If your clients are seeking removal of wrinkles and to improve the circulation in their face, you might want to consider giving them facial massage. The technique is simply applied with the hands, and usually a small amount of oil or lotion is needed to ease movements around delicate areas.
By learning the benefits and techniques of facial massage techniques in the privacy of your home or office through home-study courses, massage therapists can easily implement these tools into practice.
The stimulation of blood vessels in the face can sometimes help treat wrinkles and tension lines by relaxing the muscles. Facial massage benefits include relieving symptoms of stress, migraine headache, premenstrual syndrome and sinus congestion.
The technique can also help improve skin, facial muscle tone and aide in the relaxation of facial and eye muscles. Plus, it isn’t difficult to incorporate into your practice.
An Internet search revealed numerous home-study courses that are available for any massage therapist to take to fulfill his or her continuing education requirements.
For facial massage, some of the courses offered cover such topics as stimulation of meridian points, the release of toxins, lymphatic drainage strokes, correction of the body’s imbalances, facial massage strokes to firm aging skin, acupressure and modalities.
Studies of facial massage have shown it can reduce anxiety and alleviate negative moods.
The study, “The facial massage reduced anxiety and negative mood status, and increased sympathetic nervous activity,” measured the effects of a 45-minute facial massage on 32 Japanese women between 20 and 40 years old. During the study, researchers had the women receive the same types of massages, where a cream-based lubricant was used, in private rooms. After the sessions, the women received a steam treatment and a second facial massage. During the second massage, a moisturizing lotion was used.
Before and after the massage, researchers used an electrocardiogram to measure the subjects heart rates, along with parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous activity.
Researchers found that parasympathetic nervous activity increased during the massage, and sympathetic nervous activity increased after the facial massage, according to the recent study.
Anxiety and negative mood also decreased significantly after the massage sessions.
Make sure to check with your national and state licensing bodies to make sure the courses you select are acceptable for continuing education credits.