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All of them impact our accessibility to our feelings of well-being, openness, connection, and resilience. The intentional and unintentional energies we acquire from a day of giving and caring for others can lift us up—or may bog us down. Just as you regularly cleanse your body or brush your teeth, it is important to cleanse any unnecessary energy that may be weighing you down. Think of it as "energy hygiene." Practice energy hygiene after every session. It may be as simple as washing your hands and exclaiming, "And that's over!" Or perhaps a step outside in the sun to melt away any residual tension or debris from past interactions. Maybe for you it's diffusing essential oils in the space all around you or some customized favorite of yours. Whatever method of energy hygiene you choose, let it be fun, uplifting, and frequent! The more you clear, the greater space you create to receive what you most want. Notes 1. Karen Prestwood, "Energy Medicine: What Is It, How Does It Work, and What Place Does It Have in Orthopedics?," Techniques in Orthopaedics 18, no. 1 (March 2003): 46 –53, https://doi.org/10.1097/00013611-200303000-00009. 2. Chandra Shekhar Nautiyal, Puneet Singh Chauhan, and Yeshwant Laxman Nene, "Medicinal Smoke Reduces Airborne Bacteria," Journal of Ethnopharmacology 114, no. 3 (January 2008): 446 –51, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2007.08.038. 3. Kristen Hickey, "Smudging 101: Burning Sage to Cleanse Your Space and Self of Negativity," MBG Mindfulness, July 15, 2020, www.mindbodygreen. com/0-17875/a-sage-smudging-ritual-to- cleanse-your-aura-clear-your-space.html. Heath and Nicole Reed are co-founders of Living Metta (living "loving kindness"), a continuing education company now offering touch therapy tools and self-care practices in their online community. They also lead workshops and retreats across the country and overseas and have been team-teaching touch and movement therapy for over 20 years. In addition to live classes, Heath and Nicole are life coaches offering home study, bodywork, and self-care videos, and online courses that nourish you. Try their community free for 30 days at livingmetta.com/trial. L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 23 SAV V Y SELF-CARE Energy Sweep After a day of sessions or following a stressful situation, you can brush away acquired energy. It only takes a couple of minutes to feel the benefits. Simply combine your breath and your intention with sweeping movements. 1. Use soft hands and open palms to sweep across your forehead. 2. Alternate sweeping hands with your right and left hands as you declare a clearing intention, like "Any energy that does not serve me—return it to its source." You can imagine any unwanted energy shedding off your body into the earth to be recycled. Trust that nature knows how to compost, recycle, and reuse your acquired energy. 3. Repeat your intention as you sweep and soothe your entire body like you're gently stroking a happy cat. 4. Continue to sweep your face, neck, chest, arms, hands, belly, low back, legs, and feet. 5. Once complete, become aware of any body sensations, and notice how you feel. Often, there is a tingling or buzzing sensation that lets us know there is new energy circulating more freely throughout our body. What body sensations do you notice?