One energy principle that Donna Eden teaches through Eden Energy Medicine (EEM) is that energy needs space to move. You may have heard of the practice of Feng Shui, which aims to harmonize us with our environment by changing the space we live in. One major part of this practice is to make space for new energy by clearing out old energy in the form of things. Our bodies are no different. In order for energy to move it needs space, but because of the stress that we may experience in our daily lives, we often become tighter and more restricted. Holding onto that old energy can lead to physical and emotional imbalances. Fortunately, some EEM techniques can help us make space so that our energy flows more smoothly. 

The Blow Out helps to release emotional toxins and can help you let go of built up anger and frustration. To begin, bring your arms to either side of your body and make fists, imagining that all your frustrations and negative feelings are in your hands. On an inhale, bring your arms above your head, and on an exhale, bring them down quickly and open your fists, using the “shhh” sound. Repeat three times and on the last movement, bring your hands down slowly and let it all go.

Energy tends to get stuck on our hands and feet. Opening the hand and foot gaits helps to clear this energy. Simply massage deeply between the bones of the feet and hands and rub and stretch the palms and bottom of your feet. Finish by pulling the energy off of your feet, as well as each of your fingers.

Both the Crown Pull and Connecting Heaven and Earth exercises are part of a Daily Energy Routine (see my website for a video). These two techniques also help open up space for energy to flow. To do the Crown Pull,  place your thumbs on your temples and your fingertips in the middle of your forehead. With pressure, stretch your forehead by moving your fingers to your temples. Repeat at your hairline and move over your head, pulling your fingers out about an inch over and down the back of your head until you reach the base of your neck. Place your fingers behind your shoulders and with a deep breath, pull your hands off. I like to add an ear pull to this exercise, as well. Simply pull out and massage your ears by moving up and down the outside of them and squeezing lightly as you pull.

Connecting Heaven and Earth starts with your hands on your thighs and a deep breath. Feel yourself connecting through your feet to the ground, and then on an inhale, circle your arms out and bring them to a prayer position in front of your heart and exhale. On the next inhale, stretch one hand up and one down, stretching as far apart as you can, and hold your breath. Come back to prayer position on the exhale and repeat on the other side.  Do this twice on each side and after the last stretch, bend down as far as you can, letting your arms hang in front of you. Take two deep breaths, and then swing back and forth making sideways figure eights all the way up your body.

(Originally published in Front Porch Magazine, April 2021)