This January, we are Giving The Process: For each of the first 30 days of the month, we’re highlighting something—and someone—amazing in the wellness world, representing the beauty, health, style, creative, energetic and/or spiritual boost you need to make yourself a priority in the new year—and decade. On January 31, one charmed follower will win one of every item and ritual we highlight, including a $1,000 gift card for Live The Process!
They say it takes 30 days to create a habit—sign ups for our newsletter, follow us on IG and tell us how you’re hoping to make taking care of your physical, emotional, intellectual and/or spiritual self a priority this year—to make 2020 about self-care without guilt.
Today’s gift is a Gua Sha Tutorial with Lili Mineni.
My name is: Lili Mineni.
I’m known for being: A holistic esthetician/IIN integrative nutrition coach.
I'm sharing: Gua Sha, my favorite modality as a home-care treatment.
You can find it at: My Santa Monica clinic, as always—and I am so excited to share the opening of my newest location in Pacific Grove, CA too! This location will be focusing on sustainable retail skincare, crystal facial tools and a skincare refill station, as well as facial treatments with the environment in mind. (*For those outside California, I’ll be offering this tutorial remotely!)
What inspired me to work with it was: I was instantly drawn to gua sha. This facial massage technique comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine and is an amazing treatment that you can do at home for facial maintenance, along with your home-care regimen. What I love about gua sha is that it ignites healing and rejuvenation from the inside out, by activating the flow of energy through the meridians. This treatment leaves this skin feeling tight and bright, but it also leaves you feeling relaxed and grounded.
What makes it special is: The scraping motion breaks up stagnant blood, releases toxins, reduces inflammation and promotes lymphatic drainage. We all have muscle tension in our necks which puts pressure on healthy lymph and blood flow, preventing vital nutrients from getting to the area and preventing toxins from draining out. Incorporating this treatment into your daily skincare ritual will help support stressed muscles and help restore the flow of life to the neck and face.
One thing you can’t miss is: This treatment utilizes a flat scraping tool. I have fallen in love with the concept of integrating the energy of crystals with my passion—skincare. Each stone holds a unique energy, making this treatment unlike any other. The most common gua sha tool is made of jade, which is a cleansing stone; it is known to enhance your filtration system and helps eliminate toxins (physically and energetically). Incorporating jade into your daily practice will help guide you to your divine inner truth, while protecting you from negative patterns that hold you back. Our necks and faces reflect our true feelings; this treatment brings awareness to our true selves and allows us to acknowledge the emotions that aren’t getting proper attention. This treatment is the perfect way to start or end your day!
Your body will thank you because: This treatment is special because it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows the heart rate and helps us to relax, bringing attention to the feelings that may not be serving our greater good. This treatment leaves you feeling nurtured and helps create a space for you to keep going back to through out the day, when faced with negativity.
This will help you prioritize your own health, joy and energy this year because: One treatment is all you need to get hooked! Gua sha has an effect on the body as a whole. When we create space for healing, our body knows what to do. Gua sha has a direct impact on our meridian points, which is the flow of life. The overall result of this treatment will enhance your energy on every level—physically, mentally and emotionally. This is the treatment that you will want to bring into every new year!
My favorite personal short ritual for self-care in 2020 is: The impact that this treatment has on your mind, body and soul will leave you wanting more. I start every client with a simple protocol and slowly build on their home treatment. Gua sha is different for each person and their skin and concerns. It is so important for us to prioritize our self-love/care and this is the perfect addition to any skincare regimen.
