If you can’t find a licensed acupuncturist near you, or you just can’t bring yourself to try it, acupressure is a great alternative to check out. Acupressure is another ancient technique commonly used in Eastern medicine that works with the same channels, or meridians, of energy accessed through acupuncture, but without the needles! Precise finger placement and pressure at exact points throughout your body will release trapped energy and allow it to circulate more freely and naturally throughout the body, resulting in increased muscular relaxation and improved mental states.

First, find a location where you will be least likely to be disturbed. A bedroom is a perfect example. Make sure it is quiet and you have a comfortable place to sit. If other people are home, let them know you need to be undisturbed for a specific amount of time. Turn off your electronic devices or, better yet, leave them in another room altogether! If you like, play some soft music, use an aromatherapy diffuser or candles to add ambiance, and change into some loose fitting, comfortable clothes. If it is easy for you, sit cross-legged on the floor. If you find that position too difficult, sit in a cozy chair or even sit on your bed with pillows propped against the headboard. Take a few deep breaths, imagining the breath coming from the area of your navel. Inhale, visualizing your breath ascending from the navel, through your body and up into your skull. Exhale, envisioning your breath leaving your body and taking with it all your stress and tension. Do this three times. Now you’re ready to begin your session. You can pick and choose which of these points appeals to you most. Concentrate on just one, or try them all!

Please refer to the book for more details on this activity.