Acupressure Self-Help for Stress (3)

Projects Using Acupressure Flows

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Project 1 – Acupressure Flow for Bodily Tensions

This flow helps the whole body, relieves simple backaches, and restores energy.

1. Place knotted towels (or rubber balls) between the spine and shoulder blades, on both sides of the spine, at the mid-shoulder blade level (#10). The towel knots remain in place as you do the following three steps.

2. Place the left and right hands on the back of the shoulders (near the neck) (#3). Arms can be crossed or not crossed. Hold.

3. Move both hands so your fists (knuckles up) are under the waist at either side of the spine (#23). Hold.

4. Move both hands under the “sitting” bones at the hips (#25), palms up or down. Hold.

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Project 2 – Acupressure Flow for General Tensions

This flow also revives energy.

1. For right side of body, place the left hand on the back of the right shoulder (near the neck) (#3).

2. Keeping the left hand on the shoulder, place the instep of the left foot (#6) on the inside of the right knee (#1). If lying down, you can place a pillow under your left knee for support.

3. Keeping the left hand and foot in place, press each right fingernail (one at a time) with the right thumb, holding each nail for one minute.

1. For left side of body, place the right hand on the back of the left shoulder (near the neck) (#3).

2. Keeping the right hand on the shoulder, place the instep of the right foot (#6) on the inside of the left knee (#1). If lying down, you can place a pillow under your right knee for support.

3. Keeping the right hand and foot in place, press each left fingernail (one at a time) with the left thumb, holding each nail for one minute.

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Project 3 – Acupressure Flow for Neck And Back Tensions

1. For right side of body, place a knotted towel (or rubber ball) between the spine and shoulder blade at the mid-shoulder blade level of the right shoulder (#10).

2. Place your right fist under your left waist (#23).

3. Keeping your right hand at the waist, place your left fingertips on the right side of your neck (hand goes behind neck) (#12). Hold.

4. Move your right hand to the left hip crease (groin) (#15).

5. Keeping your right hand in place, move your left hand to the back of the right shoulder (near the neck) (#3). Hold.

1. For left side of body, place a knotted towel (or rubber ball) between the spine and shoulder blade at the mid-shoulder blade level of the left shoulder (#10).

2. Place your left fist under your right waist (#23).

3. Keeping your left hand at the waist, place your right fingertips on the left side of your neck (hand goes behind neck) (#12). Hold.

4. Move your left hand to the right hip crease (groin) (#15).

5. Keeping your left hand in place, move your right hand to the back of the left shoulder (near the neck) (#3). Hold.

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Project 4 – Acupressure Flow for Neck And Shoulder Tensions

1. For right side of body, place your left hand in the left hip crease (groin) (#15).

2. Keeping your left hand at the hip crease, place your right fingertips (or thumb) on the instep of your left foot (#6). Hold.

3. Keeping your left hand in place, move your right hand to the back of the left shoulder (near the neck) (#3). Hold.

4. Move your left hand to the right side of your neck (hand goes behind neck) (#12).

5. Keeping your left hand on the neck, move the right hand so the thumb is under the left cheekbone (#21) and the fingertips on the left forehead (#20). Hold.

1. For left side of body, place your right hand in the right hip crease (groin) (#15).

2. Keeping your right hand at the hip crease, place your left fingertips (or thumb) on the instep of your right foot (#6). Hold.

3. Keeping your right hand in place, move your left hand to the back of the right shoulder (near the neck) (#3). Hold.

4. Move your right hand to the left side of your neck (hand goes behind neck) (#12).

5. Keeping your right hand on the neck, move the left hand so the thumb is under the right cheekbone (#21) and the fingertips on the right forehead (#20). Hold.

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Project 5 – Acupressure Flow for Neck Stiffness, Shoulder Blade and Mid-Back Pain

1. For right side of body, place a knotted towel (or rubber ball) between the spine and shoulder blade at the level of the bottom of the right shoulder blade (#9).

2. Place your right fist (knuckles up) under your right waist (#23).

3. Keeping your right hand under the waist, place the fingertips of your left hand on the right side of your neck (#12) (hand goes behind neck). Hold.

1. For left side of body, place a knotted towel (or rubber ball) between the spine and shoulder blade at the level of the bottom of the left shoulder blade (#9).

2. Place your left fist (knuckles up) under your left waist (#23).

3. Keeping your left hand under the waist, place the fingertips of your right hand on the left side of your neck (#12) (hand goes behind neck). Hold.

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Project 6 – Acupressure Flow for Chronic Stiff Neck

1. For the right side, hold the right side of your neck (#12) with the fingertips of your left hand (hand goes behind neck).

2. Keeping your left hand on the neck, hold the left index finger between your right thumb and index finger. Hold.

3. With your left hand still on your neck, place your right hand on your chest at the top of the right breast area (about four fingers down from the collar bone) (#13). Hold.

4. With your left hand still on your neck, press under your left cheekbone (#21) with your right fingertips. Hold.

1. For the left side, hold the left side of your neck (#12) with the fingertips of your right hand (hand goes behind neck).

2. Keeping your right hand on the neck, hold the right index finger between your left thumb and index finger. Hold.

3. With your right hand still on your neck, place your left hand on your chest at the top of the left breast area (about four fingers down from the collar bone) (#13). Hold.

4. With your right hand still on your neck, press under your right cheekbone (#21) with your left fingertips. Hold.

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Project 7 – Acupressure Flow for Shoulder Tensions

This flow also revives energy.

1. For right side of body, place the left hand on the back of the right shoulder (near the neck) (#3).

2. With the right thumb, press each right fingernail (one at a time) for one minute.

1. For left side of body, place the right hand on the back of the left shoulder (near the neck) (#3).

2. With the left thumb, press each left fingernail (one at a time) for one minute.

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Project 8 – Acupressure Flow for General Backaches

This flow is also good for muscle cramps in the knees and calves.

1. For the right side of body, hold the right side of your neck with the fingertips of your left hand (hand goes behind neck) (#12).

2. Place your right hand under your tailbone (palm can be up or down). Hold.

3. With your left hand still on your neck, place your right hand on the back of your right knee (center of knee crease). Hold.

4. With your left hand still on your neck, place your right hand on the area below your outer right ankle (#5). Hold.

1. For the left side of body, hold the left side of your neck with the fingertips of your right hand (hand goes behind neck) (#12).

2. Place your left hand under your tailbone (palm can be up or down). Hold.

3. With your right hand still on your neck, place your left hand on the back of your left knee (center of knee crease). Hold.

4. With your right hand still on your neck, place your left hand on the area below your outer left ankle (#5). Hold.

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Project 9 – Acupressure Flow for Lower Back Tensions

This flow is also good for tired legs.

1. Sit with your hands under your hips, palms up or down, under the “sitting” bones (#25). Hold.

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Project 10 – Acupressure Flow for Upper and Middle Back Tensions

1. For right side of body, place a knotted towel (or rubber ball) between the spine and shoulder blade at the mid-shoulder blade level of the right shoulder (#10).

2. Place your left fist under your right waist (#23).

3. Keeping your left hand at the waist, place your right hand on the left inner thigh (high #1). Hold.

4. Keeping your left hand at the waist, place your right hand on the outside of the left upper calf (#8). Hold.

1. For left side of body, place a knotted towel (or rubber ball) between the spine and shoulder blade at the mid-shoulder blade level of the left shoulder (#10).

2. Place your right fist under your left waist (#23).

3. Keeping your right hand at the waist, place your left hand on the right inner thigh (high #1). Hold.

4. Keeping your right hand at the waist, place your left hand on the outside of the right upper calf (#8). Hold.

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Project 11 – Acupressure Flow for Arthritis

This flow is especially good for legs and knees.

1. For right side of body, place right hand (palm up or down) under right “sitting” bone (#23).

2. Keeping the right hand under the hip, place your left hand below the right ankle on both sides of the foot (#5 and #16). Hold.

1. For left side of body, place left hand (palm up or down) under left “sitting” bone (#23).

2. Keeping the left hand under the hip, place your right hand below the left ankle on both sides of the foot (#5 and #16). Hold.

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Project 12 – Acupressure Flow for Knees

1. For right side of body, place right hand (palm up or down) under right “sitting” bone (#25).

2. Keeping the right hand under the hip, place the left hand under the right knee. Hold.

1. For left side of body, place left hand (palm up or down) under left “sitting” bone (#25).

2. Keeping the left hand under the hip, place the right hand under the left knee. Hold.

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Project 13 – Acupressure Flow for Legs

This flow is also good for shoulder blade tension, bloating, and varicose veins.

1. For right side of body, place right hand (palm up or down) under the right “sitting” bone (#25).

2. Keeping the right hand under the hip, place your left hand on the middle of your right outer shoulder blade (#26) (left hand goes under right armpit). Hold.

3. Keeping the right hand under the hip, place your left hand on the outside of the upper right calf (#8). Hold.

4. Keeping the right hand under the hip, place your left hand on the top of the right foot. Hold.

1. For left side of body, place left hand (palm up or down) under the left “sitting” bone (#25).

2. Keeping the left hand under the hip, place your right hand on the middle of your left outer shoulder blade (#26) (right hand goes under left armpit). Hold.

3. Keeping the left hand under the hip, place your right hand on the outside of the upper left calf (#8). Hold.

4. Keeping the left hand under the hip, place your right hand on the top of the left foot. Hold.

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Project 14 – Acupressure Flow for Arms

This flow is especially good for tennis elbow and also helps neck and back tension.

1. For right side of body, place a knotted towel (or rubber ball) ) between the spine and shoulder blade at the level of the bottom of the right shoulder blade (#9).

2. Place the right hand on the back of the right shoulder (near the neck) (#3).

3. Leaving the right hand on the shoulder, place the left hand on the right outer shoulder blade area (#26) (left hand under right armpit). Hold.

4. Leaving the right hand on the shoulder, place the left hand on the right hip crease (#15). Hold.

1. For left side of body, place a knotted towel (or rubber ball) ) between the spine and shoulder blade at the level of the bottom of the left shoulder blade (#9).

2. Place the left hand on the back of the left shoulder (near the neck) (#3).

3. Leaving the left hand on the shoulder, place the right hand on the left outer shoulder blade area (#26) (right hand under left armpit). Hold.

4. Leaving the left hand on the shoulder, place the right hand on the left hip crease (#15). Hold.

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Project 15 – Acupressure Flow for Headaches

1. Place your right hand (palm up or down) under your tailbone.

2. Keeping your right hand under the tailbone, place your left hand at the center of the base of the skull (at the top of the spine). Hold.

3. Keeping your right hand under the tailbone, place your left fingertips between the eyebrows. Hold.

4. Keeping your right hand under the tailbone, place your left hand between the breasts. Hold.

5. Keeping your right hand under the tailbone, place the left hand at the top of the pubic bone. Hold.

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