Meditation is not a competitive sport. Our beings are asking for another way of living.
What we know so far is to over-activate body and mind and then to shut off completely.
What we can learn is to rest and refresh our energy, and then we are more likely to have a visit from deep meditation. Have you ever woken up from a nap and enjoyed a moment of breezy friendliness before remembering your list of things to do? That moment—restful, agile, receptive, alive—is much closer to meditation than years of trying to sit still.
Years of experience have shown us that many people need to rest, to lie down for meditation, and allow their natural awakening gradually to take over.
~ Jin Shin Jyutsu ®
An approach to being human in a heartful and grounded way.
“Through Jin Shin Jyutsu our awareness is awakened to the simple fact that we are endowed with the ability to harmonize and balance ourselves (in rhythm with the universe) physically, mentally and spiritually.” From www.jinshinjyutsu.com
Jin means human; Shin means god or heart or spirit; and Jyutsu means tricks, games, art or, as I like to
call it, improvisation. This healing art from Japan is not just about technique. The hands and deep heart know or remember
harmony, and help align the whole human being, not just physically, but on all levels.
By allowing the hands to find their place on the body—perhaps just holding one of the fingers—harmony resonates through the
being.
Many people have been amazed at how much quietness and clarity comes from just holding one of their fingers while they meditate.
Mary Burmeister, a student of Jiro Murai, brought the art of Jin Shin Jyutsu from Japan to America in the 1950's, and courses
are now held around the world.
Until her death in January of 2008, Mary offered rich teachings often in short, potent sentences: “What you think of me is none
of my business.” “Exhale and be the smile.” “Energy is enthusiasm in motion.”
With connections to the whole family of Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, Jin Shin is accessible and safe for anyone to practice. By offering our hands and attending the official Jin Shin courses, our learning can be unending.
For information about official Jin Shin Jyutsu courses:
www.jinshinjyutsu.com
+1(480) 998-9331 phone
+1 (480) 998-9335 fax
website: www.jsjinc.net, Email: 
Jin Shin Jyutsu, Inc.
8719 E. San Alberto
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
USA
~ Effort & Relaxation
Most of us know how to make effort based on tension. On retreat, each person can experiment with making “reversed effort,” or effort based on relaxation.
At the beginning with meditation, and periodically later on, a struggle with strong habits of mind is unavoidable.
But don't assume that this same quality of exhausting effort must continue.
At first, our effort is choppy because all we have to work with is the on-and-off thinking mind to pay attention.
But the kind of effort most often needed is like the effort to hold a rose petal in the palm of your hand: not force, but rather a continuity of remembrance like a river.
This continuity comes naturally as we access self-motivation and restfulness.
Self-motivation
Remember when you did something just because you wanted to --not because you thought you had to, and not because you wanted to get money, prestige, or acceptance.
You will remember how good it felt.
On retreat, we have a chance to find self-motivation and to experience its joy. You don’t need an exciting pastime, with which you to “fill up” this “empty” time.
We can “do nothing” and let life emerge. We can enact love towards ourselves in small, concrete ways, even if it seems silly.
Each evening we can write down five joyful moments of the day, and gradually learn to let the joy lead.
We can also remember what we love to do most, and immerse ourselves in that in some way without disturbing the group silence.
Restfulness
Resting is an art. We try to relax, but don't know how. We often think we should do “more important” things first, so that we can later deserve to rest.
But somehow the time for rest never comes. Bringing freshness, energy, health, radiance, and friendliness, rest benefits meditation tremendously.
Start with an attitude of ease or with lying down for meditation.
Even if you fall asleep, that refreshing rest may be more beneficial than holding yourself in a rigid sitting posture, as if you are working at an office (and practicing aversion).
In fact, the meditation that happens after you awaken is likely to be fresh and bright, closer to genuine meditation than trying too hard.
