Invigorating Traditional Chinese Exercises for the Face

January 13, 2021 | Tobey Strickland

Here are face exercises and massage techniques to firm and tone your face and neck, enhance local blood flow, relax you, and relieve common problems like headache, insomnia, anxiety, sore, tired eyes and nasal congestion. The exercises and techniques include face acupressure, face and head massage.

Acupressure & Face Massage Techniques

There are dozens of acupressure points on the face, and just as many massage techniques. However, all you need to get started is the five common points and two massage techniques shown below.

Locate the points with your index fingers.
Gently press them until you feel no more than a comfortable pain.
Hold the pressure while you knead the points with very small circular movements.
Breathe slowly and deeply and focus your mind on the points as you massage them.
Massage each point for 1-2 minutes several times a day.

As for the points

Point 1. Jingming in Chinese

Located on the inside edge of the orbit of each eye. Press and knead for sore, tired eyes and as a preventative against eye problems.

Point 2. Zanzhu

Located on the medial end of each eyebrow. Press and knead for frontal headache, sore, tired eyes, and as a preventative against eye problems.

Point 3. Taiyang

Located on the temples behind each eye. Use your index and middle fingers to press and knead for one or two-sided headaches, to calm the mind, and for eye problems. Also used preventatively.

Point 4. Yingxiang

Located next to each nostril. Press and knead for nasal congestion, sinusitis, rhinitis, and to prevent these problems. For greater effectiveness use your index fingers to rub up and down the sides of your nose between Yingxiang and Jingming (Point 1).

Point 5. Renzhong

Located under your nose, on the midline. Use your knuckle (or tip of your middle finger). Massaging this point draws energy up to your head. Also used as a revival point after fainting or shock.

Here are the techniques you can do

Technique 1. (Forehead Rub)

Use your index and middle fingers to rub across your forehead, from the middle to your temples. Massage and rub this area for frontal headache, insomnia, sore eyes, stress, and to prevent these problems.

Technique 2. (Head Massage)

Use the tips (including the nails) of your fingers and thumbs to massage your scalp from the midline to the sides, and from the front to the back of your head.

Benefits of Traditional Chinese Face Exercise

Chinese facial exercises are simple to do on yourself and others, and highly beneficial when done regularly. They can be applied in several ways:

To enhance your facial appearance by relaxing and toning your facial muscles and improving local blood flow.
To relieve common problems like headache, insomnia, nasal congestion, sinusitis, and sore eyes.
As a preventative therapy for the above kinds of problems.