Muscle testing can be used in a client and practitioner setting, but did you know you can use this simple tool to gain insight into your own needs as well? Self muscle testing refers to using muscle testing techniques to identify, through your subconscious knowledge, answers to questions about the body and mind. Using this muscle testing tool can empower you with the knowledge to heal yourself. 

Self-testing can also be a great way to get comfortable with muscle testing before using it on others. Practice can help you become more familiar with the techniques, confident in your abilities, and knowledgeable about what questions to ask. 

What is muscle testing?

Muscle testing is a method that has been developed over years of study, as a way to gain access to your subconscious mind. It is used in many natural healing practices and is said to help practitioners determine the body’s response to certain foods, supplements, emotions, and more. The main idea behind muscle testing is that the body will respond with a weak or adverse response to something that doesn’t benefit your body’s energy and a strong, positive response to something that is good for your body. 

How a positive or a negative response presents itself depends on the test that is used. There are quite a few different methods, such as the Sway Test, the Ring-in-Ring Test, the Elbow Test, and more. However, the basic premise is the same with all of these tests. 

How to self muscle test

To try muscle testing on yourself, we recommend the techniques described below. Start with the Sway Test, it’s one of the simplest ways to get started using muscle testing and is easy to learn. We believe that with this method, your body will give you the answers you’re looking for! 

Learn more about muscle testing techniques with our Beginner’s Guide to Muscle Testing 

  1. Find a quiet moment. Choose a calm space where you won’t be interrupted.
  2. Drink a glass of water. Being well hydrated can help your responses come through more clearly.
  3. Take a few deep breaths. Relax your body and let go of any expectations about what the answers “should” be.
  4. Set an intention. Some people like to silently ask for help from above, or set the intention to receive clear, honest answers.
  5. Start with a baseline. Before asking deeper questions, test a few simple statements you know are true or false. For example, start with “My name is [your name]” and “My name is [a different name]”, so you can see what yes and no feel like for you. When you get an accurate and clear answer for each of these exercises, and you can confidently interpret your answers, you have achieved a proper baseline test. This means that you’re testable and you can go forward to the next step!
  6. Next, choose deeper questions to ask. What aspect of your health and happiness are you going to use self-muscle testing to better understand? Then, determine how you can phrase this inquiry as a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question.

The Sway Test

The Sway Test is one of the easiest self-tests to learn.

  1. Stand comfortably with your feet about hip-width apart, arms relaxed at your sides. If standing isn’t an option, you can sit toward the front of a chair with your back not touching anything.
  2. Close your eyes, if that feels comfortable, and let your body settle.
  3. Make a true statement out loud or in your mind, like “My name is [your name].”
  4. Wait a few seconds and notice what happens. Don’t try to move. Simply let your body respond.
  5. Look for a gentle sway. For a true or congruent statement, your body will usually sway forward. For a false or incongruent statement, it will generally sway backward.
  6. Try a false statement to feel the difference.
  7. Once you have a feel for what a “yes” and a “no” feel like, the options are endless for what you can ask your body.

Tip: The sway may be subtle at first. Give yourself time to start feeling the gentle movement, and try not to anticipate the answer.

The Ring-in-Ring Test

The Ring-in-Ring Test is easy to do anywhere, even while sitting.

  1. Make a ring with one hand by touching the tip of your thumb to the tip of one of your fingers.
  2. Make a second ring with your other hand, linking it through the first ring like two links in a chain.
  3. Hold both rings with light, steady pressure. You’ll want enough tension to keep them closed, but not so much that they can’t open.
  4. Make a statement, such as “My name is [your name].”
  5. Gently pull your hands apart. If the rings stay locked together, that usually indicates a true or congruent response. If one ring opens and your hands slip apart more easily, that usually indicates a false or incongruent response.
  6. Reset and repeat with a false statement to compare.
  7. Keep practicing to get a feel for this technique.

Tip: Try using less pressure if you’re struggling to determine a consistent answer.

The Elbow Test

The Elbow Test gives you a clear, physical response.

  1. Hold one arm out in front of you, with your elbow bent and your upper arm relaxed by your side. Your forearm should be roughly parallel to the floor, palm facing down.
  2. Place the fingers of your other hand on top of your wrist or forearm.
  3. Make a statement, like “My name is [your name].”
  4. Press down very gently on your wrist.
  5. Notice how your arm responds. If your arm stays strong and holds its position, that usually indicates a true or congruent response. If your arm weakens and drops, that usually indicates a false or incongruent response.
  6. Relax, reset, and repeat with a false statement to compare.
  7. Repeat until you feel confident in interpreting your answers.

Tip: Use light, even pressure, just enough to notice whether it holds or gives way.

Testing with a Pendulum

Some people find it easier to see their responses with a simple tool, like a pendulum or a bobber. These devices can amplify the small, subtle movements of your body, making yes and no answers easier to observe.

Using a pendulum:

A pendulum is a string or chain with a weight on the end, sometimes a crystal or stone.

  1. Hold the chain or string between your thumb and index finger, letting the pendulum hang freely a few inches below your hand. You might rest your elbow on a table if it helps keep your hand steady.
  2. Test a few true and false statements to observe your “yes” and your “no”. There can be a fair amount of variation from person to person with a pendulum; it may swing back and forth, side to side, or in a circle. Take some time to familiarize yourself with how the movement looks for you.
  3. Once you know your yes and no, you can begin asking simple yes-or-no questions.

Tip: Your yes and no movements may be different from someone else’s, and that’s completely okay. What matters is that they’re consistent for you.

If Your Answers Feel Unclear

  • Take a break and come back to it later.
  • Drink water and take a few deep breaths.
  • Try a different test. Many people find one method feels much more natural than the others.
  • Recheck your baseline with simple true and false statements.
  • Schedule a session with a Certified Practitioner in case you need to release something that’s keeping you from determining answers clearly.
  • Be patient with yourself. Muscle testing is a skill, and it will improve with practice and time!

This is not a full list of muscle testing techniques, just a few of the most popular! You can try these exercises with many different questions. For example, try holding a certain food and observing if your body responds to it in a positive or negative way. If you’re uncertain about your responses, try asking a few questions that you already know the answer to, and see how the body responds. For a few suggestions, visit our blog post with more questions you can ask yourself while practicing muscle testing.

Every time you practice muscle testing, you’re building a skill that can support you for a lifetime. Be patient with yourself, celebrate the small wins, and remember that the more you practice muscle testing, the more confident you’ll become. Once you have some experience using this amazing tool, you will be empowered to take your well-being into your own hands! While we highly recommend consulting with a doctor for serious medical issues and before making changes in any medical treatments, using self muscle testing with The Emotion Code®, Body Code®, and Belief Code® can be a wonderful way to tap into your own knowledge about your personal needs. 

When you’re ready to put your muscle testing skills into action, Energy Healing Essentials is a free, beginner-friendly course that shows you how. You’ll learn the basics of releasing trapped emotions, enjoy guided meditations and a reflection journal, and even get a free 1-on-1 coaching call with a Certified Practitioner. It’s the perfect place to start turning your new skill into real, meaningful change.

Start Energy Healing Essentials