aCT 4 | How to Gently Hold and Tap Your Face with Love: The 7-7-7 Gua Sha & EFT Tapping At Home
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What is the 7-7-7 Gua Sha routine and how do I do it properly?
How can EFT tapping help me release stress and reconnect with myself?
Is EFT tapping scientifically proven?
What are the 9 tapping points in EFT?
The universe has guided you here, and along your journey, something is bound to resonate with you.
After a fun night out, the sun rises over West Lake, casting soft light through your hotel window. The panoramic view is peaceful, inviting you to start the day on a calm note. You wake up feeling refreshed, ready to take on the day with a sense of tranquility.
Image © Minimalist Wellbeing
The 7-7-7 Gua Sha Routine:
1. Opening the Lymph Nodes (7 seconds per side)
You began by pressing your fingertips into the soft hollows just above your collarbones, your supraclavicular nodes. Gentle, circular motions signaled the start of release.
Then you took the Gua Sha tool and rested it at the base of your neck, where it meets your shoulder. With the curved edge, you glided it slowly upward along the side of your neck, stopping just below the ear. Each pass lasted a full 7 seconds, the strokes soft and steady. You repeated the motion on the other side, helping to clear stagnant energy and invite lymphatic flow.
2. Gliding Across the Neck (7 seconds per side)
Holding the tool with a relaxed grip, you placed it just above your collarbone and began a gentle upward glide toward the underside of your chin. The movement traced the natural contour of your neck, 7 seconds per side, stimulating circulation while grounding your focus.
This moment allowed your body to shift into calm, and your skin to soften.
3. Jaw Sculpting (7 seconds per side)
You brought the tool to the center of your chin and slowly drew it upward along your jawline, moving toward the base of your ear. The tool angled slightly against the skin as it moved, firm but never forceful.
You repeated the motion on the other side, each side taking 7 seconds. The movement helped define the jaw, melt puffiness, and encourage gentle drainage beneath the surface.
4. Cheekbone Contouring (7 seconds per side)
You rested the tool at the outer corner of your lips and began gliding it diagonally upward, following your cheekbone toward the temple. The motion was smooth and lifting, 7 seconds on each side, waking up tired skin and encouraging flow in the mid-face.
With each pass, tension softened, and vitality returned.
5. Under-Eye Relief (7 seconds per side)
Using the flat edge, you carefully placed the tool beneath the inner corner of your eye and swept outward along the orbital bone. Light pressure and slow strokes, 7 seconds per side. helped soothe puffiness and drain lingering fluid.
The cool tool felt calming against delicate skin, like a soft exhale under your eyes.
6. Forehead Smoothing (7 seconds per section)
You positioned the tool at the space between your brows and glided upward toward your hairline. Then, from the center of your forehead, you repeated the same slow movement outward and upward.
Each stroke lasted 7 seconds, gradually smoothing lines and releasing built-up tension across the forehead.
7. Closing the Energy (7 seconds)
You returned to the sides of your face, just beneath the temple, and traced a slow, downward stroke along your jaw and neck back toward the collarbone. This final 7-second sweep grounded your energy and gently closed the circuit you had opened.
As the steam from your shower fades into the morning air, there's a soft knock at the door. A Four Seasons staff member enters with quiet grace, wheeling in a tray set with a traditional Chinese breakfast, steamed buns, congee, and delicate dim sum, accompanied by your preferred drink of choice, still warm and fragrant. They smile, noticing your calm presence, and gently remind you that your private driver has been scheduled for 11:30 a.m., ready to take you to Qianjiangshiji Park near the Qiantang River.
With the day ahead gently unfolding, you take a seat by the window, savoring each bite and sip while watching the city come to life below. You feel both grounded and pampered, held in a rhythm that feels entirely your own.
Image © Minimalist Wellbeing
Upon arrival, you're greeted by a vibrant riverside scene, tents lining the walkways, each one offering something unique, from handcrafted goods to local snacks. On one side of the river, a brightly colored professional runway stretches out, a playful contrast to the expansive green space on the other, where families gather under the sun. As you stroll through the park, the energy is warm and lively, children laugh over games, couples sip tea on benches, and groups play badminton or fly kites. There's a quiet richness in these everyday moments, a reminder of how connection, movement, and good weather can bring people, and a city, together.
You’re scrolling aimlessly, the soft rhythm of your fingertips tapping your phone screen barely noticeable. It's second nature by now, tap to open, tap to like, tap to escape. You pause for a moment, noticing how automatic it’s all become, how much energy flows through your fingers with every interaction. It's subtle, yet constant, a digital pulse of attention.
And then it hits you: if tapping can connect you to the outside world, what if it could reconnect you to yourself?
You remember hearing about EFT tapping, how it's not just touch, but intentional touch. Unlike the tap of a screen demanding your focus outward, EFT invites you inward. You haven’t made space for that in a while. You’ve been tapping to stay informed, entertained, distracted, but not to process, not to heal.
The idea lingers. What would it feel like to shift the rhythm? To let your fingers, so used to scrolling and searching, gently land on the points of your own face and body with purpose? To tap with the intention of release rather than consumption?
You make a quiet mental note: try tapping tonight not on the phone, but on yourself. A few minutes to reconnect, release, and maybe remember how much power your own touch holds when it’s focused on healing instead of reacting.
The final few hours in Hangzhou were spent exactly as they should be, slow, intentional, and unforgettable. Dinner was at Ru Yuan, a MICHELIN-starred restaurant known for its serene setting nestled among lush greenery. While the menu included familiar names like West Lake vinegar fish and sautéed shrimp with Longjing tea, each dish had been refined to a level of subtle perfection.
Image by Ru Yuan
You ordered both, naturally. Every bite revealed the chef's attention to detail and personal artistry. The standout was the gold medal braised pork, tender slices shaped into a pagoda, subtly infused with a winey aroma. It wasn’t just food; it was craft.
After the meal, you took one last opportunity to unwind, booking a treatment at Banyan Tree Spa. The Tui Na massage, a traditional technique used for centuries, was just what your body needed. Focused on restoring the natural flow of Qi, it helped improve circulation and ease built-up tension. By the end, your body felt realigned, your mind clearer.
Image by Banyan Tree
Back at the hotel, you returned to a promise you made to yourself: stay loyal to your nighttime ritual.
– You massaged in your oil cleanser, melting away the day.
– A gentle foaming wash followed, rinsing off what no longer needed to stay.
– You pressed in a hydrating toner, the calming botanicals sinking into your skin.
– A nourishing night cream sealed it all in, leaving your face soft and supported.
Tap, tap. Just the quiet rhythm of your fingertips meeting your skin. In this stillness, something began to shift, not dramatic, but deep. You were stepping into something more intentional.
This is EFT—Emotional Freedom Technique. A simple, powerful way to release stress, tension, or old emotional weight by tapping on specific energy points in your body. You started gently.
Step 1: Identify the Issue
You paused. Took a breath.
What’s resting heavy on your heart tonight? Maybe it’s stress, anxious thoughts, or something unresolved from earlier. You didn’t overthink it, you just picked the one thing that felt most present. That became your focus.
Step 2: Rate the Intensity
With your eyes closed, you scanned your body and named the feeling.
How strong is it? You gave it a number, maybe a 6, maybe an 8, on a scale from 0 (no charge) to 10 (intense). That number was just your starting point. A place to measure change from.
Step 3: Create the Setup Statement
You placed your hand on your heart and quietly said:
“Even though I feel _______________, I deeply and completely accept myself.”
You filled in the blank with honesty, anxiety, doubt, anger, sadness, whatever it was.
Even if it felt awkward, you said it again.
You allowed the tension and the self-acceptance to exist together, just for a moment.
And when you were ready, you began to tap.
Image © Minimalist Wellbeing
Step 4: The Tapping Sequence
You take a deep breath and settle into the space around you. You’re ready to begin the tapping sequence. With each tap, you feel more connected to your body and the energy it holds. These points, aligned with energy pathways, guide you as you release emotional blockages.
Karate Chop Point (Side of your hand):
You begin by tapping the side of your hand, using the fingers of your opposite hand. The soft rhythm of tapping grounds you. As you tap, you repeat your setup statement aloud:
"Even though I feel anxious, I accept myself anyway."
You breathe in, feeling the words settle in your chest, as you continue tapping.
Eyebrow Point (Just above the nose, where the eyebrow begins):
Next, your fingertips gently tap just above the nose, at the start of your brow. You stay focused on the issue you’ve chosen, breathing deeply. With each breath, you become more present with the emotion, allowing yourself to sit with it.
Side of Eye (On the bone at the outer corner of your eye):
You tap gently at the outer corner of your eye. The motion is calm, steady, allowing you to stay in tune with what’s surfacing. You remain connected with the emotion you’re addressing, breathing deeply into it.
Under Eye (On the bone directly under your eye):
Your fingertips tap softly beneath your eye. You feel the air flow in and out of your lungs, each breath a small release. You allow the tension in this area to gently dissolve, trusting the rhythm of your tapping to support you.
Under Nose (Just above your upper lip, below your nose):
With a light tap, you focus on the emotion you’re working through. Each tap brings you closer to releasing what’s been holding on, and you remain present with the feeling as you continue your journey inward.
Chin Point (Just below your lower lip, on your chin):
You move to tap gently on your chin, breathing deeply with each stroke. With each tap, you release a bit more tension, feeling lighter with each deep breath.
Collarbone Point (Just below the hard part of your collarbone):
Now, you tap softly just below the collarbone. This point, often holding built-up tension, is a place where you can truly let go. You feel the release as the tapping continues, your breath steady.
Under Arm (About 4 inches below your armpit, on your side):
This tapping point feels important, almost like it’s unlocking something deeper. You tap lightly, taking slow, deliberate breaths as the tension releases. Your body feels lighter, more at ease.
Top of Head (The crown of your head):
Finally, you tap gently on the top of your head, the crown. With each tap, you feel the energy flowing out, like a wave of release washing over you. You complete the sequence with a sense of clarity.
Step 5: Check In
You pause.
How do you feel now? You take a deep breath, allowing the air to settle into your body. How does the intensity feel now? Has it shifted from a 7 to a 5, or maybe even a 3? If it’s still present, that’s okay. Sometimes, it takes more than one round. You can repeat the tapping sequence, refining your setup statement if the emotion has shifted. If your anxiety has turned to frustration, for example, change the statement to reflect that and continue tapping, breathing deeply as you go.
Step 6: Repeat as Needed
Repetition is key.
You know this, and so you tap again. With each round, you invite your body to release more stress, to realign emotionally. You might need to tap several times before you feel a deeper shift, and that’s perfectly fine. The more you practice, the more you’ll notice those subtle yet powerful changes. It’s not about rushing, it’s about letting go and allowing your body to reset. With each session, there’s more space for calmness, for ease, for peace.
While Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) was once dismissed as pseudoscience, recent research is beginning to shift that perspective. Clinical studies have shown that tapping can significantly lower cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, with one landmark study reporting up to a 43% decrease after just a single session. Peer-reviewed trials also highlight EFT’s benefits for anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Though the American Psychological Association hasn’t formally endorsed it, EFT is gaining ground as a promising, evidence-based intervention in integrative and trauma-informed settings.
But beyond the data, EFT is about listening to your body. It’s a practice of tuning in, recognizing the emotions that weigh you down, and gently releasing them through touch and intention. It’s deceptively simple, just tapping on specific points while acknowledging what you feel, but don’t let that simplicity fool you. With each tap, a profound process of healing begins.
So, tap, tap, and feel the shift. With each tap, you’re stepping more fully into a version of yourself that feels lighter, more aligned, and empowered.
