Last week we partnered with Bonnie Crotzer of Ghost Flower Active for a lesson in fascia flossing [stretching] to loosen up tension along with some key acupressure points to incorporate into our daily routine for destressing. Today we are outlining several of our favorites from Bonnie. The idea is to press and hold each point, on both sides of the body, at your comfort level. Settle down in a calm, quiet environment and breathe slowly. Use steady pressure for about 60 seconds on each side (unless otherwise noted). Repeat daily, or focus on one or two points to try and notice the difference you feel after, and over time.
Use these points to release stress, achieve mental and physical restoration, stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, promote relaxed breathing, and digestion.
BRAIN AKA "The Mover and Shaker" LI-4 (caution pregnancy) Web of thumb and pointer finger. Key master point, main energy center, head neck and shoulder release, regulates digestion. (90 seconds each side).
SELF CARE aka "Self-Soothe" HT-7 On the pinky side of the hand in a small depression just under the base of the wrist, press in, and up toward the hand. Anxiety, calming, and soothing.
GUT HEALTH AKA the "Chill Belly" PC-6 Center of the inside of the wrist, 3 finger-widths up from the base. Emotional and physical stress, calming, promotes a healthy heart, nausea, stomach upset, and motion sickness.
ENERGY aka the "Energizer Bunny" ST-36 (caution pregnancy) Outside of the lower border of the knee at the top of the anterior tibialis muscle. Healthy digestion, from the beginning to end of the digestive tract, energy boost, supports regeneration.
FLOW aka "Ultra Yin" SP-6 (caution pregnancy) Center of the inner ankle, 3 fingers above ankle bone. Triple yin crossing, calming, promotes healthy digestion, boosts metabolic processes, and regulates hormones.
IMMUNITY aka "Stress Kicker" GB-21 (caution pregnancy) Top of the upper trapezius along the ridge. Promotes deep breathing, supports parasympathetic nervous system, opens energy to the head, neck, also clears headaches.
DETOX aka "Bye Bye Toxins" LV-3 (caution pregnancy) In the web, top of the groove between the first and second toes. Liver support, detox, immune system boost, relieves headaches, blurry eyes, twitching, stress, anger and frustration.
BEAUTY aka "The Feminine Mystique" KD-3 (caution pregnancy) Nestled against the inner ankle bone, between that and the achilles tendon. Energy boost, supports regeneration, nourishes organs and body systems.
Please note: these points are not meant to be used as a replacement for medical treatment.
Bonnie Crotzer co-founded Ghost Flower because of her enthusiasm for Chinese Medicine and in hopes that she can empower people to support their own health. Her whole life has been devoted to all kinds of movement and led to a professional dancing career in California and now New York. She studied at the University of California and also under Bob Cooley, who taught her how to manipulate fascia and scar tissue. She received her yoga teacher training over ten years ago at White Lotus Foundation. She is autodidactic and nerdy when it comes to fascia and TCM and is still performing while running her start up.