Sunday, May 24, 2009

How To Give Yourself An Energizing Facial Massage

Give Yourself an Energizing Facial Massage. A facial massage is a great way to de-stress and unwind after a heavy day. This facial massage technique shows you how to perform the massage on yourself which means you can do it in the comfort of your own home at your leisure.

Step 1: Make yourself comfortable
You can do this massage in any setting, but it is more effective when the mind is calm and the body is relaxed. Find a quiet place if possible, either lying down or seated. Take a few deep breathes and if you wear glasses, remove them before starting.

Step 2: Head tapping
Firstly, start by gently tapping the head by drumming your fingertips all around the top of the scalp. This stimulates blood flow and brain cell activity. Carry on doing this for about 1 minute.

Step 3: Forward swipes
Next flatten both hands with your palms facing you and hold them at forehead level. Turn your head from left to right, alternate swiping the forehead with the fingers of the left and right hand. It should be your head that is moving and not your hands. Repeat this about 10 times to each side.

Step 4: Circle the eyes
With the hands still at eye level, now make loose fists while placing the thumbs on the cheekbones.
Starting at the bridge of the nose, firmly draw the knuckles of the index fingers in an arc across the eyebrows and down the outside of the eye.
Then once again starting from the bridge of the nose, this time draw the knuckles in an arc beneath the eyes on the crest of the cheekbones. Repeat this cycle approximately 10 times.

Step 5: Palming the cheeks
Once again open the hands and place the palms over the cheekbones.
Firmly draw the palms down towards the mouth, then continue along the bottom edge of the jawbone.
Follow the line of the jaw upwards, to just in front of the ears, then in along the cheekbones completing a cycle.
Repeat this cycle 10 times.

Step 6: Mouth swipes
Now turn the hands with fingertips pointing towards each other and the palms towards you as in the forehead swipes, but this time at mouth level.
Again, move the head side to side, swiping the mouth and lips with your fingertips. Remember it is the head that turns while the hands remain still. Repeat 10 times to each side

Step 7: Throat pull
Lowering the hands to neck level, we will now extend the thumbs and curve the fingers slightly.
Using very light pressure place one hand on the throat, and pull directly forward while closing the thumb and forefinger so that you tug gently at the skin as your hand slides off. This should not be painful or uncomfortable.
As the first hand slides off, the other hand is rising to repeat the process. With practice, you can achieve a steady rhythm.
Repeat with both hands 10 times.

Step 8: Ear massage
To begin, we are going to make "Spock" hands, that is, with your little finger and ring finger together and middle and index finger together.
Place the hands on the side of the head with the ears between the fingers and massage up and down.
Repeat this 10 times.
Now we will massage the ears. Starting at the tops, rub the ear firmly between thumb and the first two fingers. Continue down to the lobe covering the entire ear.
To finish give the earlobe a firm tug, then the middle of the ear, and finally the top.
Repeat this 3 times.

How To Massage Away A Headache

Step 1: Getting started
Try to find a quiet space where you can lower the lights, since bright lighting can aggravate a headache. Make yourself as comfortable as possible, either sitting or lying down, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.

Step 2: Scalp massage
With the finger tips of both hands, firmly massage the scalp by making small circles all over the head, focusing on the areas around the ears and at the base of the skull.
Continue this for about 2 minutes.

Step 3: Neck massage
Bring the hands to the back of the neck with fingers together and start massaging the muscles on each side of the spinal column. Take your time, work your way down the neck and then back up again. Repeat this 5 times.

Step 4: Facial pressure points
Now bring the hands around front and make loose fists with thumbs extended and pointing upwards. Place the thumbs at the bridge of the nose and apply light pressure for about 30 seconds.
Move the thumbs to the centre of the eyebrows and continue the upward pressure. Hold for 30 seconds then move to the outer corners of the eyes and apply pressure for another 30 seconds. Finally, bring the thumbs to the underside of the cheekbones directly below the eye and hold for 30 seconds.

Step 5: Temple massage
Now bring the hands to the side of the face and place the index and middle fingers on the temples. With light pressure, begin to make circles with the pads of the fingers, moving downwards at the front and then back up. This should be done slowly with each circle lasting about 3 seconds. Continue this for 1 or 2 minutes.
Without removing the fingers from the temples, extend the thumbs and place them one the upper jaw, just under the cheekbones. Maintain a slight pressure as you allow the jaw to relax, and slowly move the thumbs down, giving a light stretch between the temples and jaw.

Step 6: Other pressure points
Remember that many pressure points are not recommended for pregnant women, so check with your doctor if you think you may be.
Start by using the thumb and forefinger of one hand to pinch the skin between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, close to the base of the fingers. Hold this for about a minute and then switch hands.
If it is a sinus headache, you can apply strong pressure to the pads of the fingertips with the thumb. Start with the index finger, and continue with the pressure for about a minute, moving the thumb in small circles. You may even feel small granular objects that are slightly painful. This is normal but if it is too painful, move on to the next finger.
Finish all the fingers of one hand, then repeat on the other hand.
You can repeat this process on the toes as well if it is convenient. Finally, grasp the small toe on each foot, and apply thumb pressure to the lower outside corner of the nail. Hold this for about a minute.

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