Keep It Flowing
On these cold winter days, it can be difficult to motivate to move our bodies. We want to stay cozy on our couch with our phones, Netflix or a good book. It is important that we take time to keep the flow moving throughout our system. Constantly looking down at our devices causes weak muscles, tension and keeps things stuck.
Creating energy flow, blood flow and lymph flow will aid in strengthening our immune system and our mood. This will also prevent stagnation in the body and will show on our skin.
When it comes to the skin, stagnation appears as puffiness, under-eye bags and dark circles, prominent jowls, dull dry skin, acne and redness. Contrary to old beliefs, it is important to move the skin.
Moving the skin with massage, gentle sweeping movements or stretching will create blood circulation, which will bring nourishment to the skin.
It will stimulate the lymph to move, which will carry waste out of the skin and will also help to hydrate the skin from the inside. The lymphatic system does not have its own pump. It relies on us moving our body and blood circulation to move efficiently.
Here are a few tips that you can do daily to promote circulation in the body to improve the overall health of your skin. I have also included a video here to demonstrate some of the techniques.
- Tapping: Start lightly tapping out toward the underarms then in toward the sternum, up to the clavicle, neck, jaw and face — starting inward and working out. Tap to the top of the head and above the ears to the back of the skull back down the neck, ending at the clavicle. Always start on the chest or neck before working up to the top of the head. This will open things up for proper drainage.
- Sweeping: Make a “V” with your fingers and place on either side of your ears. Using very light pressure, quickly rub up and down the front and back of the ears for about 20 seconds. Then use your fingertips to gently tap down the sides of the neck to the clavicle five times. This is a major lymphatic passageway, and there are many lymph nodes around the ear and down the sides of the neck. You can then use your hands to lightly sweep the face, starting on the forehead out to the sides of the face and down the neck. You may do this with dry hands and a dry face or apply a small amount of oil.
- Massage: After cleansing the skin, apply a moisturizer or small amount of oil to the skin. Using your knuckles, apply mild to moderate pressure on the masseter (muscle on outer face in front of the ears) and massage in a circular motion. Then take the knuckles of your first three fingers, place on the sides of your nose and massage firmly under the cheek muscles out to the sides of the face. This will help relieve sinus pressure and define the cheeks. Massage is intuitive so you can always do what feels good and will relieve tension.
- Dry Body Brushing: This is ideal for the entire body. Starting at the feet, on dry skin use a natural bristle brush to lightly sweep up the legs toward the heart. Move to the torso, arms, and back, all moving toward the heart. You don’t want to apply pressure as you are targeting the lymphatic vessels, which are right under the skin. Dry brushing not only activates the lymphatic system, which will boost immunity, but also gently exfoliates the skin, increases blood flow and improves energy.
- Stretching and Breathing: Whether you do yoga, pilates or any type of intuitive stretching that feels good, you are bringing blood, nourishment, and oxygen to the muscles and to the skin. Breathing oxygenates the blood and again aids in stimulating lymphatic drainage. These activities can be calming or energizing.
By doing one or all of these techniques daily, you will be amazed at how something so simple and natural will increase the hydration in your skin, improve the texture, reduce puffiness and create more of a healthy glow inside and out. Please be sure to watch the video for a demonstration on some of these techniques by clicking the link.
I hope you give these a try and let me know how it improves your glow!