LESSONS IN MASSAGE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 153, 25 March 1937, Page 7

LESSONS IN MASSAGE

By Scientific Manipulation You Can

Make A New Face

yfASSAGE, as any dictionary will inform you, is “scientific rubbing and manipulation of the body which strengthens the tissues and restores tone generally, acting as a mild and thorough exercise to the patient.” If you apply this same scientific rubbing and manipulation to the face it also has a strengthening effect on the tissues, restores tone, and exercises the muscles of the face in much the same way as massage exercises the muscles of the body.

Ji 1 ACE massage is important in the beauty routine, but often it is (lone wrongly, losing all its effect. Once you have learned the massage movements you can apply skin food much more effectively to your face than if you merely rub it in roughly or carelessly. Certain movements are suitable to different parts of the face. For a "stroking” movement you use the second and third fingers of each hand and even, gentle strokes. The pressure must be very light and superficial. This is useful for forehead massage. Place the second and third lingers of each hand in the centre of the forehead and work up toward the hair

line and out toward the temples with firm strokes, or from the nose out across the cheeks out toward the ears with lighter strokes.

The "rotary stroking’’ movement is used around the eyes and. it must be very light. The second and third fingers are placed at the outer corner of the eye and worked in gentle sliding movements round and round, under the eyes, toward the nose, and out over the eyebrow back toward the temple. ‘‘Tapping” is given with all the finger tips, which are worked alternately and continuously. This is useful for stimulating a complexion that has become sallow and needs toning up. It can be used over the cheeks, chin and forehead.

Tire ‘‘trembling vibratory” movement needs a good deal of practice and takes the place of the electric vibrator used in some beauty parlours. For this you place all the fingers and the

thumbs of each hand into as small a circle as possible, and bring both circles down on the skin in a trembling vibratory movement. You can use this for the cheeks, chin and jaw line. Start yt the centre of the elfin with each hand and work out along the jaw line toward the ears and out from the side of the mouth toward the ears, and again from the nostrils over the cheeks toward the ears. “Petrissage" is a m.assage movement eonsi-ting of picking un and rolling the muscles between the thumb and fingers. It is slow and continuous. This movement is particularly useful for (lie jaw line. "Kneading” massage is when you

close the hands and with the knuckles knead the under-part of the chin anu neck.

"Hacking” is a short and chopping stroke used with all the fingers of both hands in body massage, but for the face the first and second fingers of both hands are placed together and the skin is tapped. This exercises the muscles by contraction and has a slightly stimulating effect. "Friction" is used for general stimulation. and is very pleasant if you apply it to the back of your neck and along the top of your shoulders. Use the pad of your thumb and your first three fingers together. “Slapping" is the treatment recommended for double chins. In applying this treatment to yourself the best way is not to use your finger tips but to soak two pellets of cotton wool in the lotion to be used, wring out, and gently slap the face .with these.