Finger Tune

Just like the ears, the fingers and hands are a great way to clear and energize the whole body. Start with your hands in your lap. Move smoothly and gently, speed does not count.

1. With your hands facing up, make a relaxed fist with both hands. Now, ‘count’ with your fingers and thumbs. Start with your thumbs, then index fingers, then middle etc. When you get to the pinkies, make a fist again and start over.
2. When you’re finished with step one, turn your hands over, so your palms are facing downwards. Fold your fingers as if you were going to make a fist, but instead of placing the thumbs across the middle of your fingers, place your thumbs across your fingernails. Extend your pinky finger in a flicking fashion. Do the same for each finger. When you reach your index finger, start over again.
3. Now, turn your hands over again, so your palms are facing up. Touch your thumbs to the pad of your pinkies, then the ring fingers, middle and index. After touching your index fingers, fold your fingers in slightly and brush along your fingernails with your thumbs. Repeat.
4. Turn your hands palms facing down. Place your fingertips on a table or other flat surface as if you are going to play a piano. Starting with the pinky finger of your left hand and the thumb of your right, touch down with each, at the same time, as if you were playing the piano. Continue with your left ring finger and your right index, your left middle and your right middle, etc. When you reach your left thumb and right pinky, reverse the motion. Move smoothly.
5. The next three movements can be done seated or standing:
6. Place your hands on your lap. Raise them slightly and turn your hands so that they are facing one and other. Shake them vigorously but gently from side to side. Your hands stay in the same plane as you do this – horizontally.
7. With your hands off your lap, turn them face down. Shake them vigorously but gently up and down in the vertical plane.
8. If you are seated, lean forward slightly so that your arms can freely hand downwards. With your hands hanging downwards, twist your hands back and forth. Move them as if they had no bones. Just let them flop around.
9. Raise your lower arms so that they are parallel to the ground out in front of you. Turn your hands so that they are facing each other – as if you are holding a large ball. Notice the energy that is flowing throughout your body and between your hands.

This exercise is great after working on a computer, before and after bodywork, or when you just need to brush off stuck energy. It’s also a great way to get an immediate sensation of chi flow, particularly in your hands, but also throughout your body. Great intro for chi ‘beginners’.