Natural Awakenings Twin Cities November 2021

Tapping
Into Your
Happy COW
by Master Hong Kim
Life is stressful. Whether it is the normal stress of our day-to-day lives or the stress
of significant life changes, it all impacts our emotions and brain health.
Often, people will miss the early signs of how stress is impacting their health.
Some of the first signs include a reduction of saliva in the mouth, making it difficult to
speak and swallow. Tear production slows, causing eye irritation and difficulty in vision.
The nose becomes dry and the ears shut out many of the sounds around them, taking
away the other senses that help people understand their surroundings.
This low-energy state can also cause insomnia, headaches and migraines. People
suffer with stomach and digestion issues and heartburn. Paying attention to these early
signs of stress and taking steps to become present can help alleviate the chances of stress
causing more severe health problems—of the dis-ease causing disease.
To remain healthy, happy and peaceful, practice the Happy COW: Cool head, Open
heart, Warm abdomen. When in a positive state, the head remains cool, allowing freedom
of thought and ease in understanding. The heart is open to emotions and feelings,
flushing warmth to the abdomen, allowing it to function properly. This flows in a circular
motion from the top of the head, down through the heart, and to the abdomen, then
back up again.
This is similar to what happens in nature. The sun radiates heat to the Earth; water
on Earth evaporates and cools the air and the process continues. When this process is
disrupted, there is inclement weather and natural disaster.
When experiencing the negative emotions brought on by stress, the heart closes,
trapping emotions inside. The head heats up, resulting in difficulty in reasoning and
decision making, causing strong reactions and issues in relationships. The stomach cools,
causing a loss of appetite and digestion issues.
To heal the body, focus needs to be placed in the body. Tapping is an effective relaxation
technique based on the principles of acupuncture. As a variation on acupuncture,
tapping is a form of acupressure. By using the fingers, hands and fists to tap on focused
areas of the body, the acupuncture points (meridians) switch from closed to open. Think
of it as knocking on a closed door until someone opens it—this is what tapping does for
the acupuncture points.
To recover the Happy Cow, practice this simple tapping exercise:
1. Open the heart – With your fingertips, begin tapping in the center of the chest
at the sternum and breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, making a
sound on the exhale. Focus on the feelings and if tears start, allow their release. Continue
this for five to 15 minutes. It may be painful at first in the area being tapped, but this
discomfort will ease as the acupuncture points, or doors, open.
2. Warm the abdomen – To create energy in the lower energy center, make a fist
and begin tapping just below the belly button with the pinky side of the fist. At the same
time, begin the next exercise.
3. Cool the head – Known as brain
wave vibration. Turn the head slowly from
side to side, breathing in through the
nose and out through the mouth, allowing
sound on the exhale. Be present to the
emotions that arise. Allow them to flow,
whether positive or negative. Continue the
abdomen tapping and head exercise for
five to 15 minutes.
It is recommended to do this practice
every evening at bedtime to release any
negative emotions and stress of the day,
allowing for more restful sleep—and a
happy COW.
Master Hong Kim is the
owner of Body and Brain
Yoga and Tai Chi, in
Minnetonka. As an
instructor at the center, he
provides a modernized
system of holistic healing
and mind-body practices that are based on
ancient Korean techniques. Classes and
programs focus on yoga, tai chi, meditation,
martial arts and energy healing at all levels.
For more information and to register for
classes, visit BodyNBrain.com/Minnetonka. See
directory ad, page 29.
coming in the december
holiday issue
Boosting
Immune
System
plus: Uplifting
Humanity
November 2021
13