BLOG 75: HOW TO USE FACE YOGA WHEN YOU CAN’T SLEEP

We’ve all experienced those endless nights when sleep simply won’t come, no matter how tired we are. We toss and turn, thoughts running through our heads, unable to relax enough to get the rest we need.

Sometimes, your racing mind needs a chance to slow down before you can finally sleep. So, I’ve designed this short Face Yoga sequence to help you feel calmer and less stressed, hopefully allowing you to fall asleep more easily.

It’s a soothing sequence that uses acupressure points and facial massage techniques to release tension and help you relax. Although it looks like a lot of different moves, the whole sequence can be done in around three minutes, so it is easy to fit into your evening routine.

BEFORE YOU START

Make sure your hands are clean before you begin any Face Yoga sequence. And find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. I recommend keeping the lights low too, helping your body and mind prepare for sleep.

If you are using this as part of your evening routine before you go to bed, I suggest doing it after your skincare. The massage can help your skincare products penetrate more deeply into your skin and having a little serum on your face allows your fingers to glide easily. 

I like to use my Fusion by Danielle Collins face serum, which has been specifically designed for use with Face Yoga. It’s non-greasy and deeply moisturising. But it also absorbs a little slower than some serums, making it ideal for helping your fingers move over your skin.

On the other hand, if you are coming to this practice in the middle of the night, you can go ahead and do it without going through your whole skincare routine again. Just make sure your hands are clean.

1. TEMPLES

We’ll start this sequence with some acupressure points. First, take your index fingers to your temples. 

Start by exerting gentle pressure. I encourage you to work very intuitively with any Face Yoga move. Listen to your body and use a pressure that suits you. If something feels especially good, you can always work with that move a little longer too.

Gently massage your temples by moving your fingers in a small circular motion, first one way and then the other.

These acupressure points at your temples are good for relieving anxiety and releasing stress. 

2. THIRD EYE

Next, place one of your index fingers between your eyebrows. This acupressure point is known as the third-eye point and is used to calm a busy mind, perfect for when we want to slow down and relax before bed.

As a bonus, this point is also good for preventing those number 11 lines that often appear between our eyebrows.

Take a few deep breaths. Then start to massage the point in the same circular motion that we used on the temples. Go one way for a few breaths, and then the other.

3. CORNER OF EYES

Our final acupressure point is at the inner corners of the eyes. Place your index fingers here, choosing a pressure that works for you.

Repeat the circular massage that we’ve done on the other points.

This acupressure point helps to increase the circulation around your eyes, reducing puffiness. It is also used to relieve insomnia, so it’s another great point to stimulate when you are having trouble sleeping. 

4. FOREHEAD MASSAGE

Using the pads of both index fingers, smooth first one and then the other up from the bridge of your nose to your hairline. As you reach the top of your forehead, lift the finger off and replace it at the start to repeat the move. 

This is such a soothing technique that helps to calm your mind and relax your face. It is also good for reducing frown lines.

5. DRAW ARCHES

Starting at the inside edge of your eyebrows, move your index fingers up and outwards, drawing a series of arch shapes on your forehead. Continue until you reach your temples, then replace your fingers at your eyebrows and repeat the move.

This helps to release stress and tension from your forehead, calming your mind and helping to prevent stress-related lines in this area.

6. MASSAGE UNDER EYES

Start at the inner corner of your eyes. Smooth the tips of your index finger under your eye and up to your temples, following the line of your cheekbones.

Lift your fingers off and replace them at your eyes to repeat the move.

This is another very soothing technique. And it also helps to reduce puffiness in your eyes when you wake up.

7. PINCH ALONG JAWLINE

Using your thumbs, index fingers, and middle fingers, pinch along your jawline. Start at your chin and work outwards. When you reach the corner of your jaw, return your hands to your chin, and do the same thing again.

Many of us hold stress in our lower jaws, so this technique is beautiful for releasing that tension and helping us relax for sleep.

8. UNDER EAR

At the end of the move above, you’ll finish with your fingers at the outside corner of your jaw. Take your index fingers slightly higher to massage the point just beneath your ear lobe.

This point is wonderful for releasing stress in both the upper and lower jaw. It also helps to prevent tension from building up in our jaws as we sleep.

9. ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING

Place the index finger and thumb of one hand to either side of your nostrils.

Blocking your right nostril, inhale through your left. Then release your right nostril and block your left one. Exhale through the right nostril.

Continue to block your left nostril as you inhale through the right. Then block the right again and exhale through your left.

Keep breathing in this pattern for around thirty seconds.

As well as helping you to focus on your breath, which is very calming, this brings both sides of your brain into balance.

10. TAPPING

To finish off the routine, take the fingertips of both hands to your face and use them to tap all over your forehead, face, and neck area.

It is a lovely feeling that helps to calm and relax your face and mind. It also boosts the circulation, so you’ll wake up with beautiful, glowing skin in the morning.

FINISHED

Hopefully, moving through this Face Yoga sequence has helped you feel calmer and more relaxed, ready for a good night’s sleep.

I love short routines like this – they are so easy to fit into your day and can have a noticeable impact on your face and mental wellbeing.

I have plenty of other short sequences available on my YouTube channel – you can see the video for this one here. 

And if you want to develop your practice further and make Face Yoga one of your daily wellness habits, I offer a 10-day course that will show you how to smooth and tone your skin in just 10 minutes a day.

Or, if you want to go even deeper and share what you’ve learned with others, I also offer Teacher Training courses in both Face Yoga and Facial Gua Sha.