Best pressure points for relaxation

Because Sometimes Your Body Needs a Hard Reset — And Your Nervous System Holds the Key

Stress. Tension. Headaches. Jaw clenching.
You carry more than you realize — and your nervous system’s doing its best to hold it all together.

But here’s the thing: you can help your body downshift with the right touch, in the right places.

At YFS (Your Form Sux), we use hands-on therapy to release tension and regulate your system. But you don’t always need a full session to feel relief — sometimes, all it takes is a few targeted pressure points and some slow, intentional breathwork.

Here are some of the most effective pressure points for relaxation — and how to use them safely.

🔘 1. Yintang (a.k.a. “Third Eye”) — Between the Eyebrows

Where it is: Right between your brows, slightly above the bridge of your nose.
What it helps: Calms the mind, reduces stress, soothes anxiety, and helps with insomnia or headaches.

How to use it:

• Use your index or middle finger
• Apply gentle, circular pressure for 30–60 seconds
• Breathe deeply and let your forehead soften
• Great before sleep or mid-panic spiral

🔘 2. Anmian — Behind the Ears

Where it is: Behind the ear lobe, in the hollow between the bone and muscle where your jaw and neck meet.
What it helps: Promotes sleep, calms racing thoughts, reduces nervous tension.

How to use it:

• Use both thumbs or index fingers
• Apply gentle-to-moderate pressure for 60 seconds while seated or lying down
• Breathe slowly into your belly
• Try before bed or during wind-down time

🔘 3. LI4 (Hegu) — In the Webbing Between Thumb and Index Finger

Where it is: The fleshy spot between your thumb and index finger, closer to the base of the thumb.
What it helps: Relieves headaches, tension, jaw pain, and general stress.

How to use it:

• Pinch and press with your opposite thumb and index finger
• Moderate pressure, 30 seconds per side
• Not recommended during pregnancy — can stimulate uterine contractions

🔘 4. PC6 (Neiguan) — Inside the Wrist

Where it is: About three finger-widths down from the wrist crease, between the two tendons.
What it helps: Calms anxiety, helps with nausea, slows a racing heart.

How to use it:

• Use your thumb to press gently
• You’ll feel a dull ache or calming pulse — not pain
• Great for pre-event jitters, test anxiety, or public speaking nerves

🔘 5. KD1 (Yongquan) — Bottom of the Foot

Where it is: On the sole of the foot, about one-third of the way down from the toes.
What it helps: Grounds the nervous system, reduces overthinking, helps with sleep and emotional overwhelm.

How to use it:

• Sit cross-legged or use a massage ball
• Apply steady pressure or circular motion for 30 seconds each foot
• Perfect during bedtime wind-down or post-anxiety episode

Bonus Tip: Pressure Points Work With the Nervous System

These aren’t magic buttons. They work because:

• They stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (your rest + digest mode)
• They help reset areas where your body holds tension — especially jaw, neck, hands, and feet
• They give your brain a focused, calming input instead of chaos

👉 Combine them with slow breathing (in through the nose, out through the mouth) and you’ve got a reset routine that takes less than 5 minutes.

Final Word: Relief Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

You don’t need to wait until you’re burned out to take action.
Whether you’re in traffic, at your desk, or lying in bed with a racing brain — these pressure points give you something tangible to do with your stress.

And when you’re ready for deeper work, our RMTs at YFS Toronto can take it from there.

Want tension relief that lasts longer than a YouTube video?
Book a massage therapy session at YFS — and let’s reset your system the right way.