Acupressure Point - GB 20

Hi All,

Hope you're all doing well.  I know many folks out there have had a pretty severe winter.  Hopefully Spring is going well for you.  It's pretty nice here in Phoenix, AZ....getting warm quickly.

I came across a little graphic and write up on facebook about an acupressure point - GB-20.  The write up talked about how applying pressure to GB-20 can be very helpful to your health.  When I saw this it brought a smile to my face.  I used to study Okinawan Kempo years ago and learned a very different use for GB-20.

Graphic showing the location GB-20, just below the Occiput (or base of the skull).

According to traditional Chinese medicine, you have several energy meridians.  These meridians have points along them, that are numbered.  These points are landmarks to be worked on with needles, like in acupuncture.  They can also be worked on with fingers, as you would in acupressure.  GB-20 is the 20th point along the Gallbladder Meridian (see illustrations).  It's at the base of the skull, approximately 4 finger widths apart.  There's a GB-20 on each side of the spine.  The meridians run down both the left and right side of the body - so there's two of each point.

GB-20 is also referred to as the "gates of consciousness."  Working these points can have some very profound health benefits.  You may find relief from headaches, tension, sinuses, neck pain, irritability and depression.  Working GB-20 is said to help harmonize the immune system and regulate circulation to the brain, and more.  I would think it's such a vital point because of it's location.

Graphic showing the Gallbladder Meridian.

How do you "work" GB-20?  Reach up and hold the top of your head, interlacing your fingers.  Your thumbs will point down.  Put your thumbs into GB-20, apply pressure and hold for 3-5 minutes while breathing deeply and slowly.  Do this 2-3 times daily. 

This is an excellent, easy way to practice self-care and hopefully find some very profound results.  Of course there are many points that you can work that help with many, many issues in the body.  There are books, classes, and info on-line as well, detailing acupressure and how to work with GB-20 and other points.  Check it out.

I hope you found this to be helpful.  Have a great day and enjoy.  Let's be kind to one another and help make this world just a little bit better.

Peace,

Tom

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Prepping to Teach Intro to Chi Enegy

Hi All,

I haven't been blogging much lately because I've been building my holistic therapy business and preparing for a class I'm teaching on Sunday here in Phoenix.  The class is "A Practical Introduction to Chi Energy."  I know, I've blogged about it before, but I'm really excited.

It started around the idea of brushing your energy meridians to allow the Chi (life force energy), flow unrestricted throughout your body.  As I started thinking about curriculum and developing structured ideas for the class, that simple idea expanded into, what is Chi, how do we cultivate it in our bodies, info about the meridians, what is the Circadian clock?

All these ideas are interconnected and leads to more info and more questions...and more info.  As I write the blog today, I'm still tweaking the slides, researching and preparing.

Artwork for my Facebook invitation for the class

So what are ways in which we can cultivate and keep healthy Chi in our body?  Incorporating Healthy Diet, Exercise, Healthy Breathing, Good Posture, and Limiting Stress in our lives.  It sounds simple enough right?  In reality, it is.  There's simple things we can do in each area to make improvements.

We all have a pretty good idea of what a healthy diet or good posture is, as well as the other suggestions for developing/cultivating healthy Chi.  Traditional Chinese Medicine also has guidance on these topics as well.  For example, Tai Chi and Qi Gong are great exercises for people of all ages.  You can find simple and easy breathing exercises to practice.  We should strive to eat a nutrient dense diet, but if you're eating a burger, don't feel guilty, bless the food and enjoy every bite - and continue to pursue a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine informational chart

I've learned so much recently while putting this class together and am excited to share that knowledge this coming Sunday, from 10am - 4:30.

The class will be held at:
Beyond Today Co.
11223 N. 28th Drive, Suite F101
Phoenix, AZ 85029

For more info, see my website - www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com

Hope to see you there.  Have a great Valentines day - share love with everyone, not just a special person.

Peace,

Tom

TCM - Chinese Five Element Theory

Hi All,

Christmas is past and the New Year is coming up quickly.  As I approach 2014 I'm getting ready to launch some new classes and groups at Holistic Therapy Solutions.  One of the first classes I'll be teaching is on "Energy Meridians/Chinese Five Element Theory - an introduction."

Chinese Five Element Theory is a part of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).  In very simple terms it incorporates the 12 organ meridians(or energy meridians), points along the meridians, the 5 elements, and so much more.  Everything works together in TCM and the goal is really to bring balance to the person.

Illustration of the lung meridian

There are 5 elements in TCM.  They are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.  There are two organs for each element and two regulators.  One is a Yin organ and one is a Yang organ.  Each one has an energy meridian (like the lung meridian pictured above).

An example of an element and the organs associated with it: The Element of Wood; Yin organ - Liver, Yang organ - Gallbladder.  The element Wood is associated with the color green, the season of Spring, birth, morning, developing goals, will power, and anger.

What we'll cover in the class are not only the elements and organs, but the meridians associated with them.  This is where the rubber meets the road.  These "energy" meridians travel up and down the body and extremities and there are a number of points on each meridians.

These energy or organ meridians can be brushed daily to clear any blockages in the meridians.  I'll teach how you can do this simply and easily.  Daily brushing of meridians will help keep your Chi or lifeforce  energy in balance.  This can affect your sleep patterns and your overall health in a very profound way.

We'll talk about the Circadian Clock or the body clock.  Each organ has a two hour period that relates to it, every 24 hours.  Going back to the Wood element example; Gallbladder is from 11pm-1am and Liver is from 1-3am.  If you find yourself trying to sleep at night and you are awake between 1 and 3am, your Liver may be energetically out of balance.  Simple daily brushing of the meridians can bring balance and resolve the sleep issue.  Other issues can brought to balance by this simple daily act.

The meridians also have a number of points along their paths.  For example, Gallbladder has 44 points along it's meridian.  Each point can be helpful for specific uses.  Gallbladder 20, or GB 20 is good for helping with headaches, migraines, stiff neck, and shoulder pain.  You can apply pressure to the point, or massage the point.  Acupressure and Acupuncture modalities work along the meridians and use the points to help clients with health issues.

Although this is only an introductory course, each student will leave with some practical tools to take home and use.  The class will give the attendee a basic understanding of elements, meridians and points.  The attendee will be able to brush their meridians and learn some key points and be able to work them.

I'm also putting a foot reflexology class together and will teach it early in the year. I'll be starting an holistic weight loss/weight management group together where we'll meet weekly and discuss practical solutions for weight management and healthy living coupled with the power of hypnotherapy.

It's been a wild ride this past year; I started my business out of my house and am now renting a space.  I'm doing the holistic therapy work and massage as well as running a meditation group and taught my first hand reflexology course a couple months ago.  There are other professional experience and many personal as well that I'm so grateful for.  I'm excited about 2014 which is coming up quickly.  It's going to be a good one.  We'll see what happens........more to come.

Enjoy your New Years celebrations.  Be careful out there and be good to one another.

Peace,

Tom

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