Feeling wired, restless, or overwhelmed? Try this.

At the time of writing, we’re in the summer season and experiencing consecutive heatwaves. If you’re feeling the heat — internally or externally — and need to cool and simmer down, try this simple acupressure practice.  

You’ll find a practice video below, as well as more information about the what and why behind the sequence.

https://vimeo.com/1217294831/a9c07c7367?fl=ip&fe=ec

Summer is a time of expansion.  A time when we tend to do more. 

There can be something wonderfully energising about this, and for many of us, summer naturally brings more connection, activity, creativity and expression.

But there can also be a point where all that outward energy becomes too much.

You might find yourself feeling restless rather than energised (wired but tired), struggling to switch off at the end of the day, waking during the night with a busy mind, or simply feeling like you're running on a little more adrenaline than you'd like.

And this is something we pay attention to in Seasonal Yoga.

The energy of summer

Seasonal Yoga draws on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which views the seasons as having different qualities of energy that we can work with rather than resist.

Summer is associated with the Fire element — a warm, expressive and outward-moving energy.  Fire energy gives us warmth, light, connection and vitality. 

We need this energy and yet, just like a physical fire, it needs tending to because left unattended, a fire can become too intense and eventually burn itself out.

To counterbalance this, it can be helpful to consciously create moments of quiet, cooling and stillness, particularly when we notice ourselves becoming overstimulated.

The Heart and the Shen

In TCM, the Fire element is associated with the Heart.  The Heart is also considered to be the home of the Shen, a word often translated as our spirit or mind.

I find it useful to think of the Shen as that part of us that is affected when our inner world becomes unsettled, e.g. our thoughts, emotions, sense of connection and ability to feel at ease.

When we're carrying too much stimulation, stress or activity, we can feel it here.

Signs of Imbalanced Shen

• Disturbed Shen: Agitation, insomnia or difficulty falling to sleep or staying asleep, severe stress, vivid or disturbing dreams, heart palpitations, and anxiety.

• Scattered Shen: Poor memory, brain fog, confusion, or overwhelming thoughts

There are, of course, many reasons why we might experience these things, but Seasonal Yoga invites us to notice the relationship between ourselves and the season we're living through, and ask:

What might I need to release or bring into my life to create a little more balance?

Supporting Fire and Heart Energy

One of the ways we can work with the Heart meridian in TCM is through acupressure — using gentle pressure on specific points along the body's energy pathways.

I've chosen three points for today's practice that you can use when you feel the need to settle, particularly if your mind feels busy or you're struggling to switch off.

You could practice these in the evening as part of your wind-down routine, when you notice anxiety or agitation beginning to rise, or even if you wake during the night and find yourself struggling to return to sleep.

It is so easy to do.  Simply use the thumb of your opposite hand to gently hold or massage each point while you breathe slowly and deeply.

In the video, I'll guide you through the three points and pair them with a simple breathing practice so that we're not only working with the points themselves, but also allowing the whole system to slow down.

The three points

HT7 — Heart 7 (Shen Men / Spirit Gate)

This point is traditionally used to calm and settle the Shen and is commonly worked with when there is restlessness, anxiety or difficulty sleeping.  It also helps to cools down the internal fire.

You'll find it on the wrist, on the little-finger side, in the hollow of the crease of the wrist.

PC8 — Pericardium (heart protector) 8 (Laogong)

This point sits in the palm of the hand and is traditionally used to clear excess heat and calm the mind.

It's a lovely point to work with when you feel stressed, agitated or simply a little too 'switched on'.

HT9 — Heart 9 (Shaochong / Lesser Rushing)

This is a very small point at the corner of the little fingernail. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is associated with clearing excess heat, heart palpitations and is used for states of agitation and restlessness. Because it's such a small and sensitive point, you only need a very gentle touch.

These practices are not a treatment for anxiety or insomnia, and if you are experiencing persistent or concerning symptoms, please seek appropriate medical support.

Instead, think of this as an invitation to pause, to give yourself a few minutes to come back to center and allow the mind and body to settle.

You can practice along with me in the video below. And then notice:

Did anything shift in your body, your breath or your mind?

I’d love to hear how from you, so feel free to leave a comment below.