Chinese acupressure massages Micro and Macro Do-ens can be a fun way to begin your morning with. They are very simple techniques taught at a workshop in Chennai a couple of months ago by Nithyashanti.
The Micro Do-en calls for applying deep pressure with the help of the thumb and fingers of the other hand from the base of the palm, running it through the little, ring, middle and index fingers and the area between the index finger and the thumb. The skin between the fingers can be pinched gently after which one can rub the back of the palm and the wrist.
A similar technique can be applied for the feet too, beginning from the little toe to the big toe, the skin between the toes, rubbing the back of the foot, applying deep pressure on the side of the heel and behind, up to the ankle. With the knuckles, hit gently on the heel, the calf and the back of the thighs.
Coming to the macro do-en keep the hands in a fist with the thumb by the side and apply rhythmic deep pressure in the sequence of upper body, lower body, abdomen, face, head and neck and ears.
In the upper body apply pressure on the upper back, shoulder, arm, forearm, back of the hand, fingers, palm, front of the forearm, inside of the arm and under the shoulder, sides of the back. In the lower body, gently pressurise the kidney point, lower back, buttocks, back and side of the thighs and calves.
For the abdomen, use the palm of the hand to do a circular motion clockwise around the navel. On the face, use your fingers to rub on the forehead, eyebrows, eyelids, nose, cheeks. Apply deep pressure with the thumbs inside and below the inner edge of both the eyebrows, at the lower edge of the cheekbone and inside the angle of the lower jaw. Apply gentle pressure with the finger tips on the head and neck, tug at the lower ear lobes and press the middle and top of the ear. Rub the ears vigorously for a few times with the palm. With this attention to every detail of the body in the morning, one is set to go with zing and energy throughout the day.