During a time when you feel like you're barely holding it all together (i.e. right now)— the last thing you need to hear about (or feel badly about) is the way you look. But even when you think you're hiding stress, lack of sleep, or anxiety from your friends and loved ones, it shows up in sneaky ways. And while the remedy for those feelings is up to you, there are a few helpful tips we've picked up over the years. See, your body, skin, mind, and health are all connected. And while vanity doesn't have to be your main priority, taking care of those parts of you may help you feel better.
Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, Columbia University professor and founder of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services in New York City, suggests, "When you notice changes in your facial appearance, take inventory of what is going on in your life and what may be stressing you out. Simple things like sitting quietly for 10 minutes focusing on breathing, writing in a journal, exercising, or taking a walk outside, reading, baking, painting, listening to music, and reaching for an activity that takes [the] focus off the stress is helpful. Clearly, there is a connection between how we look and how we feel and think."
Hafeez, whose expertise is in understanding neural pathways as they respond to anxiety, stress, and trauma, notes, "How we think directly impacts how we age and how youthful we appear. The routine stressors in our lives really impact how fast or slow we age. When stressed, we see it in our skin tone, texture, elasticity, and overall glow."
Dehydration, unhealthy diets, and stress might all make us look tired regardless of how much sleep we get. Below, Hafeez and a few other health, skincare, and wellness experts provide tips for how to help.
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"Capillaries under your eyes are fragile and break under stress, leaving your under-eyes looking sallow and tired, which make dark circles seem more apparent," says Hafeez. Additionally, "Tomorrow's to-do list can weigh on your mind, keeping you from getting enough beauty sleep.
This can cause fluid to pool below your lower eyelid area, leaving you puffy come morning (especially if you sleep on your stomach)," he says. The antidote? Dieux Skin's 100% medical-grade silicone eye masks. Once applied, the reusable eye patches promise to hold gels, serums, and creams close to your skin for maximum absorption (i.e. they are meant to make the products you already love work better)—and they're reusable for up to a year.
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"First of all, take a hot shower," suggests celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau. "Heat dilates (relaxes and opens) lymphatic vessels to help assist with drainage of fluids (wastes and toxins) and increase blood flow to bring oxygen and new nutrients to the skin cells. Afterward, use stimulating skincare products. Rouleau says ingredients like vitamin B12, ginseng, and peppermint in skincare products work to give the skin a circulation pick-me-up.
When applied topically, these ingredients dilate the blood vessels, allowing the skin to accommodate more nutrient-rich blood. With continued use, you can see the skin getting visibly more radiant," continues Rouleau.
Plus, "There's nothing quicker to get your skin glowing than massaging a gentle facial scrub over the face for 60 seconds on damp skin. Massage helps to encourage circulation and the exfoliation works to remove surface cells that can make the skin look dull." In fact, according to Rouleau, you should be massaging your face each time you moisturize. "Close your hand to make a fist, and use your knuckles to massage the skin in small circular motions for two minutes. This helps to gently stimulate blood flow to the skin to bring new nutrients to the skin cells, as well as a vibrant glow."
Though, if you're looking for a quick tip that doesn't cost a thing, Rouleau can help with that too: "Hang your head upside down for three minutes.
You can do this easily over the side of your bed, and after three minutes you should notice a slight redness appear on the skin. This will immediately bring fresh blood circulation flowing to the face to give an inner glow."
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We're right there with you—in times of stress, we can't be held responsible for our comfort foods. And that's OK. But we can make specific decisions to offset the stress-related food choices. "A diet high in processed foods can make us look exhausted," says Jessica Rosen, certified holistic health coach and president of Raw Generation. "Processed foods promote inflammation, which diminishes collagen, causing our skin to sag and look worn out.
"In addition to getting more sleep," Rosen says, "it's essential that you drink more hydrating fluids like water, cold-pressed juice, and coconut water. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin C and amino acids to give your body the nutrition it needs to have youthful, refreshed-looking skin.
Kale is especially rich in both. Foods that fight inflammation will also help you look more rested. Some examples of powerful anti-inflammatory foods are turmeric, pineapple, leafy greens, green tea, and blueberries."
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"Many adults breakout due to stress hormones," notes Hafeez. "What makes it worse is tense people often can't leave pimples alone—squeezing, poking, and picking at them becomes an almost obsessive way to release tension. But, it also makes breakouts worse, exacerbating the inflammatory response."
Instead, use a spot treatment that combats bacteria without over-drying or irritating your skin. Osmia Organics has a formula made from just evening primrose oil, lavender essential oils, lemon, parsley, thyme, cypress, and rosemary. Each ingredient promises to soothe your skin (and your stress) while it heals your skin.
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"Life's stress impacts our brain chemistry," notes Hafeez. "When we feel sad or anxious, are crying or not sleeping well, it's common to see deeper lines around the middle of the eyes, forehead, under-eye area and mouth. That same stress can lead to inflammation like rashes, rosacea, eczema flare ups, and changes in your skin's moisture.
"Make sure you're keeping your skin properly hydrated with a moisturizer that soothes, has anti-inflammatory properties, and regenerates the skin. Apply a few drops extra to your forehead and neck, as those tend to dry out and age faster than the rest of your face." Hafeez adds, "When you tend to clench your jaw or furrow your brow. Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention even when you’re engaged in a task, and attend to the feelings and behaviors as they arise. By being mindful, one can address the stress before it becomes chronic or devolves in a full blown panic attack, by realizing what you’re doing to your face, mindfully smoothing the forehead back into place, unclenching the jaw, maybe massaging it, and taking deep, purposeful breaths.
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En español | "You look tired" is a phrase no 50-plus woman likes to hear. It's a loud and clear hint we're not coming across as fresh, healthy and attractive to others — and who needs that? Clearly some combination of stress, insomnia, the daily barrage of social media and news, family/work/health issues and a few too many late-night Netflix binges is throwing us serious shade. Here are nine ways to snap out of it with an at-home routine and a 911 fast fix.
1. Cold brew your face and bodyNo hitting the snooze button. Even if you feel and look like a zombie, a cold shower, steamy suds-up and icy rinse finish will get your senses tingling, smooth superficial creases from your face and lift any brain fog. Prefer languishing in a cozy bath? Do the cold, steamy, cool routine as you wash your face. The heated soothing cleanser part will still steam the lines and the cold will give your circulation a jolt.
Timing and technique matter. Think of a "tired" face like a deflated balloon, a "fresh" face like a round inflated one. If you lightly blot your face and immediately apply your hydrating cream or oil, skin gets plumped up. Wait five minutes, or 20, and you've lost that absorption window when emollients work best. Gently massage moisturizer into face, neck and décolletage for two or three minutes. This helps relax tension lines and gets a glow going.
3. Freshen eyes ASAPThe skin here is super thin and dry. It not only shows fatigue first, but amplifies it by going red, puffy, dark-circled and saggy. Clarify the "whites" with fast-acting drugstore drops like Lumify by Bausch & Lomb ($12, Target) or Alcon Naphcon-A Eye Drops ($11, target.com) both staples in A-list celeb makeup artist kits. Next a caffeine-packed eye cream like Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Anti-Puff Eye Roller ($8, target.com) with vitamin C and caffeine, cool metallic roller tip soothes or Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel De-Puffing Eye Gel with caffeine and cucumber ($10, target.
com) — chilled if possible (keep it on call in the fridge) — to soothe and reduce swelling and discoloration. No drops or cream handy? Check the freezer for frozen peas or blueberries and apply the icy bag over closed lids for five minutes. Or try cooled tea bags.
When you look tired, stressed mature skin either gets temperamental (sensitive, ruddy and possibly prone to breakouts) or it can go desert dry (ashy, sallow), and expression lines and wrinkles seem to sink deeper. Either way, a creamy, dewy stick foundation with a wide range of 30-40 shades like Flesh Firm Flesh ThickStick Foundation ($18, ulta.com), Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick ($46, sephora.com) or Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick ($46, sephora.com) pulls your face together fast. Pricey? Yes, but when you're aiming for authenticity instead of a mask, multipurpose coverage pays off. Using fingers, makeup brushes or sponges, dab and blend the foundation stick where and when needed on red, brown, blue or violet discolorations.
Instinct says go sunny and beachy — but hold it right there. Don’t reach for a self-tanner or bronzing powder. That's OK for your best days. But to restore a glow, grab a creamy pink or peach blush like Revlon Insta-Blush ($8, Target) or e.l.f. Beautifully Bare Blush ($4 target.com) and give cheeks a yoga-class flush in seconds.
Now's not the time for smoky dark eyes — black liner and dark brown shadows can look sexy at night in dim light, but they'll drag you down during the day. To restore sparkle, choose a nude palette in light to medium shades of mauve, peach and shimmery taupe like Maybelline Total Temptation Eyeshadow + Highlight Palette ($9, target.com) or NYX Professional Makeup Eyeshadow Palette in Soft & Rosy ($8, target.com). The combo of muted brown liner and mascara and pale shimmer on your upper lids restores shape and keeps the emphasis there. Skip makeup beneath the eyes, where liner and mascara can emphasize bags and crepey skin.
Pulling hair back or wearing it up can exacerbate a fatigued look, especially if hair is pulled too sleek and tight. Always let a few pieces float or cut feathery bangs if ponytails are your thing. Keep your hair loose, tousled and free and play up texture, wave or color. Yes, it's a distraction but one that works and makes you look lively, animated. Consider getting highlights around the face — it adds a frame of light just where you need it.
8. Wear cheerful vibrant colorsA white shirt is a classic brightener and black makes us feel slim and chic, but juicy colors like orange, red, raspberry, yellow and bright blue signal an energetic attitude. Ditto to splashy prints, stripes — even in a scarf. When feeling blah, throw on some color. It’s an instant pick-me-up.
Let's say you're already at work, a meeting, a party or a restaurant when a "frenemy" delivers the "you look tired" news.
Grab an ice cube and head for the restroom. Rub the cube (or pat hands splashed with icy water) over your face right over face makeup. It revs up circulation like a cold shower. Brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with fresh water. Yawn to relax your jaw and de-tense facial muscles that exacerbate lines. Bend at the waist, run your hands through your hair and flip it back. Unbutton your blouse or shirt to a V to show more neck and upper chest, roll up your sleeves to show forearms, or take off your jacket or cardigan and go sleeveless — don't let it all be about your face. If possible, take a brief brisk walk. Movement has a caffeine-like effect that makes you look more alert. Breathe deeply from your diaphragm, five counts out and five counts in. Sit and stand up straight — no slouching — to appear more energetic. Add some statement glasses and bling. And smile: instant facelift.
February 13, 2021 Life
A very real diagnosis that can seriously spoil your life.
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0In 2013, a two-minute video of Bitchy Resting Face appeared on YouTube. The video instantly became popular, scored almost eight million views and three thousand comments. The heroines of the video raise the problem of the “bitchy face” and tell how it ruins their lives. “I don’t want to hit you,” says one of the victims of the syndrome. “It’s just my face.”
This problem existed before, but after the video they started talking about it seriously. The essence of the syndrome is that the face of its owner in a relaxed state looks angry and unfriendly, although the person does not actually experience these emotions. Due to certain features of appearance, facial expressions can express both discontent, contempt and anger, as well as ridicule, irritation or sadness.
People with bitchy face syndrome come across as a snob, a serial killer, or an evil high school math student.
As a result, strangers often prematurely conclude that it is better not to approach this person, and friends repeatedly pester with the question: “Are you okay?” The most famous victims of the syndrome are Anna Kendrick, Kristen Stewart, Victoria Beckham, Queen Elizabeth and Kanye West.
Neuroscientists conducted an experiment Throwing Shade: The Science of Resting Bitch Face, during which more than 10 thousand images of human faces were scanned using a special program. And we came to the conclusion that a person is never 100% neutral. Normal score - 97% neutral and 3% other emotes. However, “bitchy” individuals have a lower level of neutrality: it is only 94%. And the percentage of emotions, respectively, is higher - as much as 6%. And the predominant among them is contempt.
The expression of negative emotions in a calm state is a consequence of the peculiarities of the facial muscles. Here are the main ones:
| Features of the face | What emotions can express |
| Downturned corners of the mouth | Dissatisfaction, sadness |
| fried eyebrows or interbranial wrinkle | seriousness, anger | Insufficient view | indifference, arrogance | The eyes were slightly liabened | .Raised corners of the lips without a smile | Contempt, haughtiness |
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Spasmodic facial muscles and slowing down of blood and lymph flow are most often to blame. Another reason is a violation of posture, in which the entire muscular sheet of the face is displaced. The clarity of the oval is lost, ptosis, swelling appear, the corners of the lips creep down, and the nasolabial folds become deeper.
In addition, the outward signs of angry face syndrome can also be a consequence of poor vision: a person squints all the time, straining his facial muscles, and over time this becomes a habit.
Scientists explain Resting bitch face’ is real, scientists say this is because the phenomenon is not related to physiology, but to social norms. For men, a serious, stern or even angry face is in the order of things. In the mass consciousness, it is associated Brooding men, smiling women seen as sexy: study with strength, intelligence, determination and sexuality.
No one calls a man a bitch if his face looks serious or sad.
Women with a serious or stern face are often accused of arrogance. And it's all about gender stereotypes. There is a social construct in society: "A woman should be gentle." It developed in previous centuries, when a girl in society was assigned the role of a housewife and a “good wife”. She did not have financial independence and equality with men, and the smile on her face was a manifestation of humility.
Much has changed since then, but the social attitude has remained. Brooding men, smiling women seen as sexy: study still suffer due to gender stereotypes.
They can easily be called bitches because of an unfriendly expression on their faces, they can be denied employment or dismiss a lot of gossip behind their backs.
People judge How your looks betray your personality about others by appearance. And no matter how hard we try to change it, the first impression is formed by Social Attributions from Faces: Determinants, Consequences, Accuracy and Functional Significance in one tenth of a second - faster than a person has time to realize something. At the same time, the brain has stable reactions to certain facial features:
Based on all this, a person with bitchy face syndrome will almost always make a bad first impression. Others may think that he is an arrogant snob and despises everyone, although in reality everything is not at all like that. This can be a hindrance at a party, as well as when applying for a job or at a business meeting. It has been proven that people with an attractive appearance are more successful and earn Dan Hamermesh on the Economics of Beauty: Attractive People Are More Successful 10-12% more.
Check your appearance using the FaceReader program. In the picture, the face should be full face and in a relaxed, calm state.
The higher the quality of the photo, the more accurate the result.
A significant disadvantage of the program is that it does not give the percentage of emotions, so it is impossible to say for sure whether you have a syndrome. But if contempt (contempt) is present or prevails among emotions, then there is a possibility that you still have it. Here are the results of Lifehacker employees:
1 / 0
The face of Lifehacker host Irina Rogava is neutral, but expresses surprise, fear, disgust and contempt
2 / 0
The face of our videographer Olesya Shishko is neutral, but the predominant emotion is happiness
author Liza Platonova in a calm state expresses surprise, anger and contempt
In addition, there are indirect signs of the syndrome:
It cannot remove wrinkles and rejuvenate. But the effect is still there: the procedure helps to tighten the oval, cope with tight muscles and relax them. In addition, the face after the massage looks fresher and rested.
Massage can be done by a beautician or by yourself. To do this, there are many special devices that greatly simplify the process. Important: to get the result, massage must be done regularly.
You can be yourself in the company of friends and relatives, but if you want to make a good impression in public, you have to control emotions.
For example, you want to look more friendly during communication: try to smile slightly, slightly straining and lifting your cheeks.
The corners of the lips will automatically rise. Such a half-smile looks natural and does not cause rejection among others.
Sometimes a contemptuous expression arises from an insufficiently open look: it seems that a person looks at everyone haughtily. In such a situation, you need to try to open your eyes a little wider: the look will become more open and not so depressed.
Bitch face syndrome manifestations can be eliminated with the help of cosmetics: mimic wrinkles on the forehead and bridge of the nose can be smoothed out with Botox, the corners of the lips can be lifted with it, and nasolabial folds can be filled with a filler based on hyaluronic acid.
But this is an extreme measure. Perhaps, for a start, it is worth working on self-esteem, and not injecting.
The syndrome was first talked about in the West, where a smile is a sign of politeness and an integral part of etiquette. People look welcoming and friendly, because it is customary: this is a way to show your disposition to the interlocutor. And if a person does not smile, he violates social norms. And the arrogance and contempt on the face and does raise questions.
In Russia, things are different: we don't usually smile for the sake of politeness, and the insincere smile of a stranger is alarming. We begin to think that he is a sycophant or a swindler.
This feature of the mentality has evolved over the centuries: the life and life of the peasants were a hard struggle for existence, so frown has become a standard facial expression.
To smile, you need a reason: a good mood, a pleasant companion or a funny joke.
It's just not customary to do it.
So it's quite possible that you just made up the problem and you're all right. And if you do not notice the consequences of bitchy face syndrome in your life, forget about it and do not look for unnecessary reasons for suffering.
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The phrase "Why is your face so angry?!" can drive anyone crazy, especially if you were sitting without touching anyone and, as it seemed to you, was enjoying life. Of course, none of us wants to be a grump in the eyes of others. But what can be done about the involuntary grimace of sorrow and discontent? Women have been asking this question for a long time. Let's figure it out...
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For example, even before the war, in the fight against despondency, European women used special headbands with a painted smile.
Today, American women turn to beauty clinics en masse to get rid of the so-called bitchy face. According to The Mirror, referring to the experience of New York plastic surgeons, Botox and fillers have become the main weapon against this syndrome. Russian cosmetologists, as it turned out, also often hear requests from patients to “remove their dissatisfied face”, although sometimes there are more original requests.
“ Requests to remove a certain facial expression have been received from patients for the last ten years ,” says cosmetologist Alexei Edemsky. – Some men (usually in leadership positions) seek to "block" themselves with an expression of surprise and compassion - the so-called "house eyebrows". In their opinion, too friendly, touching appearance interferes with their work and business communication. Girls, on the contrary, ask to raise the corners of their lips, because their faces seem too mournful and sad to them. The same goes for the "spiteful", tired look.
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According to the expert, attention to the fact that botox therapy can get rid of angry and hostile facial expressions is caused, on the one hand, by marketing tasks. Botox injections have become a fairly familiar and familiar procedure, which means that more and more advertising ideas and slogans are needed to attract attention. On the other hand, the rhythm of life only accelerates every year, which means that the need to constantly control oneself, constantly being “in good shape” also increases. This is what often forms a tense "mask" - a frozen expression on the face - and causes the need to give it liveliness, the beautician believes.
First of all, it’s worth understanding what is hidden behind an angry facial expression. Perhaps it's just age-related changes. According to cosmetologist Alexei Edemsky, there is a certain type of aging that falls under the concept of "tired face": the corners of the mouth and the outer corners of the eye drop, the cheeks "swim".
Such a face with "tired" features, of course, does not look very friendly. An "evil" expression can also be a reflection of negative emotions and inner feelings. And then the doctor advises, first of all, to start inner work, to eliminate irritants and main triggers that interfere with a peaceful life. Otherwise, cosmetic corrections will be ineffective.
« If we talk about specific procedures that help overcome "malice", then, first of all, this is the use of botulinum toxin , says the expert. – The treatment relaxes tense muscles and generally redistributes tension across the face, making the expression more pleasant. But if the patient continues to experience internal stress, then external adjustments can cause a feeling of heaviness, "burden", a feeling of "brick" in those places where botulinum toxin was injected. In some cases, even a headache may appear. If there are personal unresolved problems, then it is better to work on yourself, on your inner state, and not on your face.
On the other hand, a change in appearance for the better has a positive effect on that very inner state."
According to Edemsky, fillers can also be used to lift the corners of the lips and the “tails” of the eyebrows. Just be careful: if a person abuses fillers, this can adversely affect his appearance.
"Fillers based on hyaluronic acid can cause edema in the tissues of the face, and if large volumes are injected, and the person himself is prone to edema, then ptosis - descent of soft tissues on the face - cannot be avoided. The descended tissues pull the corners down with them lips, corners of the eye, eyebrows... That is, the positive effect after the procedure after a few years will not only be reduced to zero, but will become worse than if the patient did nothing. those who have a tendency to edema, to the formation of hernial and painting sacs"
The work to get rid of the "evil face" must be complex.
This requires contacting not only cosmetologists, but also psychologists and even face-building trainers.
" massages or the same facebuilding , which has gained popularity in recent years, can help with an unpleasant facial expression. , - says the beautician. - Manual therapy can also help, in particular cranial therapy . This technique involves working with the skull, working out the muscles, as well as the bone base of the skull.
Start small right now! Face fitness trainer and founder of the self-massage school, Evgenia Tseplyaeva, shows the shortest (and most enjoyable!) exercise against the lowered corners of the lips.
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Speaking of the "evil" facial expression, one cannot but touch upon the dental part of the problem.
A smile is the hallmark of our kindness and beauty.
« If a person is ashamed of his smile due to the poor condition of his teeth and tries to avoid it, then the muscle around the mouth will atrophy , - says dentist, candidate of medical sciences Dmitry Smirnov. - A person loses the ability to smile naturally, and in a relaxed state, an unpleasant facial expression may appear.0228
According to Dmitry Smirnov, anger lives in the lower jaw. Tension of the dentoalveolar system is primarily associated with experiences. No wonder they say: endure with clenched teeth. At that moment, when a person clenched his teeth, the large chewing muscle (musculus masseter) works. The more often we are in stressful situations, the more angry we are, the stronger this muscle develops in us, pumping up like an athlete’s biceps. In the common people, they say about this process "to roll the jaws." It is they who emphasize the cheekbones and jaw angles, which, on the one hand, speak of brutality and strength of personality, and, on the other hand, give out a frequent manifestation of anger and anger and can even visually add several years.
Constant stress provokes active physical growth of the masticatory muscle, leads to disturbances in the work of the temporomandibular joint, and any imbalance in the system increases the load on the teeth, which ultimately destroys them. So, without the ability to control yourself, in order to maintain a beautiful smile, you should contact a specialist in functional dentistry.
Psychologist Daria Milay believes that women go to change their unpleasant facial expressions in order to increase self-esteem and achieve harmony with the world.
"Our face is an instrument of our interaction with the outside world. Emotions that are reflected on the face are how a person communicates with others, what he broadcasts to the world. When life goals are the same, and the face broadcasts somewhat different, women and decide on such operations. You need to understand that if a woman does not develop her emotional intelligence, everything will return to normal very quickly.
No one has canceled muscle compensation, so you should monitor your emotional awareness. "
According to the expert, many unresolved psychological difficulties can be reflected on our face. Problems with the skin (for example, acne) and facial muscles can arise due to rejection of oneself, one's body, rejection of one's gender, and so on.
« There is such a thing as a "facial block": all our repressed emotions and stresses settle into a muscle block. We have painful sensations, all kinds of distortions , - says Daria Milay. - You need to watch whether you know how to say "no", whether you are honest in your reactions to what is happening, otherwise all attempts to hide true feelings will still be reflected on your face. It is important to be aware of your real desires and needs, separating them from the imposed ideas from those around you. Accept yourself as a whole, forgive yourself for everything if there are any mistakes and mistakes, love yourself, respecting others, and refuse comparisons.
The latter are very parasitic on the life of a woman, especially now - in the age of social networks. It's hard not to compare your life with someone else's, not to try to fulfill the imposed goals... Nevertheless, try to live your own life, not someone else's, and change what you don't like about it by building boundaries. I bet it will boost your self esteem. And when you change everything in your life that doesn’t suit you, muscle blocks can go away on their own.”
Of course, working on yourself takes a lot of time, and I would like to get the result as soon as possible. And here you just can’t do without the ability to relax properly. Here are some tips from Daria Milay on how to do it.
