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Mindful Practices

Where Our Attention Goes, The Energy Flows

When we focus our attention on a specific part of the body, then breath, circulation and energy are directed there.  You feed the area you focus on and spark brain-to-body communication.

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Incorporating various short practices throughout your day enables success.  There are opportunities in everyday activities to take care of your needs.  As you progress through your journey some will stay with you and some will change.

Mindful Practices To Try

  • Lift the eyebrow and scrunch the eyes tight.

  • Conscious blinking - once you are able to close your eyelid, try to periodically be aware of blinking the affected eye when the other one does automatically.

  • When you regain enough cheek movement to start being able to chew on the affected side, hold your mouth closed as needed and practice chewing with the affected side.  If your eye closes also focus on  trying keeping it open. 

  • Take your Gua Sha (massage tool) into the bath, or a hot tub if you have one! 

  • Practice different emotional expressions in front of the mirror, holding or helping the affected side to mirror correct expression.  More on this on the Emotional Expression page.

  • Try drinking through a straw... and blowing bubbles through one.  Focus on creating pressure with your lips around the straw. If your eye engages involuntarily it helps to keep it focused or blink a few times to correct it.

  • Frowning while you brush your teeth.

  • Sealing the lips and swishing after tooth brushing and mouthwash.

  • Sucking on your finger if there is something yummy on it or eating snacks that require you suck like shelled pistachios.  If your eye engages involuntarily focus on correcting it as much as possible.  It will improve if you do.

 

Try to be willing to laugh and find joy in the little victories.​

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So as not to become overwhelmed with therapies, integrating some of these practices with things that you do regularly like waiting at stop lights, washing your hands, watching the screen, talking on the phone...especially while on hold for tech support! lol

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Sensational

You may or may not notice a difference in the sensations you are able to feel on the surface of the affected side of your face throughout your recovery.  It can be pleasurable and therapeutic to experiment with sensations.

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Gather items of different textures and temperatures to experiment with.

  • Feathers

  • Stones or Gua Sha's that you can put in the fridge and in hot water

  • Something a little prickly like a pine branch or an exfoliating sponge

  • Just being outside in weather... feel the rain, the wind, the warmth of the sun

  • Rolling a cold vegetable on your face like a cucumber or carrot

 

Once you get started you can actually enjoy a sensational experience as often as you like.

Where can you feel sensation?

Where is dulled or different?

It's OK not to feel it, it gives you feedback on what areas need stimulation and care.

Disclaimer

This site offers health, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this site is solely at your own risk.

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