4 Tension-Release Exercises for Your Glow Reset
- Nov 16
- 4 min read
During the day, reducing tension is just as important as eating well or sleeping early.
So much of the puffiness, facial heaviness, and postural discomfort we feel comes from tiny muscles that stay contracted all day without us even noticing. These areas — the upper traps, suboccipitals, masseter, and temporalis — hold stress, emotional load, poor posture, and even shallow breathing patterns.
When you release them, everything changes. Your face looks more lifted, your jaw relaxes, your head feels lighter, and your posture opens naturally.
Below you’ll find four short videos, each targeting one muscle group. They’re simple, gentle, and take only a few minutes — but you’ll feel the difference almost immediately.
Two-Way Trap Release (1 min)
30 seconds per side (1 minute total)
Instructions
Prepare your posture: Sit or stand upright with your spine aligned and shoulders relaxed.
Place the front hand: Position one hand on the upper part of your trapezius, where the shoulder meets the side of the neck. This hand will apply gentle pressure and glide downward, following the muscle toward the outer shoulder.
Place the back hand: Bring your other hand to the back of your neck, on the same side — just above the base of the trapezius, close to the lower part of the hairline.
Start the release: While the front hand glides downward, the back hand glides upward toward the back of the head. The two hands should move in opposite directions, creating a deep fascial stretch across the upper neck and shoulder.
Key Notes
The opposing glide creates a shearing effect on the fascia, helping to "unstick" dense or congested tissue along the neck-shoulder junction.
Keep the movement slow, controlled, and grounded in sensation — don’t rush or force the motion.
Suboccipital Massage (30 sec)
Instructions
Locate the area: Bring your fingertips to the base of your skull, right where your neck meets the back of your head: this is the suboccipital area.
Apply pressure: Use your fingertips to press into the tissue with slow, controlled movements. You can use small circular motions or simply hold steady pressure over points of tension.
Work with depth: Let your fingers sink gradually into the deeper layers, avoiding surface-level rubbing. Stay present and move slowly, letting the tissue respond.
Support with posture: Keep your spine long, shoulders relaxed, and your chin slightly tilted down to give the tissue space to release.
Stay until it softens: Continue massaging until you feel the area soften or warm up—a sign that the muscle is letting go.
Key Notes
The suboccipital muscles often become rigid from poor posture, eye strain, and emotional stress. They connect the skull to the top of the spine and can affect head movement, neck flexibility, and even facial tension.
You may notice immediate relief not only in the neck, but also in the upper back, jaw, or behind the eyes.
Masseter Knuckle Release (30 sec)
Instructions
Starting position: Gently open your mouth slightly and relax your jaw. Place the knuckles of both hands just below your cheekbones, close to the ears—this is your first pressure point.
Vibrate: Begin to vibrate your knuckles side to side, applying moderate pressure. Allow your facial muscles to soften as you do this. You may close your eyes to focus on the release.
Move downward in stages: After a few breaths, lower your knuckles slightly and repeat the same vibration. Continue descending along the masseter muscle (jawline area), pausing and vibrating at each new level—typically 3 to 4 levels total—until you reach the base of your jaw.
Breathe through it: As the sensations deepen, stay connected to your breath. Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth—allowing tension to melt.
Key Notes
This exercise targets the masseter, often responsible for jaw tension, clenching, and facial puffiness. Releasing this area supports a more relaxed jawline, softens a bulky lower face, and can alleviate tension headaches or TMJ-related discomfort.
It's normal to feel a slight intensity or tenderness as you go deeper—this means the muscle is responding. Use deep, steady breaths to stay present and support release.
Keeping the mouth relaxed and slightly open prevents counter-tension and helps fully disengage the jaw. But always work with relaxed facial expression—no need to force or exaggerate the movement.
Temporal Lift Vibration (30 sec)
Instructions
Get into position: If you prefer, sit comfortably with your elbows resting on a table or stable surface. This helps keep your posture relaxed and your shoulders free of tension.
Open the jaw: Gently open your mouth as wide as is comfortable. This will help expose the temporal muscles located above the sides of your face.
Place your fingers: Using all your fingertips, place them flat against your temples — just above the cheekbones, on the side of your head.
Start the vibration: Begin to apply gentle, vibrating movements with your fingertips while lifting the tissue upward toward the scalp. Let your hands move slowly, following the curve of your skull upward until you reach the top of your head.
Key Notes
The temporal muscles often store tension from jaw clenching, stress, or intense focus. Releasing them helps ease tightness in the upper face and around the eyes.
The vibrating motion aims at creating micro-movements that stimulate circulation, lymph flow, and nervous system relaxation.
You may notice a sense of lightness or openness in your forehead or scalp after the exercise — that’s a sign the tissue has started to respond.
Comments