3 Ways to Do Chinese Facial Exercises

1. Release Pressure with Acupressure Points

To do Chinese facial exercises, you must learn the location of the acupressure points on your face. Your face has dozens of these points, which release pressure in your sinus area, reduce fatigue in areas like your eyes and alleviate other symptoms like nasal congestion or headaches. Facial acupressure charts can identify these locations. Once you locate the relevant points, gently press to the point of comfortable pain. You may want to rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being extremely painful. Keep your pain level between 3 to 5 as you work the pressure points. Hold the pressure and massage the area with small circular motions. Concentrate on breathing slowly and massage each point for 1 to 2 minutes each day. For symmetrical acupressure points, which are located in the same place on opposite sides of your face, press the points at the same time.

2. Massage Away Wrinkles

Face exercises reduce the appearance of wrinkles and tone the skin to keep it looking young. Think of it as a face lift without the surgery. When you combine acupressure points with massage techniques, you release stress from facial areas, stretch your skin and improve your complexion. Toning the skin tightens the areas around your eyes and mouth, which commonly develop wrinkles. Don't help gravity as you massage. Massage upward to lift the skin rather than downward. On your forehead, pull your fingers out toward your ears instead of bunching your skin in the middle of your forehead. As you massage, use the balls of your fingertips to apply pressure. Sensitive spots typically indicate areas in need of more attention.

3. Rejuvenate Your Chi

In China, many believe wrinkles indicate a stagnant life force energy, which they call Chi. Before you perform Chinese facial exercises, rub your palms together briskly. According to some Chinese acupuncturists, 36 back and forth movements create optimal Chi. As you do this, you should feel your palms warm from the friction. Now, massage your acupressure points. To rejuvenate Chi around your eyes, place your middle and index fingers at the beginning of your eyebrows, near the point closest to your nose. Walk your fingers around your eyes in a circular motion and cross your eyebrows before moving down and around your eyes along your cheek bone. Complete 36 movements to optimize your Chi.