In a world where it seems like a new wellness trend is popping up daily, there has been one in particular as of late that has caught my eye—tapping. It’s not something you need to go to a studio for, or even really see a professional about, but rather something you can do while you’re just hanging out at home (my favorite, especially as I’m home so much lately).

So what is tapping? It’s a form of acupressure, similar to acupuncture, minus all the needles. Like acupuncture, it utilizes the energy meridian points found throughout your body. Here comes the amazing part—stimulating these meridians taps into your body’s energy and natural healing abilities.

Within your body, there are nine meridian “endpoints,” as they’re called (from your hands to your eyebrows). And when you’re feeling negative, upset, anxious or have any kind of unresolved emotion, tapping on these endpoints can relieve this stress and negativity. All you have to do is tap 5-7 times on each of the nine endpoints while deeply concentrating on whatever issue you’re experiencing and are seeking relief from.

The science behind tapping is based on something called epigenetics. Without getting too deep, this area of study essentially states that if you can change your “internal environment—your emotions and beliefs…your mental and physical health will follow.” This is a pretty powerful statement, and if working to change your mindset is the starting point, count me in.

Back to the nine endpoints. There are different sequences you can utilize depending on what you’re trying to heal and what you’ll be focusing on while tapping. There is a basic sequence, though, that works well for just general anxiety. Follow these quick steps to get started:

1. Identify what you want to focus on. Maybe it’s a certain situation or person that makes you feel especially anxious.
2. Rate the intensity of your anxiety on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest.
3. Come up with a short mantra, but make sure it acknowledges the problem and ends in an affirmation. Example: “Even though I feel this anxiety, I deeply and completely accept myself.”
4. Start the tapping sequence. You can find an amazing and detailed illustration on how to do this here.

Sounds almost too good to be true, right? But why not give it a try because it’s free, doesn’t cause any discomfort and if it works, then all you have to lose is your anxiety.

I’m in! You?