Releasing Depression by Balancing the Body with Jin Shin Jyutsu

Holistic Practitioner Spotlight with Kathleen Dunderdale, a Practitioner of Jin Shin Jyutsu

We are speaking with Kathleen Dunderdale on how she uses the Japanese modality of Jin Shin Jyutsu to bring balance and harmony to the body.

Tell Us a Story About a Client with Depression and How You Helped Restore Her Life Force

Carolyn, a 50 yr old lawyer, is a recently divorced, single mother. For the last few years she’d been in an unbalanced stage of her life. Her physician prescribed antidepressants and counseling to help with depression. Carolyn, however, felt no better off as her symptoms hadn’t changed. In fact, she experienced increased anger and her appetite for sweets were spiraling out of control.

Carolyn recognized that she was out out of balance in her spirit, mind and physical body. She came to see me for Jin Shin Jyutsu sessions with the hope of regaining harmony within herself and her life.

Can you Explain Jin Shin Jyutsu?

Jin Shin Jyutsu, means The Creator’s Art of Knowing and Compassion. It is a Japanese modality of highly refined light touch energy work that balances our life force energy. It is for those with existing stress and health disharmonies. And is preventative for those who wish to actively participate in creating vibrant health and balance.

The practitioner is the facilitator to assist and adjust flow of life force energy. Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioners simply offer their hands to help the client’s body come back into balance and harmonize. In the study of Jin Shin Jyutsu, there are many flow patterns (places to place your hands) to help balance the mental, emotional and physical body.

What Happens During a Jin Shin Jyutsu Session?

A hands-on session lasts one hour.

As my fully clothed client, Carolyn, lay face up on the table, I observed her face, breathing and body conformation – gently feeling where she might be holding tension. Then, listening to the pulse at the wrist, similar to a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner would, I confirmed the flows I had chosen to help her body let go of tension. I gently placed my hands on and under her body in specific regions following precise flow patterns.

In this case, to help Carolyn’s body release energy out of the face and move it to her toes, I chose Face Flows which are meant help mental/emotional projects. She fell into a deep sleep.

When Carolyn’s session ended, she claimed she had never felt so calm and relaxed. I gave her simple JSJ Self-Help instructions that she could utilize until her next appointment.

I asked her to hold her Index finger 3-5 minutes which helps depressive moods. Each finger harmonizes an attitude:

• Thumb-worry
• Index-fear
• Middle-anger
• Ring-sadness
• Little Finger- trying too much

What Was the Outcome?

Due to the length of time the client had been suffering from depression,  Carolyn decided to commit to bi-weekly then weekly sessions over the course of 3 months.

In that time, she stopped taking her anti-depressants and in turn stopped seeing her therapist. She explained that through the course of Jin Shin Jyutsu sessions, she became blissfully happy as if she were a child again.

Carolyn continues to receive sessions every few months. She calls this her maintenance.

Why and When Did You Choose the Holistic Path?

I like to say, Jin Shin Jyutsu chose me. As an American expat living overseas, I picked up a book at the Dubai airport called The Touch of Healing by Alice Burmeister. Turned off by diagrams of bodies, I put it down. It fell to the floor and I put it back, but it fell to the floor 2 more times! When I opened it again, I read, to calm down hold your thumb.

Babies in the womb suck their thumbs which helps stomach and spleen function energy. I was very curious about the emotional/physical connection. I bought and read the book on the plane and  began holding my thumb when I landed in Paris. Unbelievably, I could physically feel my shoulders drop and relax.

Later on, when my toddler son fell ill with a double ear infection, one of the flows in the book miraculously brought his fever down. I was convinced I had to begin my studies. I took my first 5 day seminar in London in 2000 which began my life long study as a practitioner and my own healing journey. I’ve practiced Jin Shin Jyutsu on 3 continents and have witnessed magic and miracles.

What Lessons Have Your Work and Personal Experiences Taught You?

Jin Shin Jyutsu is a gift born of innate wisdom. I feel humbled and fortunate to have been chosen to practice this Art in my lifetime. It helps get back in breath and gives me balance. I know how to help myself in every situation and help others. Jin Shin Jyutsu is a life changer. It is all in our hands.

Biography

Kathleen Dunderdale, based in Houston, TX,  has been a Jin Shin Jyutsu certified practitioner since 2001. She studied JSJ in England, Japan, Singapore, Ireland, Europe and USA.

She studied under Haruki Kato Sensei, Sadaki Kato and mentored with Lynne Pflueger and Carols Gutterres.

Kathleen is a graduate of the Jin Shin Jyutsu Professional Practitioners course sponsored by the Mary Burmeister JSJ Institute and Atlantic Health System. She is also a Principal Practitioner with the Jin Shin Institute Murai Method, NYC

Kathleen Dunderdale Practitioner & Self Help Teacher
Jin Shin Jyutsu
JSJ Acupressure Houston
Houston, TX  USA

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