As we all are in the mandatory distance mode, it’s important that we take good care of ourselves and help each other. Many tend to forget that self-care is as important as self-distancing! Showing yourself some TLC can decrease stress levels and significantly boost your mood through these tense times! If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, use some of these spare time to learn some acupressure exercises to do at home. Doing acupressure exercises at home is a healthy and productive way to spend your quarantine time. 

Not just that, it can also loosen all sorts of muscle tensions and anxiety. Plus, it is a good skill to walk out of the self-out zone! Trust us on this, gaining the knowledge of at-home acupressure exercises will definitely come in handy that first day back to work! Wondering where to learn acupressure exercises? Well, look no further! Below, Beauty Insider Malaysia has gathered a list of 13 easy acupressure exercises to do at home! These exercises take less than a minute to do and so whatcha waiting for?!

What is Acupressure? 

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Acupressure is a 2000-year-old Chinese healing technique that opens the flow of energy by engaging various pressure points in our body. The ritual identifies certain pressure points along invisible channels in your body known as meridians. Meridians carry our jitters and joy throughout our bodies. Using acupressure techniques you can stimulate hundreds of “acupoints” in our body. 

Acupressure points are located next to the largest nerve fibre pathways in your body. These fibre paths carry messages from nerve endings through your central nervous system. When they’re pressed the right way, two things can happen:

  • Pain can be blocked before they reach the brain
  • Release endorphins ( chemicals that reduce pain and restore a sense of well-being)

How Does Acupressure Work? 

Don’t the concept wrong because acupressure is not an on-off switch that makes pain or discomfort go away immediately! Instead, it’s more like the opening and closing of gates of pain and stress. By applying acupressure to certain points on the body, you can block certain nerve impulses that transmit pain to the brain. Simultaneously, you also release pain-reducing chemicals into the bloodstream. This combination can allow a sense of wellbeing to flow through you.

What Are The Benefits of Acupressure?

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Since ancient times, people have been incorporating acupressure exercises to treat much mental and physical stress. Some people use acupressure as an adjunct to traditional medicine if the medication doesn’t work. Acupressure exercises also can be used to treat stress and anxiety, migraines, allergies, nausea, vomiting, pain and more. In fact, some people even use acupressure exercises to help ease labour pain and delivery baby! 

How To Do Acupressure Exercises At Home? 

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It is pretty simple to do if you know the right acupoint and technique! You have found the point that is causing you discomfort, just simply apply your finger or thumb and hold it for 2-3 minutes. Press the point (not too hard, not too soft) and massage it in a circular motion for a few minutes. Though various acupressure exercises require different techniques this is generally how you do acupressure exercises at home. 

Also if you’re pregnant or suffer chronic muscle issues, then it is best to avoid acupressure exercises! This is because acupressure can cause uterine and muscle contractions which can increase blood flow and trigger unwanted occurrences. Also, bear in mind to take long, slow and deep breaths while you’re doing these acupressure exercises at home. Slow and deep breathing can help cope with the stress and you can enjoy the maximum benefits of the exercises.

What Are The Best Acupressure Exercises To Do At Home? 

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Now that you know all the key details about acupressure, finally, it is time for you to try them out yourself at home. Below we have gathered 13 simple acupressure exercises to do at home. Each exercise focuses on a different part of our body and the acupoint to relieve the stress at the part. Follow our instructions properly and you will feel the relief in your muscle and mind instantly! 

1. Hand Pain Relief Exercise

How to Do: Firstly, make a tight fist and find where the tip of your middle finger touches your palm. That spot there is the hand’s acupoint. Once you’ve located the spot, use the tip of your other hand’s thumb to gently massage that area in a slow, firm, circular motions 

2. Shoulder and Neck Exercise

How to Do: Locate the centre point between the muscles of your shoulder and where your arms begin. This is the acupoint for shoulder and joint relief. Once you’ve located the centre point then massage that part in the firm and deep circulation motion using your fingers. Do this for about 3-4 focusing on one at a time.

3. Head Pain Relief Exercise

How to Do: Bring the first and middle fingers of both hands together. Place the bottom finger between your eyebrows, and the span will reach the middle of your forehead. Massage the section between your brows using both thumbs in a slow, firm, circular motions for a few minutes.

4. Ear Pain Relief Exercise

How to Do: If you don’t know, then now you know, there is a tiny triangle dip at the top of your ear. Locate that tiny triangle first, found it? If you did then massage that point with some slow, firm, circular motions. You can multitask and do both ears at once.

5. Insomnia Relief Exercise

How to Do: Feel for the small, hollow space right below your palm. Once you have found that spot, gently applies pressure in a circular or up-and-down movement. Continue for 2-3 minutes. Hold the left side of the point with gentle pressure for a few seconds, and then hold the right side. Repeat on the same area of your other wrist. Stimulating this pressure point is associated with quieting your mind, which can help you fall asleep.

6. Foot Pain Relief Exercise

How to Do:  Move your finger down between your first two toes until you get to the fleshy dip—the spot where your flip-flops join at. Here you apply firm, deep pressure for four to five seconds, then release. Now rub back and forth till you’re purring.

7. Lower Back Pain Relief Exercise

How to Do: Stand up and lightly grab your waist with both hands so that your thumbs wrap around your back. With your thumbs in place, apply a circular motion using firm pressure for a count of five seconds. Repeat this three times in a day to relieve low back.

8. Arm Pain Relief Exercise

How to Do: Slide your thumb down from the centre of your wrist to the groove between the tendons. Apply firm pressure for 30 seconds and release. Then massage in an up-and-down motion for five minutes. This is where the nurse takes your pulse. Your pulse is your life force. See the connection here?

9. Sinus Pain Relief Exercise

How to Do: The first point for relieving sinus pressure and pain is at temples of the skull bone. Use your index finger or thumb to apply pressure here using a circular motion for 5 seconds. Keep the pressure firm but not painful!

10. Stomach Pain Relief Exercise

How to Do: Located three finger breadths below the wrist on the inner forearm. The middle of where your third finger ends is the acupressure point for stomach pain relief. Apply downward pressure but not too harshly and massage the area for 4-5 seconds.  and stimulating the area for 4-5 seconds.

11. Exercise to Stimulate Sexual Drive (Woman) 

How to Do: Two finger spaces down from the belly button is the sex inducing spot for female. It is located closer to the reproductive organs so massaging this point can help nurture a sense of intimacy and arousal all at once. It is a very delicate spot so massage gently for a few seconds should get your ready for the action. 

12. Exercise to Stimulate Sexual Drive (Man)

How to Do: The small spot, above the crotch where the hip hinges and meets the body, is the sexual point or male. It is right near the main artery and helps to increase blood flow in the body. Slowly press on this pressure point for a few seconds, hold, and release. For best results, hold eye contact with your partner during this intimate routine.

13. Menstrual Pain Relief Exercise

How to Do: The acupoint for menstrual pain relief is located on the inside of your leg, just above your ankle. Locate the highest peak of the ankle then four finger widths up your leg, apply deep pressure slightly behind the bone (tibia) and massage the area for 4-5 seconds.