Everyone knows the wonderful effect of masks, creams, serums and lotions on the face - they help the skin remain beautiful at any age. But you can double the effectiveness of these cosmetics if you pamper your delicate skin with a therapeutic massage that has a beneficial effect. One of the most popular techniques is Shiatsu acupressure facial massage. Under its influence, human self-healing mechanisms are activated.
Japanese girls have smooth, even skin like porcelain. They owe these qualities to Shiatsu, which every Japanese woman should be able to do.
What is Shiatsu massage
This ancient procedure is a licensed medical therapy approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health. Shiatsu massage technique works on the same principle as Chinese acupuncture, as well as acupressure, which is fashionable nowadays. All of them are designed to achieve harmonization of vital energy, using hands or special tools to influence special points. The name of the Japanese Shiatsu massage technique is translated as “finger pressure”: SHI (SI) = finger, ATSU (ACU) = pressure (fingers on energy points).
Shiatsu massage - pressing with fingers and palms on special points of the body and face to treat diseases and rejuvenate the body. This practice is based on the theory of qi circulation; it is believed that stagnation of energy in the body provokes various diseases. Massage helps remove blockages in energy channels and improve hormonal and psychological imbalances.
The Shiatsu manual suggests using the thumb, fingers, elbows, and feet to perform the massage, but does not use any other tools to apply pressure to the skin. Modern science recognizes 692 active points on the human body, traditional acupressure suggests influencing 360, but in practice only 150 are used.
During cosmetic skin correction, the energy points of the face are affected, thus releasing a flow of energy. Due to this, the skin tightens, wrinkles and other age-related changes disappear. Shiatsu therapy is very pleasant, calming and induces complete relaxation.
The procedure in the beauty salon includes several stages, after which the client receives glowing skin and pleasant relaxation. When correcting the face using massage, an instant effect is noticeable.
It is not difficult to perform this procedure at home. You don't need to have a medical education to do this. The procedure includes:
- basic makeup removal;
- cleansing the skin with peeling using a light massage;
- impact on shiatsu points;
- applying an active enzyme serum to the face;
- For the eye area, use a special collagen mask or any other.
Simple and effective
The name of this acupressure comes from two Japanese words - “pressure” and “finger”. Its author, Japanese Tokujiro Namikoshi , based on classical anatomy and Tibetan medicine, invented it at the beginning of the twentieth century to treat rheumatoid arthritis in his mother.
The method turned out to be so universal, simple and effective that it soon gained a lot of fans and was officially recognized in Japan. It began to be used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases, including for cosmetic purposes to maintain healthy skin. By the way, Dr. Namikoshi himself, who actively used his own technique, lived to be 95 years old and looked surprisingly young in his old age. Article on the topic How to do facial massage? Step-by-step instruction
It has been proven that regular use of shiatsu massage strengthens facial muscles, smoothes existing wrinkles and slows down the formation of new ones, both facial and static. The reflex effect on biologically active points located on the face naturally stimulates the accelerated production of collagen and elastin - structural proteins that are responsible for the elasticity and turgor of the skin, improves capillary blood circulation and lymph flow. And, by the way, it normalizes sebum secretion, which helps in the treatment of acne.
When is the best time to perform Shiatsu massage?
Morning is considered the ideal time for massage. You can turn to a professional for this service, but it is quite possible to learn how to do it yourself. If the procedure is carried out in the morning, the person receives a boost of energy for the whole day. Shiatsu improves the tone and appearance of the skin, restores its elasticity, prevents the appearance of wrinkles, smoothes existing ones, removes swelling, improves metabolism, blood circulation in the skin and muscles. And at the same time, the functions of the reproductive, digestive, and endocrine systems are noticeably improved. And the headache goes away, if not forever, then for a long time.
Beautiful eye points
Paired points on the tails of the eyebrows and in the outer corners of the eyes help relax the orbicularis oculi muscle. This is where crow's feet form due to constant blinking and squinting, and the tight muscle pulls the upper eyelids down. The movement of blood and lymph is disrupted: congestion and swelling around the eyes, dark circles appear.
Massaging these points will help reduce the scale of the tragedy, lift the tails of the eyebrows, make wrinkles around the eyes less noticeable, and make the look itself more open and welcoming. And, of course, improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage in this area.
How to perform Shiatsu facial massage
After washing your face in the morning, giving yourself a maximum of fifteen minutes of time, concentrate on your internal sensations to perform simple gymnastics. When you massage, try not to displace or stretch the delicate skin of your face. Movements must be made very softly, easily and slowly.
Acupressure is done in two ways: with your hands, or with specially designed balls called ki-gong. They are pressed against the skin and rotated clockwise.
Tips from cosmetologists
If you perform Japanese massage at home, then it is worth studying the recommendations of specialists.
- To enhance the effective impact of massage, experts recommend doing it when you have enough time. It is not recommended to carry it out in a hurry, since you need to find the points correctly.
- The next important recommendation: the nervous system should be calm, the mood should be good, the mood should be for positive changes in the body.
- The direction of pressure on active areas should be perpendicular to the skin.
- When treating eyelids, ears and neck, press for only 3 seconds. Nails should be trimmed to avoid damaging the skin. Treat symmetrical points with both hands simultaneously.
- It is advisable to process the points not randomly, but in a certain order. Looking at the pictures above in the text, you can easily follow this recommendation.
- After a Shiatsu session, wipe your face with toner, then rest for at least 20 minutes. Don’t get down to business right away, because the body is restructuring its work.
Simple tips will help you get the maximum positive effect from Shiatsu.
Shiatsu massage technique
The movements are performed with the fingers:
- the finger is perpendicular to the surface of the skin;
- press hard on a special point;
- hold the pressure for at least 7 seconds (unless a different time is written in the exercise);
- Small circular movements are allowed without displacing the skin.
figure 2
For eyes
To make your eyes sparkle, swelling of the eyelids to disappear, and vision to improve, lightly press your fingers on the inner corner of your eye for three seconds. Perform 3 times.
For eye fatigue (reading, computer) or myopia, massage the midpoint on the eyebrows.
To remove crow's feet, pressing on points located at a distance of a centimeter from the outside of the eye helps. Pressure is applied for 7 seconds, while the movement is directed slightly upward and towards the temples.
For forehead wrinkles
Press with your fingers on the points shown in the diagram (Figure 2). Pressure is directed towards the temples. After 7 seconds, move the fingers a little further and so on across the forehead, moving towards the temples. To reduce headaches, apply with all fingers from the middle of the forehead to the hairline.
Remove wrinkles from the mouth
To prevent the appearance of folds around the mouth: massage the skin of the corners of the lips for half a minute with the tips of the thumb and index finger. Start from the center under the lower lip and move towards the edges of the lips. The point under the lower lip helps with facial paralysis, toothache and swelling of the face.
The point above the upper lip is used to prevent purse-string wrinkles. Place the middle finger on a special point (see Figure 2), the index and ring fingers next to it on the upper lip. 5-6 clicks are enough. Use a point in the nasolabial fold in case of fainting.
Tighten your cheeks
The figure shows points along the edge of the upper cheekbone. Press on all six at the same time and massage for 7 seconds.
Remove jowls, improve facial contours
The thumbs are placed under the jaw, the rest are on the points indicated in Figure 2, the fingers are squeezed for 7 seconds. Then they rearrange the composition a little further, following the arrow in the picture. The movements are repeated until they reach the end of the lower jaw. A full cycle requires 4 - 5 approaches.
Basic exercises must be performed every day in the morning, then the skin will remain fresh and radiant for a long time. After the massage, apply a cream appropriate to your skin type.
For wrinkles on the bridge of the nose
Look at Figure 2. The area to get rid of wrinkles on the bridge of the nose is between the eyebrows. The highest point, this is the third eye, is massaged in a circular motion. Helps with headaches, runny nose, flu, nosebleeds. The other three are designed to remove wrinkles. Massage them with the index, middle and ring fingers for 7 seconds, you can do several approaches.
Smooth forehead points
Three important points for us are located in the area between the eyebrows. The point in the middle - the “third eye” - is considered one of the most important in Eastern medicine. Here is the proud muscle, the hyperspasm of which gives our face a heavy, gloomy expression.
Two points at the edges of the eyebrow heads help relax the paired muscle that raises the eyebrow, open your eyes, and make your face more open. Need I say that it is these muscles that form the hated vertical wrinkles between the eyebrows and cause the effect of “overhanging” eyebrows?
The secret to quick rejuvenation
The famous Japanese makeup artist, creator of Evangelist cosmetics, suggests combining lymphatic and acupressure massage for quick rejuvenation. The specialist claims that this approach will help you quickly get rid of waste, toxins, and excess water in the body.
visagiste
“When two healing techniques are performed simultaneously, the lymphatic and circulatory systems begin to work effectively, metabolism returns to normal, so rapid facial rejuvenation occurs.”
— Yanagijuku Jukucho
First, lymphatic massage is performed, and then acupressure.
Lymphatic
Stagnant lymph allows waste and toxins into the body. Massage improves the circulation of lymphatic fluid and removes congestion in the lymph nodes. By improving the circulation of the lymphatic system, it is easy to get rid of excess water in the body, cellulite, dull complexion, dry skin, wrinkles and many other ailments. In addition, lymphatic massage improves metabolism and blood circulation in the body.
pic 3
To obtain a rejuvenating effect, it is necessary to follow the massage technique.
- All exercises are carried out exactly along the lines indicated in Figure 3 and exactly in the direction where the arrows point.
- The procedure is performed with the entire hand, with exceptions being places where it is not possible to do this.
- Lymph is located between the skin and muscles. Lightly stroking your face will give you a skin massage. Pressing hard on the muscles. Therefore, the pressure on the skin should be medium.
- The point of the Japanese procedure is to disperse the lymph to the lymph nodes, so from the beginning to the end of each movement, the hands are not taken off the skin. Any manipulations on the lymph nodes end (see Fig. 3, marked in yellow).
- Each movement is performed at least three times; if the face is neglected, 5 approaches are required.
Massage movements:
- We smooth the forehead and drive the lymph to the ear (the lymph node is located here), and we do the same with the chin.
- From the nasolabial fold we move our hands to the ear, without lifting them from the skin.
- We draw lines from the eyes through the lower cheekbone to the lymph node.
- Starting from the outside of the eye, draw a semicircle, moving along the lower cheekbone to the nose, along the eyebrow and to the lymph node.
- Starting from the ear, we run our hands along the neck, to the collarbone (to the next lymph node).
Modern Medicine Explained
Shiatsu makes the body “soft”, restores its mobility, relieves muscle spasms, calms the nervous system, and removes pathological changes in the body.
Experts have found scientific confirmation of the unprecedented effect of acupressure. When you press a finger on a point, the blood in this place temporarily stops its movement. At the same time, lymph outflows, irritation of nerve endings, muscle relaxation, and stimulation of the bioenergy zone occur.
As soon as the pressure stops, blood flows to the treated area with renewed vigor. And this leads to an acceleration of cell renewal.
To get rid of wrinkles on the forehead
To prevent wrinkles in the forehead area, you should monitor your facial expressions, try to monitor your dissatisfaction and surprise, and relax your facial muscles in time. Preventive and rejuvenating massage helps maintain attractiveness and get rid of existing facial wrinkles.
To find the reference point, place the pads of three fingers vertically on both sides of the frontal fold.
In this case, the ring fingers will be located 1.5 cm above the beginning of the eyebrows. Massage these points for 7 seconds. Next, move the fingertips 1 cm towards the temple and press again, until the fingers move to the temporal region.
After such a massage, it is good to stroke in the same direction. This exercise is very easy and can be done several times a day. At the same time, the forehead muscles relax, and wrinkles lose their firmness. You should not expect an immediate effect, given the time it takes for the folds to form. Improvements will be noticeable no earlier than 2 months of regular care.
Points against nasolabial folds
The muscle that lifts the upper lip is woven into the skin of the nasolabial fold with its tail. And, as you understand, there is nothing good here. Violation of its tone becomes the main reason for the formation of nasty nasolabial wrinkles, even at a fairly young age. But we know what to do: the anti-nasolabial points are located in small depressions, right next to the wings of the nose.
And here we talk about other ways, How to remove nasolabial folds?
Contraindications
In order not to harm the body, you should study the contraindications to Shiatsu massage.
The method must not be used in the following situations:
- There are scratches on the dermis, allergies or dermatitis have appeared.
- Herpes, acne or ulcers on the face.
- A person often experiences a decrease in intracranial pressure.
- In case of exacerbation of chronic diseases or poor health.
Massage is allowed to be used when these problems disappear.
