Hands-On Peace: Your Holiday Self-Care Guide

Julianne Roshan Dow

The holidays sparkle with music, family, and celebration — but they can also leave us feeling stretched thin. If you’ve been craving that pause, there’s a gentle, time-tested way to find it — right in the palm of your hand.

A Healing Art for Everyday Calm

Jin Shin Jyutsu Self-Help (JSJ) is an ancient Japanese healing art that uses touch, rather than needles, to harmonize the body and calm the mind. Like a kind of “hand acupressure,” JSJ encourages your body’s own healing energy to flow freely, easing tension and restoring balance.

The practice is simple: each finger corresponds to a different emotion. By gently holding a finger for a few minutes while breathing slowly, you help your body release what it’s holding — whether it’s worry, fear, anger, sadness, or ‘doing too much’.

You can practice anywhere — in a car, at your desk, while watching TV, or before bed. As you hold each finger, notice the warmth, pulse, or subtle energy that begins to move. That’s harmony returning.

Try It Yourself

Here’s your handy guide to emotional balance this holiday season:

  • Thumb: Calm anxiety, worry, and stomach tension.

  • Index Finger: Ease fear and support your back.

  • Middle Finger: Soothe anger — or as we say, “Don’t flip it, grip it!”

  • Ring Finger: Release grief and help yourself rest at night.

  • Little Finger: Ease overwhelm and return to the present moment.

Hold any finger for 3–5 minutes, breathing deeply and softly. You can focus on only one finger of your choice or move through all five in sequence, which is a wonderful bedtime ritual that promotes deep rest and helps with insomnia. Finish by placing your fingertips in the center of your palm, close your eyes, and feel yourself drift into stillness.

 A Gift of Healing for You

You can also receive this deeply restorative work in a private session.

Julianne Roshan Dow, certified Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, yoga teacher (RYT 500+), and founder of the Dow Integrative Institute in Kent, CT, brings over 30 years of experience helping clients ease pain, anxiety, and fatigue through holistic care. Her specialties include women’s wellness, pain management, and animal care.

To learn more or schedule a private session, visit www.juliannedow.com.

This holiday season, remember…caring for yourself is not a luxury — it’s a gift that also allows you to care for others with more peace and joy.

So take a deep breath, hold your fingers, and let harmony return.