We’ve recently published our in-depth Thai Acupressure Points eBook for the face and head. In this post, we talk a bit about our take on the subject, that is, what we see as important aims of treating the face and head with Thai Massage and Thai Acupressure techniques.
The Face and Head
The face is said to be the “mirror of the soul.” It’s one of our primary ways to connect to the world and to other people. It shows our emotions, and it tells if we’re happy, angry, worried, tired, sad, puzzled, curious, and so on.
eBook | More info here
Yet, it’s also the face and head that are often the first being confronted with distressing events. Usually, we first see, smell, and hear things, and moreover, the brain and its mental processes are intimately involved; actually, it’s safe to say that we initially react to events with the face and head.
When we feel threatened or confused, the eyes may close or narrow (not wanting to see what happens or to protect ourselves from impact), or they cannot close and stare (a freeze or immobilization), the teeth may be clenched, we bite on our tongue, and the jaw contracts, we frown or we turn our head away; the whole area and the brain get overwhelmed.
If people cannot emotionally digest or process traumatic events, the face and head may become armored, which means that they create a “protective shield” that consists of muscle tensions, rigidness, and distortion, or by contrast, numbness and lack of expression.
In addition, skull, facial, and jaw “armoring” can cause fatigue, headaches, dizziness, toothaches, earaches, neck pains, poor energy and blood circulation, problems with expressing ourselves, while it also unconsciously affects our mood (and of those around us).
Thai Massage Treatments and Other Techniques for the Head and Face
eBook | More info here
Some of the somatic techniques used to relax and physically heal the facial and cranial area and subsequently come to emotional and trauma release include Facial Massage, Head Massage, Intra-Oral Massage, acupressure, facial stretches, herbal compresses, and breathwork, that is, manual work that aims at “loosening-up” the head and facial area.
One of the benefits of using Thai Acupressure is that it can play an important role in this process if we understand which acupressure points affect what, and how to treat those points, and how pressure points relate to each other and with the rest of the body (and mind) system.
However, apart from the more therapeutic approach mentioned above, a Thai Facial and Cranial Massage treatment can be supplied simply as a pleasant experience for the receiver in order to encourage relaxation of body and mind after a long day of hard work or other intense events.
In any case, we hope with our Thai Acupressure book for the face and head have contributed to a better understanding of the Thai acupressure system, and that it may support you in helping others/yourself on their/your way to health and happiness.
