It's no mistake they call the numbers and hands on a clock a "face." Time and stress can leave its tracks on your face with every passing hour.
Stress can take its toll on your health and your smile. But facial acupressure - a rejuvenating spa quality massage that will have you looking better, and give your spirits a lift - is right at your fingertips.
Acupressure massages for your face work like full body massages. Just as you can strengthen muscles, increase circulation and release tension from other parts of your body, you can brighten your skin, smooth out furrowed brows and strengthen every facial muscle with acupressure.
Acupressure can also boost your immune system and raises physical energy, both which make it easier to put on a happy face.
Facial exercises are called many things: yoga, reflexology, acupressure. But they all have the same purpose, to increase your blood circulation, give your muscles a workout and get your Qi flowing strong and healthy!
Wrinkles and sagging skin are caused by several factors: A breakdown in collagen, the protein fibers in the skin that keep skin strong and springy; overexposure to radiation, from too much sun or tanning beds; dehydration caused by excessive heat, not drinking enough water, or even from eating too much refined or processed sugar that cause skin aging glycation; and stress which constricts muscles, blood vessels all cause wear and tear on our youthful appearance.
Here is a quick and easy facial exercise that will leave your skin glowing, your face relaxed and your heart happy.
5-Minute Acupressure Facial
An acupressure facelift or facial reflexology massage is similar in technique and benefits to body tapping and EFT in that it wakes up stagnant energy.
Stimulating acupressure points stimulates the flow of energy through your meridians and helps balance your emotions.
A quick tour around your face's acupressure points will increase both blood and Qi circulation, move lymph, flush toxins and tone muscle.
Generally, using your middle finger offers the most stability for facial acupressure massage. But you can choose whichever and how many fingers work best for you for any given point.
1.
Begin with the Breath
Standing or sitting quietly, close your eyes or keep them partly open.
Smile slightly while taking in three to five deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling through your nose each time.
2. Tune In
Begin at the point at the center of your forehead, between your eyebrows, and gently massage it with the tip of your middle finger, moving in slow, counterclockwise circles. This will help you focus and relax.
3. Press Your Points
Next, place both middle fingers at the inner tips of your eyebrows, gently pressing into the skin and massaging outward with small sweeping motions.
Continue until you feel all the tiny muscles in your brow area soften and relax. Then, gently press the tips of both your thumbs into either side of the ridge of your brow. Massage all around your eyes, brow ridge and the bones of your upper nose.
Remember to keep breathing slowly and deeply, expelling each breath completely.
When you are ready to move on, gently squeeze and press along the entire length of your eyebrows with your thumbs and index fingers.
If you feel any pain or tension along these points, lighten up the pressure but keep massaging, working out the knots and congestion.
Now massage the acupressure points at the outside of your brows, near your temples. Move to the points on your cheeks, placing your fingertips just below and in line with your pupils. Keep massaging your cheekbones in a counter clockwise direction.
Move to the corners of your mouth, massaging also counter clockwise and using as little or as much pressure you find comfortable.
Place the tip of your middle finger at the point between the tip of your nose and your upper lip, moving in slow circles.
Move to the point between your chin and lower lip. When you are done massaging this point, switch the the pad of your thumbs and gently tap or rub all along the outline of your lower jaw, from the center of your chin, outward until you come to just below your ears and the outer points of your mandibular joint.
Turn your palms upward and switch to your middle fingers again. Massage behind your ears, the back of your skull, up into your hairline.
4. Start Tapping
Gently scratch, rub and squeeze the muscles at the back of your head and upper spine. Keep doing this until you really feel your blood and energy flowing. Most people feel a soft, warm buzz right about now.
Next, come back to your temples and, using your the tips of both your middle and index fingers, gently tap the sides of your forehead, your temples, the outer creases of your eyes. Continue along the lower orbital bones or eye socket.
Keep tapping, along your cheekbones, the sides of your nose, your upper jaw, along your hairline, and, finally, the top of your head.
With all five fingertips of both hands, tap, tap, tap, along the top of your head, from front to back and outward toward your ears. Keep tapping your head for 30 to 60 seconds.
5. Finish
Put the finishing touch on your facial acupressure massage by vigorously rubbing your palms together to create heat then gently laying them over each eye. Press your lower palms into your cheekbones while your fingers lie lightly over your eyes, brows and forehead.
Press the outer sides of your hands toward your nose. Take in one long, noisy breath through your nose, hold for three seconds and exhale through your mouth. Repeat for two more breaths.
With your hands still over your eyes, smile and imagine what you want to see happen in your life today or in this moment.
Slowly take your hands away. Now maybe you'll face the world in a whole new way!
Massaging acupressure points from 30-60 seconds each, daily or several times a week, can dramatically improve the quality of your facial muscles and skin tone.
By following these energy giving, life affirming tips, you can realize true, lasting health that will have you looking good and feeling great long into the future.