With the holidays approaching and our schedules becoming even more hectic, I find my own and my client’s number one complaint is how to stick to a consistent regimen and give ourselves the time we deserve. We have so much on our plate as it is but we are still entitled to a snatched jawline, sculpted cheekbones and even if we don’t get the sleep required to look refreshed we still want the glow! Women are master multi-taskers yet we tend to make ourselves the last priority on the list. Let’s do something about that!
If you follow me, you know I am a hard core believer in Gua Sha and giving ourselves the opportunity to take 5 minutes to incorporate its magic into our everyday routine. This ancient Chinese skincare method is actually referred to as “Botox of the Far East” and works as a natural alternative to botox.
What are the benefits of Gua Sha?
This ancient Chinese practice can benefit us internally and externally.
• Increase circulation
• Relieve facial and muscular tension
• Breaking down fascia adhesions
• Helps with collagen production
• Can shorten illnesses like colds and flu
• Reduces inflammation
• Sculpts and tones the skin
• Aids in lymphatic drainage
Important info about using your tool
• Make sure your face is clean and ready to apply oil
• Apply a skincare oil or balm that doesn’t absorb into the skin right away. This is essential to avoid any tugging on the skin.
• DO NOT FORGET to stretch the shoulders, neck and scalp. Most of our tension held in the face stems from tension in our neck, shoulders and scalp.
• Keep your stone flat and as close to the skin as possible. Keeping it at a 15-degree angle is what you want to focus on.
• For sculpting and toning, we will be using light to medium pressure. When you are performing lymph drainage alone, the pressure is feather light. Use this light pressure to prep our skin on the neck before moving into sculpting and toning.
• Make sure to avoid acne breakouts. You can safely work under and above but not directly on. Working the neck alone can help decrease acne inflammation and clear out fluids to promote optimal circulation.
Here is the sequence in which you work:
3-5x passes working up to open your neck and shoulders. Take your time with this.
3-5x pulses on your supraclavicular node (spot right behind your clavicle)
3-5 passes DOWN the neck (cervical chain)
3-5 passes under the jawline and down the neck
3-5 passes on jawline working out any tender spots
3-5 passes from corner of mouth out to your ear and down the neck
3-5 passes with working areas of concern around jowls, mouth (working up the face into your hairline, fine lines around mouth and nasal labial folds (smile lines)
3-10 passes where you are using medium pressure to sculpt under the cheekbone lifting into the hairline by top of ear.
3-5 passes of pumping under the eye and down the neck
3-5 passes of holding your tool straight out from the skin to gently work under the eye and out into the hairline
3-5 passes of pumping along the side of the nose and down the neck
3-5 passes of lifting the brow bone into the hairline for a
3-5 passes over the brow itself to smooth out and into the hairline
3-5 passes smoothing out the forehead into the hairline
PRESSURE
Lymphatic Drainage- feather like (feels as though not much is happening- that means you’ve got it right.)
Connective tissue and working the muscle (sculpting, lifting) – medium to firm
Make sure to check out all my tutorial videos on my YouTube Channel to see step by step how you can master Gua Sha.
Also, make sure to follow me on IG and TikTok for my tips, tutorials and techniques on how to get your glow on.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful Holiday Season and a new year filled with health, happiness and abundance.
Jennifer Adell
Xoxo
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