Facial massage is by no means a manually induced Fountain of Youth, but it can help remove clients’ wrinkles and improve circulation in the face.
Typically applied with the hands, facial massage techniques often requires the use of a small amount of oil or lotion to help ease the movement across delicate facial 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 their practice.
Wrinkles and tension lines can be treated with facial massage and can sometimes be prevented from appearing through the stimulation of blood vessels in the face and relaxing the muscles.Some benefits of facial massage include relieving symptoms of stress, migraine headache, premenstrual syndrome and sinus congestion.
Facial massage also can help improve your skin, facial muscle tone and aid in the relaxation of facial and eye muscles. it isn’t that difficult to incorporate into your practice.
An Internet search revealed numerous home study courses available that any massage therapist can 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 the techniques can reduce anxiety and alleviate negative moods. One 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. The 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.
—Jeremy Maready