| Author | Message | ||
     Shay P New member Username: Shay Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2008 |
I can't do it. I've tried lying on a pillow and trying to feel the occipitalis contract, but the contraction I end up feeling seems to result from tensing my jaw. As for the frontalis muscle, the best I can manage is raising my eyebrows. Any suggestions out there for a frowning newbie? | ||
| Thomas Hagerty Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 95 Registered: 05-2006 |
Shay P: I'm not surprised that you can't contract the occipitalis muscle. Some people can contract this muscle strongly on the first attempt; most people have to struggle hard to gain control of this stubborn muscle though. If you're in the latter category, it takes high motivation to finally learn how to alternately contract both the frontalis muscles and the occipitalis muscles. I was highly motivated because I thought the scalp exercise might halt my hair loss and possibly promote the growth of new hair. It did both of these things. Others might be motivated to learn the exercise because of the benefits it gives to the face - keeps the eyebrows from drooping, removes hooded eyelids, keeps horizontal and vertical lines from forming in the forehead. For another perspective on gaining control of the occipitalis muscle, go to my other website and read about My Approach. Read both long pages. The information in these pages might help you learn how to do the exercise right. But the real secret of learning the exercise is patience. You have to work on it every day but not to the point of frustration. It took me about two weeks to learn it. Once you get even a minimal contraction in the occips, full success is almost immediate. You'll be amazed what this exercise will do for you. It's worthwhile to spend some weeks to learn it, and you'll feel a lot of satisfaction once you have success. | ||
| Linda R New member Username: Linda Post Number: 7 Registered: 06-2008 |
Hi Shay P I hear your frustration and have been there. After about three months of doing the exercises I only have a small amount of ear movement. I have though noticed an improvement in my hooded eyelids and general tone of my face so think it's well worth keeping on. Good Luck. Linda | ||
| Tom R New member Username: Newbie_face_1 Post Number: 18 Registered: 07-2008 |
I've been experimenting a little and I've found whats starting to help is to close my eyes, sitting down in a chair or on the floor, very relaxed and visualise the occips and frontalis muscles. While I am doing the exercise closing my eyes it helps me to focus much better than looking in a mirror. I can feel the movement of these muscles much easier. | ||
| Shay P New member Username: Shay Post Number: 2 Registered: 09-2008 |
Thanks for all the input, everyone. One problem may be, I'm having trouble even LOCATING my occipitalis muscles! I mean, I understand where it is in a general way, mostly from consulting the diagram, but I truly don't know what I'm supposed to be feeling! I end up moving everything but the intended muscle; tensing my neck, jaw, raising my eyebrows... you get the idea  Anyway, I shall persist. | ||
| Thomas Hagerty Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 96 Registered: 05-2006 |
Shay P: Here's my email address - tvhagerty@sbcglobal.net. Send me your address and I'll send you a video CD on which I demonstrate the correct way to do the scalp exercise. If you see how it's done you'll quickly learn how to do it yourself, maybe. It's not that difficult once you understand the concept visually. | ||
| C M New member Username: Ceeme Post Number: 88 Registered: 06-2007 |
Shay, I don't know how good an actor you are but imagine yourself in a play where you are supposed to be stepping outside from a nice warm cottage into the winter's cold on a snowy night. You are supposed to simulate the feeling of that chill for the audience to emulate. How would you do it? You'd probably wrap your arms around yourself, hunch your shoulders up and shudder...so that your head does a little shake...as you imagine a cold breeze blowing down your neck. Can you do that? It's easiest to do it if you really imagine that cold breeze. If done correctly, the muscles at the back of your head also come into play. You will feel them contract. Another way to feel them is imagine something that makes you cringe.... Now repeat the drama exercise above but this time, imagine the cold breeze blowing through your neck but this time, don't raise your shoulders but just shudder...as if you're trying to stifle your body's natural reaction to the cold. Again, a tensing of the muscles at the back of your neck will occur. Or again, if cringing is what does it for you, think of that thing that makes you cringe but resist the urge to raise your shoulders as you cringe and just let the muscles at the back of your head and neck do their thing. After a while, you will be able to get more relaxed when you do this and not be so dramatic with it that your head shakes. You'll do it almost without effort, the way you might cringe when someone scrapes nails on a black board. And with more practice you will not only be able to do it on command but you will start to see your ears move a little as you gain more control of your occipitalis muscles. | ||
| Thomas Hagerty Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 97 Registered: 05-2006 |
Or just pretend that this guy is sneaking up behind you and is up to no good. Believe me, those occipitalis muscles will go into world-class contractions.  | ||
| C M New member Username: Ceeme Post Number: 89 Registered: 06-2007 |
LMAO...Tom, you're a riot! | ||
| Linda R New member Username: Linda Post Number: 8 Registered: 06-2008 |
Hey C.M. thanks for the cringing tip. I tried it and definitely got more ear movement. | ||
| C M New member Username: Ceeme Post Number: 90 Registered: 06-2007 |
You're welcome, Linda. But if you can do it w/o the cringing, no matter how minimal the ear movement, the better (Correct me if I'm wrong, Tom). I just like to use that example for someone who's never figured out what the movement feels like to help him/her get a hang of it. | ||
| Thomas Hagerty Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 98 Registered: 05-2006 |
Hey, C M, look at the addition (Part B) at the bottom of Exercise number one. I think it's even more effective than the basic exercise for the muscles around the eyes. What do you think? | ||
| C M New member Username: Ceeme Post Number: 91 Registered: 06-2007 |
I like it, Tom,  and appreciate the picture sequence showing how it's done. Now, that last picture...VERY scary indeed! (...and not just to kids, I might add.  ) | ||
| Tom R New member Username: Newbie_face_1 Post Number: 19 Registered: 07-2008 |
Still looking good there Tom! I'll have to try that very last exercise out myself. Maybe I'll get some attention from the ladies..LOL! | ||
| Shay P New member Username: Shay Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2008 |
Thanks for the cringing advice, CM. It's a great way to detect the muscles that we generally don't engage voluntarily. I did have a 'eureka' moment a couple of days ago and managed to make my scalp 'crawl' just a wee bit, though mostly on the left side. I've been able to do it intermittently since, but still don't have much conscious control. It is a breakthrough though, and I'm hoping that watching the scalp-moving DVD will clinch it! Thanks everyone : ) |
