Ear Seeds and Energy Flow: A Gentle Introduction to Acupressure for Yogis

At Jiaren Yoga Studio, we believe healing begins with awareness — of your body, your breath, and your energy. Many of our students come to yoga seeking calm and balance, and lately, one tiny but powerful practice has been catching everyone’s attention: ear seeds.

If you’ve seen them — little gold or crystal-like beads gently pressed on the ear — you might wonder what they do. Ear seeds come from auriculotherapy, a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) based on the idea that the ear is a microsystem reflecting the entire body. Each point on the ear corresponds to a specific organ or emotional state. When these points are stimulated, they help restore energetic balance — much like how yoga postures realign the body and mind.

✨ How Ear Seeds Work

During an ear seed session, tiny beads (often made from vaccaria seeds or metal) are placed on specific acupressure points on your ear using small adhesive patches. You gently press on them throughout the day to activate those points. The stimulation encourages the body’s natural healing response, improving sleep, stress levels, digestion, and focus.

Think of it as a mini meditation tool you carry everywhere — each time you pause to press the ear seeds, you take a moment to breathe and reconnect with your inner calm.

🧘‍♀️ Ear Seeds and Yoga: The Perfect Pair

Yoga and acupuncture share the same philosophy of energy flow — what yoga calls Prana, acupuncture calls Qi. Both aim to remove blockages that cause fatigue, tension, or emotional imbalance.

After a yoga practice, your body is already open, your mind quiet, and your energy moving freely. Adding ear seeds after class can deepen that sense of balance — helping your nervous system stay in the “rest and digest” mode longer. Many of our students say they sleep better, recover faster, and feel more centered in the days following their session.

💫 Try It for Yourself

We now offer ear seed acupressure sessions with Dr. Junhwa Kim, L.Ac, Ph.D., IFMCP from Santa Clara Acupuncture, who specializes in integrative medicine and nervous system regulation. Each mini-session is personalized to your needs — whether you’re seeking stress relief, focus, or better sleep.

It’s a gentle, beautiful way to extend your self-care beyond the yoga mat — reminding you that healing isn’t something you have to chase; it’s something you can nurture daily, one breath and one tiny seed at a time.

🌿 Interested in trying ear seeds?

Dr. Kim is offering a weekly Ear Seed session very Saturday at 3 PM at Jiaren Yoga Studio. You’re also welcome to reach out anytime to learn more about how acupuncture and yoga can work together to support your wellbeing. To further deepen your treatment, you can schedule a one-on-one acupuncture session with Dr. Kim through our studio schedule or contact him directly at junhwa@santaclaraacupuncture.com.

About Santa Clara Acupuncture & Functional Medicine

Santa Clara Acupuncture & Functional Medicine (SCAFM) brings the best of Traditional Chinese Medicine to the local community. Conveniently located in a quiet, private medical plaza at 2100 Forest Ave, Suite 101, San Jose (across from O’Connor Hospital), our clinic provides a calm and supportive healing environment. At SCAFM, we integrate a variety of traditional and modern modalities — including acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, herbal medicine, massage, and lifestyle support — to address each patient’s unique health concerns with a holistic approach. Our goal is to help individuals achieve better health, balance, and an improved quality of life through personalized care. We specialize in the management of a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Chronic pain
• Anxiety and stress
• Insomnia and sleep disturbances
• Digestive dysfunction
• Women’s health and hormonal balance