I found Energy Medicine (EM) two decades ago during a particularly dark period in my life. I was reeling from the collapse of my yoga studio and was in the throes of an unhealthy romantic relationship. I’d been practicing and teaching yoga for seven years, but I only had a vague understanding of energy. Even with my regular practice, I felt stuck, unhappy, and ungrounded. In a spark of synchronicity, two friends introduced me to the work of Donna Eden, a leading author and teacher in the field of Energy Medicine.
MARK KURODA
Listen to Donna Eden on The Yoga Show podcast.
Energy Medicine aims to rebalance the body’s energy systems to facilitate healing and vitality. Western medicine still cannot measure these subtle energies, but based on quantum physics and client experiences, Eden, and her thousands of students and teachers, believe that life-force imbalances are the root cause of illness—and that working with the body’s energy fields can influence the function, growth, and repair of cells, tissue, and organs. Eden, who says she can see things like auras, says, “Changing impaired energy patterns may be the most efficient, least invasive way to improve the vitality of [the physical body] and psyche.” Once I began adding Eden’s Energy Medicine techniques into my own yoga practice, my spiritual, mental, and physical well-being increased exponentially.
As the creator of Energy Medicine Yoga, I help my students find balance, calm, and healing by combining EM and yoga. My approach weaves yoga practices with varied EM tools including acupressure, vocalizations, tracing, and tapping to ground and strengthen the body, clear the mind, balance the endocrine system, boost the immune system, and help you heal from anything—simply by balancing energies in the body.
See also 3 Tricks from Energy Medicine Yoga to Improve Digestion
Methodology
Every EMYoga class starts with a two-minute Wake Up to get your energy moving in its most beneficial patterns. The rest of the session includes the five transformative movements of EMYoga: hang, squat, thump, hold, and weave. Each of these actions complements and supports the whole body and offers a way to balance your energy systems. They also assist the crucial practice of processing past and present emotions—which is important because unprocessed emotions have been linked to depression, heart disease, and lowered immunity.
Hangs
Examples: Full standing or seated forward bends, along with expansive poses such as Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute).
Benefit: Hangs stretch and extend your body—the opposite of squats and contraction poses.
Squats
Examples: Malasana (Garland Pose) and High Lunge.
Benefit: With hangs, squats help you explore folding and unfolding to notice oppositional forces in your body and energy systems. Squatting massages your internal organs and helps you cultivate better posture and balance by keeping your hips supple.
See also Energy Medicine Yoga: An Energy Release Trick for Lasting Headache Relief
Thumbs
Examples: Tapping specific places on your body such as the thymus (the gland located behind your sternum and between your lungs).
Benefit: Thumps awaken energy and also stimulate your immune system.
Holds
Examples: Hugging and pressing techniques, such as Cradling the Baby—a Tadasana (Mountain Pose) variation that combines a standing, swaying self-hug with folding into Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)—or Crown Pull, where you massage your head with your fingertips.
Benefit: Based on acupressure and massage, holds trace specific pathways on the body in a particular order to help soothe, redirect, and re-pattern energy systems in order to help clear blockages.
Weaves
Examples: Parsva Prasarita Padottanasana (Revolved WideLegged Standing Forward Fold) variation with dynamic arm movements; Happy Baby Pose variation with crossed ankles and one arm wrapped around the other.
Benefit: The crossover pattern provides expansion and contraction in the body. It is crucial to health and well-being because it engages both hemispheres of the brain to stimulate both sides of the body. Through these movements, our bodies hone the ability to carry out the most integrated functions, such as processing information, thinking coherently, and walking.
The Wake Up
Warm-up with these four movements.
The Wake Up
Make a fist or press your first 2 fingers and thumb together into a little beak shape. Tap on acupressure kidney point 27 (shown, right). Then lightly strike the other points shown 5–10 times." data-full-src="http://www.stayyogafit.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sequencing-316-the-four-thumps_bjk.jpg" data-image-id="ci0269f5f640012761" data-image-slug="SEQUENCING-316-The-Four-Thumps_bjk" data-public-id="MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE0ODgw" data-source-name="Brooks Freehill" data-srcset="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE0ODgw/sequencing-316-the-four-thumps_bjk.jpg 320w, http://www.stayyogafit.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sequencing-316-the-four-thumps_bjk.jpg 700w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_960/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE0ODgw/sequencing-316-the-four-thumps_bjk.jpg 960w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE0ODgw/sequencing-316-the-four-thumps_bjk.jpg 1400w" data-sizes="(min-width: 675px) 700px, 100vw" data-thumbnail="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_80/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE0ODgw/sequencing-316-the-four-thumps_bjk.jpg" data-title="The Four Thumbs">March in place. As your right knee rises, strike it with your right palm. Immediately reground your right foot. Now, lift your left knee and strike it with your left palm. Repeat this cycle 10–12 times. Next, do 12 crossover marches with each hand slapping the opposite knee." data-full-src="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE1Njgx/sequencing-316-cross-crawl-zip-up-page-79_bjk.jpg" data-image-id="ci0269f5f640002761" data-image-slug="SEQUENCING-316-Cross-Crawl-Zip-Up-page-79_bjk" data-public-id="MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE1Njgx" data-source-name="Brooks Freehill" data-srcset="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE1Njgx/sequencing-316-cross-crawl-zip-up-page-79_bjk.jpg 320w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE1Njgx/sequencing-316-cross-crawl-zip-up-page-79_bjk.jpg 700w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_960/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE1Njgx/sequencing-316-cross-crawl-zip-up-page-79_bjk.jpg 960w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1012/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE1Njgx/sequencing-316-cross-crawl-zip-up-page-79_bjk.jpg 1012w" data-sizes="(min-width: 675px) 700px, 100vw" data-thumbnail="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_80/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTE1Njgx/sequencing-316-cross-crawl-zip-up-page-79_bjk.jpg" data-title="Cross Crawl">Put your right middle finger in your belly button and your left middle finger at your third eye (between your eyebrows). With both hands, gently push in and pull up. Take 3 breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth." data-full-src="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTgxMjE3/sequencing-316-hook-up-page-80_bjk.jpg" data-image-id="ci0269f5f650002761" data-image-slug="SEQUENCING-316-Hook-Up-page-80_bjk" data-public-id="MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTgxMjE3" data-source-name="Brooks Freehill" data-srcset="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTgxMjE3/sequencing-316-hook-up-page-80_bjk.jpg 320w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTgxMjE3/sequencing-316-hook-up-page-80_bjk.jpg 700w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_960/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTgxMjE3/sequencing-316-hook-up-page-80_bjk.jpg 960w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTgxMjE3/sequencing-316-hook-up-page-80_bjk.jpg 1400w" data-sizes="(min-width: 675px) 700px, 100vw" data-thumbnail="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_80/MTczOTQwNDk4MDc4MTgxMjE3/sequencing-316-hook-up-page-80_bjk.jpg" data-title="Hook Up">
The Practice
This 12-pose Energy Medicine Yoga sequence will help you feel balanced and clear.
Healing Practice
With both hands, press your fingertips into the center of your forehead. With strong pressure, pull your hands away from each other toward your temples. Continue this along the top of your head (where a center part of your hair would be) until you reach the back of your neck." data-full-src="http://www.stayyogafit.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/healing_sip4_1_bjk.jpg" data-image-id="ci0269f63530002761" data-image-slug="HEALING_SIP4_1_bjk" data-public-id="MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTg0NDE3" data-source-name="Brooks Freehill" data-srcset="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTg0NDE3/healing_sip4_1_bjk.jpg 320w, http://www.stayyogafit.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/healing_sip4_1_bjk.jpg 700w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_960/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTg0NDE3/healing_sip4_1_bjk.jpg 960w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTg0NDE3/healing_sip4_1_bjk.jpg 1400w" data-sizes="(min-width: 675px) 700px, 100vw" data-thumbnail="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_80/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTg0NDE3/healing_sip4_1_bjk.jpg" data-title="Crown Pull">With your fingertips, press down the back of your neck and along both sides of your spine. Draw your hands up over your shoulders from back to front. Next, place your fingertips at sternum height, then move them to the sides of your chest or, if possible, along the back of your rib cage. Then massage your thumbs down either side of your spine to your lower back. With downward strokes, brush your back 3 times." data-full-src="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MjQ5OTUz/healing_sip4_2_bjk.jpg" data-image-id="ci0269f63540002440" data-image-slug="HEALING_SIP4_2_bjk" data-public-id="MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MjQ5OTUz" data-source-name="Brooks Freehill" data-srcset="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MjQ5OTUz/healing_sip4_2_bjk.jpg 320w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MjQ5OTUz/healing_sip4_2_bjk.jpg 700w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_960/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MjQ5OTUz/healing_sip4_2_bjk.jpg 960w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MjQ5OTUz/healing_sip4_2_bjk.jpg 1400w" data-sizes="(min-width: 675px) 700px, 100vw" data-thumbnail="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_80/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MjQ5OTUz/healing_sip4_2_bjk.jpg" data-title="Spinal Flush">Sit with your feet slightly apart, knees out to the sides. Using your thumb and fingertips, massage up your Achilles tendon toward your calf muscle. Continue this deep massage up the widest, fleshiest part of your calf. Repeat on the other side." data-full-src="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzE1NDg5/healing_sip4_3_bjk.jpg" data-image-id="ci0269f63530012761" data-image-slug="HEALING_SIP4_3_bjk" data-public-id="MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzE1NDg5" data-source-name="Brooks Freehill" data-srcset="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzE1NDg5/healing_sip4_3_bjk.jpg 320w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzE1NDg5/healing_sip4_3_bjk.jpg 700w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_960/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzE1NDg5/healing_sip4_3_bjk.jpg 960w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzE1NDg5/healing_sip4_3_bjk.jpg 1400w" data-sizes="(min-width: 675px) 700px, 100vw" data-thumbnail="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_80/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzE1NDg5/healing_sip4_3_bjk.jpg" data-title="Calf Clear in Buddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)">Squat with a rolled-up blanket or mat under your heels. Hug your arms around your knees. Inhale, bowing your head down. Look up, making a whoooo sound as you exhale. Think about something you’re afraid of and visualize yourself blowing out a candle, affirming that you have the courage to be in the dark or unknown. Do this 3 times." data-full-src="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzgxMDI1/healing_sip4_6_bjk.jpg" data-image-id="ci0269f63540002761" data-image-slug="HEALING_SIP4_6_bjk" data-public-id="MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzgxMDI1" data-source-name="Brooks Freehill" data-srcset="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzgxMDI1/healing_sip4_6_bjk.jpg 320w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzgxMDI1/healing_sip4_6_bjk.jpg 700w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_960/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzgxMDI1/healing_sip4_6_bjk.jpg 960w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzgxMDI1/healing_sip4_6_bjk.jpg 1400w" data-sizes="(min-width: 675px) 700px, 100vw" data-thumbnail="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_80/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MzgxMDI1/healing_sip4_6_bjk.jpg" data-title="Blowing Out The Candle">Come to Tabletop, keeping your spine in a neutral position. Inhale, then exhale, lowering your hips to your heels. Inhale, and return to Tabletop. Do this 3 times. Practice Mula Bandha (Root Lock) by lightly activating your pelvic floor muscles. On the exhalation, sit back on your heels and engage the bandha by drawing your sitting bones toward each other as you press them down. Repeat at least 3 times." data-full-src="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0NDQ2NTYx/healing_sip4_7_bjk.jpg" data-image-id="ci0269f63550002761" data-image-slug="HEALING_SIP4_7_bjk" data-public-id="MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0NDQ2NTYx" data-source-name="Brooks Freehill" data-srcset="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0NDQ2NTYx/healing_sip4_7_bjk.jpg 320w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0NDQ2NTYx/healing_sip4_7_bjk.jpg 700w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_960/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0NDQ2NTYx/healing_sip4_7_bjk.jpg 960w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0NDQ2NTYx/healing_sip4_7_bjk.jpg 1400w" data-sizes="(min-width: 675px) 700px, 100vw" data-thumbnail="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_80/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0NDQ2NTYx/healing_sip4_7_bjk.jpg" data-title="Tabletop To Balasana (Child's Pose) And Mula Bandha (Root Lock)">Start in Child’s Pose. On an inhalation, lift up to stand on your knees with your arms stretched overhead. Exhale, and weave your arms by crossing them back and forth in front of your body as you release back to Child’s Pose. Inhale to Tabletop. Exhale to Child’s Pose. Repeat 3 times. Feel your breath and energy moving within you like a wave." data-full-src="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTgzNjE2/healing_sip4_8abc_comp_bjk.jpg" data-image-id="ci0269f63560002761" data-image-slug="HEALING_SIP4_8abc_comp_bjk" data-public-id="MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTgzNjE2" data-source-name="Brooks Freehill" data-srcset="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTgzNjE2/healing_sip4_8abc_comp_bjk.jpg 320w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTgzNjE2/healing_sip4_8abc_comp_bjk.jpg 700w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_960/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTgzNjE2/healing_sip4_8abc_comp_bjk.jpg 960w, https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/ar_3:2%2Cc_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTgzNjE2/healing_sip4_8abc_comp_bjk.jpg 1400w" data-sizes="(min-width: 675px) 700px, 100vw" data-thumbnail="https://www.yogajournal.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_80/MTczOTQwNzY4MTI0MTgzNjE2/healing_sip4_8abc_comp_bjk.jpg" data-title="Child's Pose, Variation">
Study Energy Medicine Yoga with Lauren
In YJ’s online course Energy Medicine Yoga: Transformation Through the Subtle Body, renowned energy healer and Eden Energy Medicine pioneer Donna Eden and Energy Medicine Yoga creator Lauren Walker lead an eight-week training that will shift longstanding patterns in your underlying energy, which affects your mind, body, and spirit. Through simple tools and practices that blend energy work with yoga, you will learn how to activate your innate healing for greater balance, vitality, and well-being. Find out more and sign up today!
