Corliss Chan, of San Rafael, California, shares “Triglycerides & Cholesterol Meet Jin Shin Jyutsu” in The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter, issue Number 47, Winter, 2005:

*******************

In March 2004 a man I’ll call Henry asked me to look for ways to reduce his triglyceride level, which exceeded 450. He was also looking for help with weight loss and in lowering elevated blood pressure. Triglycerides are a sugar related blood fat that travels with cholesterol. High triglyceride levels cause blood cells to stick together, impairing circulation and are implicated in causes of heart attack or stroke. The total amount of triglycerides is important in the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart projects. His doctor said the ideal triglyceride level is under 200. 400 and above is too high and considered dangerous to health. For more than a year Henry’s doctor had already tried several prescription drugs and time-released niacin, but they were discontinued because of the side effects he experienced. He wanted to avoid the use of prescription drugs if possible. His doctor was very concerned about the elevated triglyceride level and said she would wait three months while he explored Jin Shin Jyutsu, diet modifications, and increased exercise before trying another prescription drug. She said reducing sugar intake was key in lowering triglycerides.

Henry is a 51-year old attorney who has a full law practice and a personal life with many family responsibilities. After an exhausting workday he often ate a big dinner, which included carbohydrates and high fat foods. His daily sugar intake usually included 3-4 cans of Coke. Like many busy people, the sugar and caffeine helped him manage fatigue and headaches. Cokes acted as a coffee substitute, which provided an artificial energy boost. He had tried many times to reduce his sugar intake. Stressful times were when he found himself reaching for Cokes plus other high fat and sugar snack foods. It seemed to me if he could manage his cravings, especially for Coke, a significant amount of his sugar intake would be eliminated.

Henry’s other health projects have included low back pain (4^th Depth), bladder infection (4^th Depth), hearing difficulty (4^th Depth), high liver enzymes (3^rd Depth), and digestion difficulty (1^st Depth). So many signs kept indicating the 4^th Depth and the 23, 25 Flow, especially for harmonizing this project. 23 is the only Safety Energy Lock in the 4^th Depth. When I looked at the Lumbar Circle for harmonizing projects, I saw that 1^st and 3^rd Depths disharmonize the 4^th.

According to Self-Help Book II, page 57, “23 came into the Universe meaning proper circulation maintenance.” In my 5-day class notes I read about the 23, 25 Flow. “Craving is a circulation pattern out of harmony. 23, 25 Flow harmonizes addictions including alcohol, drugs, sugar, and eating. 23 is good for appetite imbalance and stabilizing sugar levels in the body. 23 helps you control your destiny.” 25 is a 5^th Depth Safety Energy Lock (fire), which energizes 4^th Depth (water). “25 removes fatigue and toxins form the body. It helps our circulation, purifies blood and cholesterol while quietly rejuvenating.” A class handout from Jed Schwartz showed that 23, 25 Flow helps all the toe flows (Kidney-4^th Depth, Liver-3^rd Depth and Spleen-1^st Depth). Susan Brooks wrote about the 4^th Depth in The Main Central (Summer 2004) issue #45, pages 1 and 14: “Some aspects of the body ruled by Fourth Depth include reproduction, digestion, muscles, vascular harmony, glands, body chemistry, blood chemistry and blood sugar.”

Henry was highly motivated to change. He looked to his diet and changed to eating foods with high fiber, low fat and sugar content wherever possible. He allowed himself to have some Coke, sugar, and fat in his diet, but much less than before. By keeping a list of the foods eaten he stayed within or below the daily calorie range set by his doctor. Daily exercise time increased to 1 hour. Almost every week for three months he received a 23, 25 Flow. In that flow sequence is a Safety Energy Lock 5, which helps Kidney energy to ascend from the toes. It helps us with fear when we let go of the old and something new is coming. Safety Energy Lock 9 helps us make change, aids digestion, and opens our waist. 1^st and 3^rd Depth Flows were helpful with harmonizing mental and emotional stress. With the help of weekly Jin Shin Jyutsu sessions Henry said he became less interested in eating sugar and fat.

We were so happy with the blood test results. In three months his triglycerides declined from 450 to 171 (down 62%) and total cholesterol went from 235 to 182 (down 22%). He had also lost 25 pounds (11%). During this same period of time his blood pressure declined to a level where his doctor stopped his high blood pressure medication. We were surprised and also not surprised by the results.

You can read the rest of this testimony in The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter,  issue Number 47, Winter, 2005, available at http://www.jsjinc.net.

Thank you, Corliss.

Thank you, Mary.

Thank you, David.

Gassho, Namaste, Blessings

Mary Easton, of Bozeman, Montana, reflects on “The life that is unexamined is not worth living” (~Plato), and shares her thoughts with us in The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter, issue Number 47, Winter, 2005:

*******************

How lucky we are that Jiro Murai dedicated his life to the study of Jin Shin Jyutsu! Without his drive for the pursuit of knowledge, we might have only been handed down the finger postures that he used in his terminal condition. Instead, that became the beginning of a continually evolving study. The accomplishments of his research were made possible by a rare combination of high intellect and great sensitivity to self-awareness.

As practitioners of this Art, there exists a delicate balance between intellectual understanding (what to do) and simply being present in the moment and receptive to the Source of life (how to apply). Applying jumper cables and “getting your mind out of the way” will “allow the Universe to open up to me”. However, in this modern age, life has become very busy and fast paced. With so much to think about, quieting the mind often requires skill. We must intentionally quiet down.

I’d like to address this concept of self-awareness and its applications, as this is still relevant in our own study of Jin Shin Jyutsu today. Self-awareness allows us to know what we are doing. While paying attention to myself and others, these are some observations I have made:

Presence ~ When you are giving a session, where is your attention? Some people like to be chatty, while others are quiet. Either way, it seems most important to remain “in your hands” and attentive to what you’re doing. Mary would talk while demonstrating in class, but she would also become very quiet and focused on what was happening between herself and the student. You could see how involved she was whether she talked or not. As I receive Jin Shin Jyutsu, I can feel the flow of a session more clearly when I’m quiet and present. I don’t want to be planning dinner or solving world problems.

Focus ~ I used to think that during a Jin Shin Jyutsu session invisible “energy” was moving within the body. This energy was inside, but separate from our physical manifestation. Now I realize that what is affected is the physical body itself. That’s why a “full” 9 or a “rod” along the 10 area can be felt to soften as you hold. “The 12 organ flows are actual body fluids (Tai Eki) which circulate throughout the body in distinct pathways.” (See Betsie Haar – Spring 2004 Main Central.) My intention and focus during a session includes the awareness that changes in the physical body are taking place.

Quality of Touch ~ What kind of pressure do you use when making contact with someone during a session? Light or deep pressure is a matter of personal preference. Mary didn’t get the nickname “Iron Fingers” for nothing. However, her assistant, Pat Meador, has a velvety light touch and can melt me down as fast as anyone. Quality and clarity of touch is important. The common denominator seems to be a combination of presence and focus. You can more deeply affect/assist someone if you’re clear about what you’re looking for in your touch. One part is deciding how you’ve come to find the location of, say, the 9. Is it a spot of puffiness or knotty tension? Another part involves the touch itself.

Do you use a lot of pressure simply because you think it’s the only way to make a good connection? Try this experiment. Sit comfortably. Place your right forearm in you lap. Rest your left hand on top of your right forearm and curl the fingertips downward, anywhere over the arm is OK. Over clothing is fine. Bring your attention into one fingertip, or two if you prefer. feel for the skin beneath your fingers. Use light pressure. Notice the texture. Without changing the pressure, sense the muscle underneath the skin. Bring your awareness deeper. You may move the fingers very slightly across the skin if that’s helpful to sense the muscle without adding downward pressure. Now, bring your attention even deeper to feel the bone beneath the muscle. As your attention goes deeper into the body, your focus does the same. Try this on your 21s, 22s, high 19s. If you intend to reach deeper physically, you will, whether you use pressure or not.

We learn Jin Shin Jyutsu from study and application. Both are equally important. Knowing what it feels like from the inside helps immensely when treating others. After a week of 10 sessions, when I come back to my private practice, my sessions seem to improve as well. Embodying what Jin shin Jyutsu has to offer allows me to direct my focus more clearly. I can feel the intensity of change in my body, emotions and spirituality. Jin Shin Jyutsu is not mysterious, but physically present. Study. Work on yourself. Receive work from others. Find out what IT IS.

Thank you, Mary Easton.

Thank you, Mary Burmeister.

Thank you, David Burmeister.

Gassho, Namaste, Blessings

All issues of The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter are available at http://www.jsjinc.net.