Ah, the 5 senses: Taste, sight, hearing, smell and TOUCH! I’m focusing on the Touch today. Specifically, your hands. (However, all senses will be affected by this practice!!)
Your hands are such important tools for your day to day. I so think sometimes HANDS get taken for granted. We use them in nearly everything that we do.
So, why don’t we focus on taking better care of them! Find gratitude for our hands! Did you know that there are 17,000 touch receptors just in the palm of your hand? These receptors send signals to your brain. And, your brain sends signals to your hands.
So when you get a chance, get yourself some oil, coconut oil smells the best, but olive oil will work too. Put a little bit in the palm of your hand(feel free to add a drop of essential oil in there too) and using the opposite thumb, rub the oil around in your palm clockwise, then counter clockwise. Next, using the opposite hand, start at the wrist, under the thumb, the fatty part, and rub that area clockwise, then counter clockwise. Now, do the same to all of the joints at the base of each finger. Feel free to add more oil whenever, you need, to get the fingers to glide over your touch points.
After you’ve completed that, starting at the joint at the base of the pinky, gently rub the pinky in an upward way, pulling slightly as you go, do it again, but along the sides of the pinky all the way up. At the tip of the pinky, hold firmly and massage in a circular motion. Do this to each finger and thumb.
The anterior or backside of the hand is important too. So get a little more oil, and start in get back of the hand, rubbing clockwise, then counter clockwise. flex your wrist up, about 2″ down, you will rub from side to side until you reach the base of the back of the hand. Now take your hand and rub between every knuckle. and gently on the knuckle themselves. Now go up the fingers, don’t forget the sides of the fingers, like you did on the palm side. Rubbing the cuticle and fingernail as well.
Lastly, this is an important part, turn your hand towards you. so the thumb is closest to you. You may need more oil. Start from 4-5″ below your wrist. Gently rub upward, along the side of your palm and up the side of your thumb, and stop at the knuckle just below your fingernail. You may want to do that a couple times. It’s not the easiest one to do, and often forgotten but there are receptors there that affect your spine.
Now, Don’t forget to do this to the other hand. I know that the coordination in the less dominant hand can be clumsy at first. But with practice, you not only will be able to do it perfectly over time, but, you are also strengthening the opposite – less dominant, part of your brain. Woo Hoo!!
I have posted pictures in hopes to help you. My hands are old and knobby. I just have a very bony body structure. And, well, I am kind of old. haha
The reason why I had you pay so much attention to all of those areas on your wrist and hands, is because each point in your hand represents a body organ or system. The diagrams show the palm side, and the back side of the left hand. However, the systems that are represented are mirrored on the right hand.
Ideally, you would do this 2-3 times a week. However, I tend to do it when I remember. So, do it as often as you can. Your hands and body will thank you for it!!!
I hope you are more grateful for your hands today.
Please, stay safe.
Love and Peace, Dawn
The Holistic Road 