May 2010 I began teaching obstetric acupressure and labour massage and I knew I would be nervous sometimes but I did not expect the levels of anxiety to be overwhelming.

When personal anxiety piled on to presentation anxiety I needed a little help.

I used what I learned from the acupressure course, the wrist point and the foot point and then looked up in the book, The Concise Book of Acupoints by John R. Cross, for what else to use and also understand the instinctive actions that I had been witnessing in other people.  

The following is my list of calming points to try when anxious, fearful, over-done, and just need five minutes for the calm and peace to come in.

​I have used them all and have demonstrated to anxious clients how effective they are when held.

All points may be tender if they need attention. Hold points for two minutes to make a good connection and start the desired action and hold five (or more) minutes longer to keep the calming action active. 

Press at the out side base of thumb nail or as in the picture, along the wrist while staying in line with the thumb. To find the thumb nail point, roll your thumb until you find the tender point at the out side base of the nail. Hold for two minutes and feel the calm come in and flow across your chest. 

Grasping between the thumb and the index finger. Relax your hand and hold. Nice relaxing hold to calm the  stomach and release headaches. This point is not to be used when pregnant.

Three or four fingers from the crease of the wrist. Middle of inner wrist and deep to the tendons. The point will be tender. This press looks like you are casually holding your wrist. If you have many butterflies fluttering in the stomach, nausea is getting worse, try an air sick band and place the button on the spot. 

This is my favourite calming point when I have to talk in front of a crowd. 

Place a thumb and finger on both sides of the thyroid. Swallow and you will feel the thyroid, similar to seeing the adams apple movement on a mans throat. 

I have witnessed this point being grabbed. And I am sure you have seen persons just placing a hand across the front of the throat unknowing of their actions that they are holding the calming points.

You have probably seen  someone holding the back of their neck or head. The edge of the hand or thumbs are resting up against the baseline of the skull holding the calming points. 

When I am massaging and  pause to hold these points to release muscle tension of the neck and calm the body I have often heard comments that the client feels like they could go to sleep now.

Place your hand on your chest with your thumb and index finger touching matching points on both sides of the breast bone and close to the clavicle/collar bone. You will feel a slight depression in the spot for your fingers to fall into. 

You have seen this move done unconsciously on people trying to settle an emotion. I believe that the body is trying to reach the points to help bring calm in and release the excess emotion off the chest. 

Place both hands on your back holding your last ribs. Just inside the body is your kidneys and adrenal glands. Holding these points will calm the production of adrenalin, calm the nerves and allow the muscle tension of the body to release. 

Sitting with a heating pad resting over the last ribs is also good. Or use a magic bag (two minutes in the microwave, fifteen minutes on the twelfth ribs). Hands work best to hold this section of points that calm the nervous system.

Sit like a man with your ankle across your knee. Place you hand across the ankle resting on the leg. Your hand is covering calming points on the inside ankle. 

This point shares the same meridian line as the points on the chest. 

On the bottom of the foot below the line of the  pads of the metatarsals. Press and hold this centre point.  This point is on the same meridian line that connects with the ankle point and the chest point described above. 

When the emotion has progressed into fear and anxiety this point can be held with an air sickness band with the button on the point. 

There is one other action point that I also like for panic. Tapping the chest right at the breast bone. 

Thank  you to everyone that gave their permission and willing allowed me to photograph their favourite calming point in action. 

Be Healthy. Stay Healthy. Massage.
kimdeering.com/blog

Infant Massage Classes are available at the Drumheller Community Learning Centre one Friday each month. Call to 403-823-8300 to reserve your spot. 

This class is for children under 1 year old. Learn full body massage techniques, healthy stretches and first aid massage for colic, digestion, teething, constipation, earache, chest congestion and sinus congestion. Contraindications of when not to massage will be discussed.

We will be working on the floor. Please bring, blanket of towel or yoga mat for your child to lay on fully and for you to be comfortable. Wear comfortable clothes you and child can move in. Bring cloths for cleaning up accidents and a fresh diaper.

​We will be using an edible apricot baby massage oil  and an infant massage workbook you get to keep.  

I began teaching infant massage in 2010 and have found that people with babies that are having digestive or pooping problems, colic crying, or just won't sleep will usually call me direct or book an appointment at my clinic. If you already have the happiest baby on the block then coming to a group class will be informative and fun. 

Be Healthy, Stay Healthy. Massage.
kimdeering.com/blog

Obstetric Acupressure and Labour Massage Classes are available at the Drumheller Community Learning Centre one Wednesday each month. Call to 403-823-8300 to reserve your spot.

​This class is for any expectant parents and their labour support team. The 10 acupressure points are easy to learn and the 7 massage techniques give you more options of how to be supportive and comforting. This is a great way to be involved and assist in receiving back labour, reduce the level of pain during contractions, support the progression of about effectively and possibly shorten the delivery time. 

Bring 2 standard support pillows for mom to receive a chair massage from her partner. 

You will receive 2 booklets and a chart to take with you when you go to the hospital.

Be Healthy. Stay Healthy. Massage. 
​kimdeering.com/blog