A
s part of my yoga practice
with both children and
grown ups I increasingly
use techniques which work
with the acupressure points
around the body, stimulating and restoring
the body’s natural energies. These energy
systems are referred to in many cultures
around the world. These energy channels or
meridians, allow the chi or prana (energy)
to flow freely through the body. In yoga,
any blocks in energy around the body lead
to emotional imbalance as well as physical
fatigue. As well as the balancing, stretching
and twisting postures (asanas), these simple
energy balancing techniques will leave you
feeling calm and revitalised as well as help
with clarity and concentration.
Here is a daily energy routine that will
help to balance many of these systems and
maximise your vitality. Here are five easy-to-
learn techniques, to be done each morning
or before you go to bed.1 The Cross Crawl
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Balances and harmonises energy, improves
coordination and clears thinking.HOW TO DO IT?
While standing, seated, or lying down, lift
your right arm and left leg simultaneously.
As you let them down, raise your left arm
and right leg. Repeat, this time exaggerating
the lift of your leg and the swing of your
arm across the mid-line to the opposite side
of your body. If you can, twist so that your
elbow touches your opposite knee. Continue
this exaggerated march for at least a minute,
again breathing in deeply.2 The Crown Pull
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Relieves mental congestion and headaches,
clears and refreshes the mind, sharpens
memory, and opens you to higher inspiration.HOW TO DO IT?
Place your thumbs at your temples and
rest your fingertips at the middle of your
forehead. Slowly, with pressure, pull your
fingers apart to the hairline stretching the5 quick fixes to get your energy flowing for optimum
health and wellbeing. By Sarah Tucker
skin above your eyebrows. Place your fingers
at the hairline and repeat the stretch. Repeat
this pattern starting at the top, centre and
back of your head. Continue all the way back
and down until you reach the base of your
neck. Use pressure as you pull. Move down
to your shoulders and push your fingers into
the back of your shoulders and hold. Then
pull across your shoulders towards the front.
Finally, release and bring your hands to the
middle of your chest for at least one breath.3 The Hook Up
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Calms you and centres you, connects many
of the body’s energy circuits. May help when
feeling dizzy or faint.HOW TO DO IT?
Place the middle finger of one hand on the
‘Third Eye’ (between the eyebrows above the
bridge of your nose) and the middle finger
of your other hand in the navel. Gently press
each finger into the skin and pull it upwards.
Hold for 12 to 30 seconds. You can hold it
longer if you like. Often you will experience
a deep sigh and/or yawn. This shows that
your energies have hooked up.4 The Celtic Weave
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Strengthens and weaves all of the energy
systems of the body together.HOW TO DO IT?
Stand tall, hands on thighs. Breathe deeply
throughout this exercise, in through your
nose and out through your mouth. Rub
your hands together, shake them off, face
your palms toward each other, and feel the
energy between them. Rub and shake them
off again. Place your palms close to your
ears and take a deep breath. Inhale and
bring your elbows together. Exhale, cross
your arms, and swing them out to the side.
Bend forward slightly and cross and swing
your arms out in front of your waist. Bend
further, cross your arms, and swing them
out in front of your ankles. Bend your knees,
turn your palms forward, and scoop up
the energy. Stand tall and imagine you are
pouring that energy all over your body.om spirit
DAILY ENERGY ROUTINE
5 Connect Heaven & Earth
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Stretches the torso, helps clear stale energy,
and makes space for fresh energy to flow
throughout the body. Activates your spleen
meridian.HOW TO DO IT?
Start with your hands on your thighs, fingers
spread. Inhale through your nose, circle your
arms out and up over your head. Bring your
hands together in a prayer position down
and in front of your heart. Exhale through
your mouth.
Inhaling through your nose, stretch one
arm up and one arm down, pushing with
your palms. Hold, exhale, and return to the
prayer position. Switch arms and repeat. Do
this twice for each arm, really emphasising
the stretch. Drop your arms down, fold your
body forward at the waist, and relax with
your knees slightly bent. Take two deep
breaths before slowly returning to
a standing position. As you do, you can
‘roll’ your energy up your body with your
hands, starting at your feet and rolling all
the way up and over your head and out to
the sides.For further information check out Sarah
Tucker’s book The A to Zen of Yoga and,
for children, The Excellent Book of Energies.
Further reading: Energy Medicine by Donna
Eden and David FeinsteinENERGY MEDICINE
In energy medicine, energy is the
medicine, and energy is also the
patient. You heal the body by
stimulating its natural energies,
which may have become weak,
or out of balance. Very much a
pagan form of wellbeing, the focus
is on the individual and everyone
being different. Energy medicine
recognises energy as a vital, living,
moving force. It is another form of
looking after yourself before you fall
ill and one that has been shown to
help with stress, which can in turn
cause other disease.