It doesn’t matter how many down dogs and guided meditations you do—we’re all susceptible to stress. And while my go-to routines usually keep things even-keeled, my stress levels recently took an uncharacteristic climb, thanks to some life transitions. On top of that, years of teaching have left me with a moody low back that flares up during times of tension. I needed to find a new approach to all things stress, which brought me to the CHI Palm. I’ve always known my way around the wellness world, but the Infratonic sound signal therapy behind this sound wave massager was new territory… And I was ready to explore. Even more captivating to me is the origin story of the CHI Palm. The Infratonic technology behind this tool came out of scientific research that studied natural qigong healers in China. According to CHI, powerful healers tend to emit a strong, low frequency from their hands… And interestingly, this device is engineered to create the same effect. To say the least, I was ready to try it out for myself. Acute: According to CHI, this mode is best used when starting to treat traumatic and recent injuries or when we’re faced with stress. Deep Calm: This is the most deeply relaxing mode! It’s often used to relieve stress, tension, and anxious feelings. Balance: As the mainstay of the modes, CHI suggests this setting to bring mental clarity, integration, and centering while accelerating physical recovery, as it encourages cells to work together for healing. It helps me disconnect. These days, there are a lot of solutions out there for blasting stress or cultivating mindfulness. But almost all of them involve a smartphone or some kind of screen. The CHI Palm works without an app, without data collection, and without disrupting sleep or meditation. Prior to this ritual, I didn’t realize how much I needed to disconnect and go offline. This tool gives me a moment to digitally detox, and reconnect with the natural frequencies of nature… It’s the perfect permission to unplug. It does offer gentle pain relief. When I’m feeling achy, I’ve come to rely on the CHI Palm for instantaneous comfort. I place it literally, where it hurts for about five minutes, and it’s like the sensations of discomfort quiet down. It’s a tool for mindfulness. There’s something inexplicable that happens when I use my CHI Palm during meditation, but I have a hypothesis. This device works on the level of frequency—and meditation is all about shifting our brain into the deep relaxation of theta waves. Beyond my daily sit, using this massager inspires me to slow down, get quiet, and tap into the moment. It invokes deep relaxation. With the stress and achiness I’ve been experiencing lately, sleep often feels out of reach. But the Deep Calm setting has become my favorite wind-down ritual. It’s designed to work deep into our unconscious layers, which seems to be my magic formula for passing out. Devon’s first book, Earth Women, is coming soon. To learn more, join the mailing list, and receive updates, head to www.devonbarrowwriting.com.
