How to Gua Sha
Nativ Sens Body Gua Sha range is versatile and has a multitude of benefits depending on the amount of pressure you apply to the body. Used with light to medium pressure it can be used to help you awaken your circulatory system, expel residual toxins and helps eliminate excess fat in the lymphatic system. Using harder pressure Nativ Sens Body Gua Sha can also be an effective tool for self-myofascial release, body sculpting and can help relieve sore muscles.
How do you use Nativ Sens body Gua Sha for lymphatic drainage?
Firstly you want to have an understanding of the lymphatic map of the body (above) as this will help you know which direction to massage.
Lymphatic massage strokes are gentle, light, slow, rhythmic, and nurturing. Respecting the cadence of lymph flow can also have a calming effect on your nervous system.
The first thing you want to do is to stimulate your lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, and the top of the thigh and abdomen by pressing them 5 to 10 times. It's important that when you're doing/ having lymphatic massage that the main lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and the top of the thigh and abdomen are activated.
To begin, prep your skin with a lubricant we suggest using our Body Gua Sha Oil; then using short strokes with the edge of your Body Gua Sha you want to massage the fluid in one direction toward the lymph nodes.
Legs: Start by pumping or pressing your lymph nodes at the back of your knees 5-10 times then you can use short gentle stokes and work up each leg and thigh toward the inside of your knee. Focus on working into the pelvic ligament area for the maximum benefit of lymphatic flow and drainage.
Arms: To massage your arm, place your hand like a cap over your shoulder. Massage half circles up and over your shoulder ten times. Next, massage from your forearm up toward the armpit. Now work the elbow crease. Using your palm, pump directly into your elbow crease. You have lymph nodes here. Once you’ve cleared the upper arm, you can massage from your lower arm and your fingers up toward your armpit in slow, continuous strokes encouraging the fluid into the armpit. To finish, massage the lymph nodes in your armpits again.
Using body Gua Sha on the abdominal area, start at your obliques and start in a downward motion towards the belly button. When working on the abdomen itself, you want to work in a clockwise circular motion, encouraging the flow of digestion.
How to perform Gua Sha on the face?
- Never put your Gua Sha massage tool in the fridge. This will only constrict your blood vessels, which is the opposite of what we want.
- Start with a light face oil or cream so that your Gua Sha tool can glide across your face.
- Forehead: Sweep the stone up from the start of your eyebrows out to the hairline. Move up the forehead and repeat.
- Under eyes: Gently sweep from the inner corner of the eye to the hairline.
- Cheekbones: Sweep underneath your cheekbones and direct it toward your hairline.
- Lips: Glide over your lips back and forth six times.
- Jawline & Chin: Glide the stone upwards from the centre of your chin and out to the ears to contour the jaw.
- Neck: when you’ve finished the face, sweep from under the chin down the neck to continue the drainage process. Move around, in downward motions, each time starting at the top, until the whole neck has been done.
Incorporating Gua Sha into your beauty routine is a simple and relaxing way to boost skin circulation, reduce puffiness and tighten the face.
Broadly, it’s a great way to manage inflammation and promote healthy blood flow.
