Secrets from the Fountain of Youth
Why Pulling Your Hair, Pinching Yourself and Pounding on Your Body are just a few secrets to the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Why Pulling Your Hair, Pinching Yourself and Pounding on Your Body are just a few secrets to the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTHby Naomi Sophia Call
The photographs below may look incredibly strange to you, but according to the author of The Fountain of Youth Exercises, Naomi Call, pinching, pulling and pounding on your body could help in keeping the body and mind young and active. To view all the pictures, visit the May 2011 Full Multimedia Edition, page 57.
Do-In (dough-een) is a series of healing, diagnostic and energizing self-massage techniques that originated thousands of years ago in the Far East. According to Call, this ancient practice is known to increase energy, clarity and well-being in the body, mind and spirit. The discoveries were initially considered to be coveted wisdom and were verbally passed on for generations. Call believes that by embracing this practice, we take our health and awareness into our own hands. Do-In exercises are comprised of movements, including tapping, pounding, pinching, pulling and rubbing. They are performed to energize and balance our life force, also known as chi or ki. Our chi flows through pathways in our body known as meridians. Each meridian relates to an organ or system, and in good health, our chi circulates freely throughout its path. If our chi becomes blocked or stagnated, we may experience sensation, or pain, along the pathway. Blockages can occur for a number of reasons. These common occurrences are the minor aches and pains that we may experience seemingly without explanation.
When you practice Do-In on a daily basis, your body awareness is heightened and you begin to notice subtle changes. In the beginning, you may experience sensation when you press areas, or points, along your body. This light pain will dissipate upon release of the pressure, and over time will usually lessen. According to Call, when sensation is present in your body it can be an indication of an existing internal condition. It is helpful to experience this sensation, which may indicate a blockage, as an invitation to bring more focused healing touch. Below are some examples of Do-In practices on different areas of the body.
HEAD AND HAIR These scalp exercises are known to stimulate your brain, affecting both physical and mental activity. They also stimulate your bladder and gall bladder. Often this results in a feeling of being more alert and refreshed. Enjoy these exercises first thing in the morning or any time you feel drowsy. o Make a fist and pound lightly all over your scalp while keeping your wrist loose. o With your fingertips, rub your scalp vigorously. o Gather fistfuls of hair and pull on them gently. For those with very short hair, grasp even a few hairs, and pull gently with intention.
