learned about this theory, I've been applying this concept to my work as a dance/movement therapist in private practice at Clarus Center. Dance/Movement Therapy is an expressive form of psychotherapy that uses movement to further the individual physically, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually.  The Dance/Movement Therapist is trained to identify imbalances on a body/movement level that are often inter-related with other aspects of the Self.  Strengths can also be identified so that these aspects of the Self can become a stabilizing force for change to occur in the parts where a desired shift is necessary.  Changing or shifting implies mobilization and a need for a stabilizing force to counter-balance the energy.  I suppose you could say the DMT assists the client with the balancing act of life from a multi-faceted perspective.
 
Most of my clients would probably tell you that I talk about "balance" all the time. We talk about balancing the various aspects of our life to give equal importance to all.  And we also explore balance within the system-if parts of the self are polarized a sense pulling in opposite directions occurs that often feels stuck and immobile.  In order to release the immobility a strong, grounded sense of Self needs to be present so that the parts can mobilize and break out of their old, unhealthy pattern and become a more resilient rather than rigid part of the system. 
 
Most often my work begins by helping a client connect to their Core Self.  We usually explore this through breath, visualization, guided imagery and movement.  Clients often experience a sense of calm presence that usually occurs at this point.  It then becomes much easier to identify the aspects of the Self that are in need of attention.  They quite often take on a life of their own and have distinct movement patterns that may not look anything like the Core Self's calm presence.  By getting a better understanding of the functioning of these parts we can encourage them to mobilize and release their stuck energy thus de-polarizing the system and returning to harmonious functioning.
 
So the next time you feel stuck physically, cognitively, emotionally or spiritually ask yourself what needs to become more stabile in your life in order for you to mobilize into better balance and inner harmony. 
 
For more information on Stacey Hurst or Dance/Movement Therapy please call 312-543-2133 or email smh_dmt@ameritech.net .