Basic Face Massage

Massage is simply a special form of touch that works to increase blood flow to the muscles easing away toxins and releasing tension.Simple massage involves the first and most basic massage movement, stroking which involves the fingertips on the palms of the hands for a most comfortable massage, it is best to have short nails.

For the massage use 1 teaspoon of any oil for lubrication of the skin and rub gently unto fingertips.

Technique 1
Stroking up from the chin
start with your hands on either side of the face with your palms and fingertips, slowly stroke up the sides of the face and alter the forehead and glide back down again lightly. This procedure should be three times with emphasis in the movement is putting pressure up the face, and then easing off.

Technique 2
Stroking out over the forehead
Place your fingertips together in the middle of your forehead and then Pressed firmly and glide out to the sides, lift the fingers off return to the starting pose and repeat three times. This movement smooths out the forehead.

Technique 3
Stroking around the eyes
Using only a minimal amount of oil to ease the movement, the fingertiips should be placed at the sides of your eyes and the bony edge around the eye socket stroked. Work up over the eyebrows and down the centre of the nose, under both eyes and then return to the starting position. repeat this three times. this movement will help to improve the skin around the eyes and also improve eyestrain.

Technique 4
Stroking under the cheekbones
Starting slowly and close to the nose, with your hands on the inner side of each cheek make small circles with pressure and continue making small circles all the way to your ears. Special attention must be given to the areas underneath the ear (where the temporo mandibular joint) is located. Massage this area three times and repeat the sequence. this movement works in helping to tone the cheek muscles which are some of the hardest working muscles on our face.

Technique 4
Kneading the chin
Starting with your hands in the middle of your chin, with your fingertips facing outward and your thumbs under your chin, make small kneading movements all the way along your jaw, out toward your ears and back to the middle. This movement should be repeated three times which tones the muscles and circulation of the jaw area.

Technique 6
Knuckling the cheeks
Make your hands into loose fists and knuckle the area just under your cheekbones for a few minutes, using slow and deliberate movements, first in onedirection then the other. You will be able to feel your teeth under the muscles of the cheeks; notice any tension in this area while you are working. these muscles can ache due to the grinding of teeth at night.

Sources

1. Harding J. 10 Minute Facelift. Paragon Publishing 2005. Queens Street House
2. Massage Yourself a Facelift. Retrieved from "www.care2.com/greenliving/maggage-yourself-a-face-lift.htm" June 7th 2009