KENYOKU HO
Copyright © 2003 James Deacon

Kenyoku or 'Dry Bathing' is an 'energy cleansing' or 'aura smoothing' practice.

As, a stand-alone procedure, it is used to disconnect from people, things, thoughts, emotions, feelings, situations, energies, etc.

[Kenyoku is also a component of the Hatsurei Ho meditation.]

There are currently several variations of kenyoku being taught by various Reiki Masters -

Kenyoku can be done either with actual physical contact, or can be done 'non-contact' just off the surface of the body, in the aura.

While allowing the breath to remain as effortless as possible, inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth.

First, bring your right hand up to your left shoulder, the tips of your fingers at a point near where your collar-bone ends, palm flat and facing the body.
Move your hand diagonally down across your body from the left shoulder towards your right hip, in a smooth, measured, sweeping or brushing action. [In Hiroshi Doi's version of Kenyoku, you exhale with a 'haa' sound as you do so.]

Next, bring your left hand up to your right shoulder, the tips of your fingers at a point near where your collar-bone ends, palm flat and facing the body.
Move your hand diagonally down across your body from the right shoulder towards your left hip, in a smooth, measured, sweeping or brushing action. [In Hiroshi Doi's version of Kenyoku, you exhale with a 'haa' sound as you do so.]

Repeat this sequence twice more - making a total of three sweeping/brushing gestures from each shoulder to the opposite hip.

[Note: In the first version of Kenyoku I was introduced to, (Gendai Ho version) the sequence was:
right hand brushes from left shoulder to right hip; left hand brushes from right shoulder to left hip; right hand brushes from left shoulder to right hip;
then:
placing your right hand in the edge of your left shoulder - with left arm held straight out in front of you - move your hand along the outside of your left arm, and down over the end of the fingers; repeat this with the left hand on right arm; repeat with right hand on left arm.

The Gendai Ho version of kenyoku is presented as being the original 'Usui' version - however, some other sources claim the Usui version (in place of brushing along the outside of the arm) involved brushing along the inside. Yet another version still involves brushing from wrist to fingertips across the open palm - instead of the arms.

I would suggest you allow intuition to guide your choice as to which version to work with...]