Relaxation has huge benefits to your facial clients’ skin, mental state and overall well-being. One of the quickest ways to achieve relaxation is through breathwork.
Slowing down the breath will naturally induce relaxation which is a fabulous way to start a facial treatment to help the client let go and leave their worries behind, at least for now. Slow deliberate breaths help ground us and stay in the present moment and be more aware of our senses.
We can maximize this breathwork by ensuring we are breathing through the nose and not the mouth, and here’s why.
Breathing in and out through the nose helps us take fuller, deeper breaths, which stimulates the lower lung to distribute greater amounts of oxygen throughout the body. Also, the lower lung is rich with the parasympathetic nerve receptors associated with calming the body and mind, whereas the upper lungs — which are stimulated by chest and mouth breathing — prompt us to hyperventilate and trigger sympathetic nerve receptors, which result in the fight or flight reaction. The stress response releases the hormone cortisol which can have an inflammatory effect internally and when the body is in this prolonged state of stress it will prematurely age the skin.
Another benefit of the abdominal breathing through the nose is to the lymphatic system. As the lymphatic system doesn’t have a central pump, a heart, as the circulatory system does, breathing this way helps improve lymph flow throughout the body. Increasing lymph flow eliminates toxins and waste products from all of the tissues including the skin. Better nutrient exchange leads to healthier and better-looking skin.
Many times, when we ask someone to take in a deep breath their upper chest expands increasing tension in their neck and shoulders. Instead, educate your client on how to do abdominal breathing. For first time clients, you may need to explain this process in full for them to benefit the most from it. Let them know what you are doing by saying something like this. “I’m going to ask you to take some slow, deep breaths with me that will deepen your relaxation experience.”
Here's how to guide them. Start by standing at the side of the treatment bed.
1. Rest one hand gently on their belly just below the navel and your other hand on their shoulder for reassurance.
2. Ask them to breath in slowly through their nose into their belly and gently push against your hand.
3. Then slowly exhale, again through their nose allowing their belly to deflate.
4. Repeat at 3 – 5 times.
5. Once your client has the hang of it and you no longer need to talk, join in this breathing process with them to ground and center yourself before you begin.
Try it out for yourself. If it resonates with you and your clients, great, keep doing it. If you or your clients didn't enjoy the process, at least you are open to trying, well done.
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