I have become very interested in Acupressure. My sister uses it as a physical therapist to an extent, We have used it with our son to help eliminate allergies, and I think that school of thought is fascinating. Lucy Lui has talked about how it helps with wrinkles (which as a 30-something is on my mind as preventative) so I thought I would see what I could find out.
Acupressure has literally been around for ages. In terms of anti-aging it is much cheaper than creams, serums, surgery, etc. In China it is believed that a wrinkle is actually caused by stagnant Chi (the word for life force energy). This first facial exercise is designed to naturally eliminate crows feet and tone the entire eye area. Try these with me and let me know how you like them. I am excited to try these as well!!
Facial Exercise for Toning Around the EyesUsing your middle fingers work bi-laterally around each eye simultaneously. You may want to use some natural moisturizer or organic massage oil, and remember use slight pressure as you circle around each eye area.
First place your middle fingers at the beginning of your eyebrows. You are going to follow the top of your eyebrow to the end of your eyebrow and continue under your eye by pressing your fingers on the top of your cheekbones. Then continue to the inside corners of your eyes. Do this facial exercise in a circular motion around the eyes thirty times, and the complete set once daily.
Very few beauty professionals understand the crucial importance of how facial muscles interact to create our facial appearance. For example if you sleep on your stomach and smash your face into the pillow, over time you are going show signs of wrinkling wherever your face is continually stressed or squished. It is said that those who sleep on their backs often have younger looking faces with less wrinkling. With acupuncture you are not necessarily working each of the muscles independently, but you are stimulating the Chi, which in turn benefits and tones the muscles.
As you age, repetitive patterns cause some muscles to become over-exercised or pull on the face. This can cause jowls, turkey neck, baggy eyes and also premature wrinkles. So it is vital to stimulate the right facial muscles. Chinese regenerating face exercises can help the muscles remember your vital facial signature.
Facial Exercise for Revitalizing the Eyes
For this facial exercise we are going to stimulate the acupressure point at the side of your face about 1/4 to 1/2 inch beyond the outside corner of each eye. The second points to stimulate are directly under your pupil on the top edge of your cheekbone. This face exercise can soften fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Press each of the points bi-laterally for around three seconds, then release for a moment, and then repeat again for thirty counts. It is best to practice this pressure point exercise three times a day.
Ok – I just tried the technique. My face feels warmed up – for lack of a better term. My sorest points, which indicate a “chi stagnation” were between the middle and beginning of my eyebrow. Where were your sorest points?