SENTIENT TIMES December 2002/January 2003

Jin Shin Jyutsu
An Artless Art, Applied With Effortless Effort

By Robert Nelson

In Japanese Jin means “knowing, compassionate human being,” Shin means, “divine nature” or “creation,” and Jyutsu (pronounced Jit-su) means “the art of.” Thus, Jin Shin Jyutsu can mean “the art of divine creation through compassionate human intent.” It’s based upon an all-inclusive, ever moving (changing) energy that circulates throughout the universe, within and without every organism. Jin Shin Jyutsu is a very ancient art designed in part to harmonize your physical energies. Jin Shin Jyutsu self-help sequences can be easily applied. One such sequence is described later in this article.

Ancient and modern civilizations alike continue to refer to this energy as Prana, Chi, Life Force and others. Such energy is ubiquitous and vital. Everyone uses it. It flows constantly around and through our bodies along certain energy pathways or meridians. Health and harmony exist when these pathways remain unobstructed.

Jin Shin Jyutsu is the compassionate application of hands on the body. The hands are utilized rather like jumper cables. By using Jin Shin Jyutsu one may jumpstart an energy pathway to get the movement of restricted energy flowing properly again. Jin Shin Jyutsu is not massage or manipulation. No acupuncture needles are used and the body remains comfortably clothed. When you receive a Jin Shin Jyutsu session or treatment (called “flow”) with a certified practitioner you generally lay supine on a cot or massage table. When you apply Jin Shin Jyutsu to yourself you can sit, stand or lie down, whatever is most convenient and practical.

Jin Shin Jyutsu reveals an awareness of our universal revitalizing energy, which constantly moves in circulatory patterns descending the front and ascending the back of the body. Energetically, this is our Source of life. This energy gives life to our “individualized” body circulation patterns. Rhythms of this energy cannot be destroyed, yet abuses (known or unknown) to the body can affect the supply of energy for the proper functioning of these patterns.

Each of us has a “braking” system, brought on by stress and tension, in which energy becomes restricted or locked at certain precise areas along the body’s energy meridians. Jin Shin Jyutsu describes these areas as “safety energy locks.” As our bodies are abused in our daily routines, mentally, emotionally or physically (including digestively), our “safety energy locking” system becomes “activated.” This is simply a wake up call! It lets us know we are abusing our bodies, often long before any overt symptoms become evident. It awakens our awareness that we must change our ways in order to keep stress from accumulating and disrupting our bodily energy systems. Applying Jin Shin Jyutsu unlocks these constricted areas.

Through Jin Shin Jyutsu we observe that all things necessary for harmony and balance reside inside each of us. Feelings of complete peace, security, and oneness within become evident. These feelings of contentment and joy remain our birthright until we disallow them through our negative emotions, especially fear. When practicing Jin Shin Jyutsu, fears, the basis for disharmony, begin to disappear. Burdens are unloaded from our shoulders to make way for complete harmony. Feelings of competition and comparison are nonexistent in this realm. There is only the present state of Be-ing.

According to the Kojiki Record of Ancient Things, A.D. 712, which remains in the Archives of the Imperial Palace in Japan, Jin Shin Jyutsu predates written record. For millennia the Keys to the treasures of this Art were verbally passed from generation to generation. Some of those Keys you’ll find in the application section below. Today, Jin Shin Jyutsu is experiencing renewed popularity. It is non-invasive, gentle and quiet, yet its powerful methods of rejuvenation make it helpful to virtually everyone.

In the late 1940s Mary Burmeister, a Japanese American visiting post World War II Japan, serendipitously met and began studying with Jiro Murai, a Master of Jin Shin Jyutsu who rediscovered the art in the early 1900s. Jin Shin Jyutsu had fallen into obscurity until the young Jiro Murai researched and applied it on himself to cure an “incurable” life threatening condition. Upon his recovery he devoted his entire being to the reawakening of this ancient art. He asked Mary to bring this “gift of life” to the United States. She became my teacher in 1974 and this practice has fascinated me ever since.

Over a short time, Jin Shin Jyutsu sessions (flows) gave me a deepened sense of peace and balanced vitality. Often, flows seemed timeless. What seemed to be a few minutes on the cot turned out to be nearly an hour. Easing into a timeless alpha state is not uncommon when receiving flows. During and immediately after these flows I often felt (and still do) completely and utterly weightless. For me it’s a sense of going beyond deep relaxation to a feeling of profound renewal in which Being becomes effortless, spontaneous and joyful.

In “doing” Jin Shin Jyutsu flows, Mary would forgo personal credit and thanks by saying, “Oh, I do very little. It’s your energy; it’s everybody’s, not just mine. I’m only the jumper-cables.” She transmits an attitude of selflessness that permeates the Jin Shin Jyutsu Physio-Philosophy®. It’s Source Energy that does the work. “Thy will,” not mine.

Mary suggests we need never know tiredness. Energy never tires out. When we become unbalanced within ourselves we experience fatigue. Jin Shin Jyutsu can mitigate energy imbalances. In fact, Jin Shin Jyutsu is truly the art of happiness, longevity and benevolence. It is, for each of us, the art of “Getting to know (help) myself.”

Living can be a simple art as well. Often we complicate it in our efforts to “make” a living. Jin Shin Jyutsu beautifully simplifies one’s approach to the complexities of “doing life,” and turns it into an Art of “being alive.” It seeks to awaken our Awareness as to what “Being” is.

Got Stress?

Create a quiet gentle moment—anytime! Simply decide for yourself to take the next couple of minutes to reduce the effects of stress on your being well. Try this short sequence below.

Relax. If you’re unable to relax just be as you are. There is no sense in “trying” to relax. In time you’ll be able to relax without trying.

It is important to apply or hold each “connection” or step until rhythmic pul-sations can be felt. At first, if you find it difficult to feel your pulses, just hold each step a few minutes. If there are 6 steps in a sequence and you have about 15 minutes to spare, apply about 2 or 3 minutes to each step. All sequences can be adjusted to your particular circumstances. In time the awareness of being in rhythm with universal energy will become second nature, an art “personally” for yourself.

The palm, tip of thumb, one or more fingers or the back of the hand may be utilized; whichever is most comfortable or convenient at the time. In the following sequence I’ll use the term “fingers” with the understanding that it means any part of either your left or right hand. It is not necessary to apply much pressure or rub. Visualize your hands simply as jumper cables.

What follows is called the Main Central Flow. It is optimum to apply it daily to your own body. It may be applied before getting out of bed in the morning, anytime during the day, and/or before falling asleep at night. You may practice this sequence as often as you like. It will take only a few minutes, or as much time as can be spared. There are only 6 steps. There is no strict set of rules. Everything can be “custom-built” by you, for you, to suit your convenience.

Energetic Source Of Life

The Main Central Vertical Harmonizing Energy Flow is our Energetic Source of Life. This energy pathway runs down the center of the front of the body and back up the spine. All other Individualized Bodily Energy Sequences depend on the health or strength of this Main Central Energy Source. Whether we are in great health or not depends on our harmonious relationship with this source. Some are in a greater degree of harmony with this source than others.

The following simple daily maintenance sequence is all that is required in order to be in harmony with Source energy:
Step 1. Revitalizes deep body and mind energy circulation. Place right finger, fingers or palm on top center of head, where they will remain until step 6 (R1 on Figure 1). Place left fingers between eyebrows (L1).
Step 2. Revitalizes superficial body energy circulation and reproductive functions. Move left fingers to the tip of your nose (L2).
Step 3. Revitalizes breathing (lungs) and pelvic girdle (hips) energy. Move left fingers to between the breasts on the sternum (L3).
Step 4. Revitalizes the Source of Life energy, both ascending (front) and descending (back). Move left fingers to base of sternum (L4).
Step 5. Revitalizes descending Source of Life energy. Helps strengthen the spine. Move left fingers to top of the pubic bone (L5).
Step 6. Revitalizes the ascending Source of Life energy. Helps energy circulation of the legs and feet. Leave left fingers on top of pubic bone. Replace only the right hand to the base of the spine (coccyx). The palm or back of the right hand may be applied; whichever is more comfortable for you (R2).

It may be beneficial if you approach your self-help practice with some of the following thoughts in mind:

Lighten up and be easy with this. Quietly urge your body to relax. Give all thoughts and attitudes a break. Let it all go. Just simply Be.

“Listen” to what your hands/fingers are feeling or saying to you. Soon you will begin to feel your pulsations. When your pulsations become rhythmic, synchronized and of equal intensity, your energy in that particular area has begun to flow as it normally would in a state of optimum health. Feeling this, you may move on to the next set in the sequence.

Breathe into your deepening relaxation. “Receive” each breath with gratitude. Gently tell your body to “relax” while exhaling. Let your breath take you into your bodily rhythms as you hold onto these positions. With each exhale imagine energy flowing down your front and upon your inhale feel your energy rise up the back. Down and up again, over and over, repeating with each breath another cycle of this precious moment of your life.

Daily application of these simple sequences will accomplish results and develop patience. Knowing the sequences without applying them will not accomplish results. The awakening of awareness comes through practice.

This completes the Main Central Vertical Harmonizing Energy Flow Self- Help sequence. Consciously take it with you throughout the day.

Other Individualized Body sequences are covered at length in Jin Shin Jyutsu seminars held throughout the world. Introducing Jin Shin Jyutsu Is, Book 1,by Mary Burmeister, provides much of the information for this article. It is used with permission. Robert Nelson has practiced Jin Shin Jyutsu since 1974, and currently practices in Arcata, California. He would be happy to refer interested readers to additional sources. Contact him at (707) 826-2941, robn@humboldt1.com .

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