Updated June 13, 2021

According to the ancient art of Jin Shin Jyustu®, you can harmonize your emotions, reduce stress, and nourish your body by holding each of your fingers in sequence. I’ve personally used this subtle yet powerful self-help approach to great effect for many years. 

Scientific research has validated the efficacy of Jin Shin Jyutsu® self-help as well. For example, this study published in March 2021 found that Jin Shin Jyutsu® self-help reduces nurse stress. You can find a list of more research studies supporting positive outcomes with Jin Shyin Jyutsu® at its official website.

What Is Jin Shin Jyutsu®?

Jin Shin Jyutsu® is an ancient art that predates the birth of Moses and Gautama Buddha. It was rediscovered by Jiro Murai in the early 20th century. Murai’s American student, Mary Burmeister, brought Jin Shyin Jyutsu® to the West in the 1950's.

In essence, the practice of Jin Shin Jin Shin Jyutsu® releases tension, which is believed to be the cause of a variety of symptoms in our body. It involves gently placing the hands or finger tips on different points or areas of the body to unblock and balance the flow of life energy.

The Significance of the Fingers for Our Health and Happiness

In Jin Shin Jyutsu®, each finger is associated with an attitude that can imbalance a corresponding function and organ system via the subtle energy channels that are believed to invisibly course through the body.

• Thumb: The thumb is associated with worry, the skin surface, and the spleen and stomach organs. When this system is in balance there is an ability to give and receive nourishment.

• Index Finger: The index finger is associated with fear, the muscular system, the kidney and bladder organs. We find freedom from fear and discover joy when this system is in balance.

• Middle Finger: The middle finger is associated with anger, the blood essence, and the liver and gall bladder organs. When this system is in balance, our capacity for compassion is enhanced.

• Ring Finger: The ring finger is associated with sadness and grief, the deep skin, and the lungs and large intestine organs. When this system is in balance there is an ability to receive and let go.

• Little Finger: The little finger is associated with “trying-to” (pretense), the skeletal system, and the heart and small intestine organs. Judging, comparing, labeling and asking “why” imbalances this system. When this system is in balance, we move beyond the “trying-to” attitude and feel trust and receptivity to the inspiration of the universe.

How to Use Jin Shin Jyutsu® Self-Help

“My destiny is in my own hands.” Mary Burmeister

Holding your fingers in sequence is a versatile practice that can be done whenever you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or off-balance.

For example, you could take a 10-minute break at work and discretely hold your fingers while sitting at your desk. Feeling bored or annoyed during a staff meeting or Zoom session? Just hold each finger one by one under the table or out of view of the camera. 

Frazzled while traveling? Hold your fingers while waiting for the plane to arrive at the gate. Having an argument with your partner? Ask for a time out, retreat to a quiet place, and hold your fingers one by one.

If you’re short on time or troubled by a particular emotion or imbalance, you can hold just the finger associated with your trouble until you feel a sense of balance returning.

You can also opt for the luxurious approach. Lie on your bed or couch while doing the practice.

Use the practice as a preventative measure when you feel well too. A daily ten minutes will help keep your energies flowing splendidly.

How to Hold Your Fingers for Jin Shyin Jyutsu® Self-Help

Follow these steps to do a complete session. It will take about 10 minutes.

• Sit comfortably, relax, rest your hands in your lap, exhale and receive the inhalation. Alternatively, you could lie on a bed.

• Then lightly wrap the inside of one hand around the thumb of the other. Use all four fingers or as many as will fit comfortably around a particular digit. Don’t clench your finger like it’s about to fall off.

• Once you feel a pulse or two minutes has passed, reverse and enclose the opposite thumb with your other hand. Gradually, work your way through all five fingers. Or, you could do all the fingers on one and then switch to the other hand.

• During the exercise, keep your attention lightly placed on the finger you are holding while doing your best to allow thoughts and emotions to pass by like clouds in the sky.

• If you wish, you can enhance the effect of holding each finger by coordinating it with the breath. Exhale slowly and count each set of exhalations and inhalations up to 36 times per digit.

If you’re not sure exactly the best way to wrap your hand around one of your fingers, watch the 1-minute description in the video below.

Final Thoughts

Holding your fingers is just one of many self-care routines offered by the practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu. You’ll find many more in The Touch of Healing, Energizing Body, Mind and Spirit with the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu by Alice Burmeister. It’s one of my favorite self-help resources.

A practice as simple as holding your fingers in sequence can be a powerful way to calm your emotions, relieve stress, and bring your body back to balance. Try it out for two weeks and see if it makes a difference for you.

Your Turn

Do you have a self-help protocol? I would love to hear from you in the comments.

Thank you for your presence, I know your time is precious!  Don’t forget to  sign up for Wild Arisings, my twice monthly letters from the heart filled with insights, inspiration, and ideas to help you connect with and live from your truest self. 

You might also like to check out my  Living with Ease course or visit my Self-Care Shop. May you be happy, well, and safe – always.  With love, Sandra