7 Anti-Aging Facial Exercises
Looking for an all-natural face-lift? What about taking years of stress and wrinkles off your skin? You can forget Botox and start the new anti-aging trend, the natural way with facial yoga techniques!
Training the muscles of your face is just as important as training all the other muscles that sculpt your body. You may ask, why would I want to make silly facial movements that exercise the muscles in my face? I challenge you to answer this, why wouldn’t you? Your facial muscles need exercise just as much as the rest of your body does. Your face is what interacts and expresses your daily moods; it’s important to keep your facial muscles in shape too!
What Is Facial Yoga?
If you already do facial yoga, you’re ahead of the game. But if you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone! Most people have no idea that it exists and that it can be beneficial for your face. It’s a technique that’s been around for many years and can be practiced daily. It’s a series of exercises that promise to do for your face what Pilates does for your body; relax, tighten, and tone from within.
Benefits Of Facial Yoga
- Reduces puffiness/bags & dark circles around eyes
- Lifts eyebrows
- Defines cheeks
- Plumps lips
- Reduces lip lines
- Smoothes & reduces wrinkle lines on face & neck
- Firms neck & jawline (goodbye, double chin!)
- Contribute to a bright & glowing appearance
- Slows the aging process
- Less expensive than creams & cosmetic surgery
- Releases tension & stress
- Improves internal organ function
- Relieves headaches & sinus issues
Results Of Facial Yoga
The real results of facial yoga depend upon each individual’s skin and muscular structure, commitment to doing the exercises daily/weekly, and a combination of other daily treatments such as the foods you consume, a regular exercise regime, and skin products you use daily.
Each practitioner suggests different exercises to do for a certain amount of time each day and per week. For example, Danielle Collins, a facial yoga expert, recommends facial exercises for 20 minutes, 6 times a week. Other experts suggest taking 10 minutes daily or choosing select exercises a few times a week when time permits. If it is important to you to make a difference and see results, then do the best you can each day to commit to these types of exercises.
Research
There have been many studies conducted to prove if facial yoga holds true to its claims. Many dermatologist and plastic surgeons have conflicting views as to whether it really works or not. More studies will need to be conducted to reach a conclusive scientific conclusion but just because many studies have not been done does not mean facial yoga doesn’t work! You have to experience it for yourself and make your own assessments.
Skin Facts
Your face consists of more than 50 different muscles that are stretched and layered by elastic tissues surrounding the cranium and facial area. These muscles contract individually or in combination to create our many facial expressions. Besides expressing emotions, your facial muscles also contour and shape your face’s appearance! This is how facial exercises can contribute to maintaining a more youthful look as you age.
Facial yoga exercises the hypodermis (lower layer), the dermis (middle layer), and the epidermis (upper layer) of the skin. Efficiently working all these layers of the skin help increase blood circulation, increase oxygen to the surface, and improve nourishment to the skin cells. As a result, the skin produces a healthy glow with fewer toxins and is able to absorb moisture more effectively. These techniques are also stated to stimulate collagen and elastin production to give the skin a smoother, tighter appearance.
An Essential Facial Yoga Workout
Ready to give this facial yoga stuff a go? No harm in trying! Here are some popular exercises that can improve your appearance and produce great results.
Perform this 10-15 minute facial routine in combination with your regular facial products and fitness training routines 3-5x per week. With anything worthwhile, consistency is key! The more effort you put into these exercises, the more effective and dramatic the results. In just a few minutes a day, you can expect to notice a difference in the appearance of your skin over a period of time!
Facial Yoga Exercises
- Rosy Glow (complexion)
- Wrinkle Relaxer (forehead & eye brow area)
- Brow Smoother (eyes/forehead area)
- Youthful Eyes (eyes)
- Cheeky (cheek area)
- Plumper Pout (lips)
- Slender Neckline (neck area)
Try: Take the skin in the cheek area and pinch it. Hold the skin pinched for 30 seconds then take another section of the cheeks and repeat the process. Try to pinch 6 different areas and hold for 30 seconds each time (3 minutes total).
Why: This technique gives a natural, rosy glowing look that helps get the blood flowing.
Frequency: Try to do this once a day, or even twice a week.
Try: Take the index fingers and hold it in the inner corner of eyebrow area. Gently press & trace your fingers to the outer edges of eyebrows and hold for about 10 seconds.
Why: Smooths, relaxes, and reduces wrinkles in the forehead.
Frequency: Repeat 3x. Try to do this once a day!
Try: Take all 4 fingers on both hands into the middle of your brow. Apply pressure and sweep them outward with a gently racking motion 4x to get the maximum out of this exercise.
Why: It helps boosts your circulation and removes toxins from the skin.
Frequency: Try to do this exercise at least once a day!
Try: Gently place your index fingers under the eyes (pointing towards the crease of the eyes) and tilt the head back slightly while fluttering the eyelids for 10 seconds.
Why: This will help you look less tired and give your eyes a more youthful look.
Frequency: Repeat twice a day.
Try: Puff out your cheeks as much as you can and tap your cheeks all over for 30 seconds! Rest for a moment, and then repeat.
Why: Increases circulation and brings more oxygen to the skin surface.
Frequency: Try to do at least once a day if you want a fuller cheek area.
Try: Gently tilt the head backwards & perform a kissing motion with pursed lips. Exhale completely on the last one.
Why: Gives the lips a fuller look.
Frequency: Do this 10x for 3 sets..
Try: Start with the head in a neutral position looking forward. Turn the head to the right so that the chin is in line with your shoulder then tilt it backwards gently. Hold for 30 seconds then return to the forward neutral position. Repeat the same sequence to the other side.
Why: To get a streamlined neck. If the skin on your neck is becoming loose, then is the perfect exercise to help strengthen and flatten this area.
Frequency: Repeat twice on each side once or twice a day!
These are 7 facial yoga techniques to combat all different areas of your face and skin. I hope you found this really useful, as well as fun! If done consistently along with a healthy diet and exercise program, your skin will begin to look lighter, brighter, tighter, and more youthful within weeks!
To learn more about Facial Yoga and different techniques to improve your skin organically, check out these wonderful books/videos and authors:
- Ultimate Facercise by Carole Maggio
- 5-Minute Facelift: A Daily Program for a Beautiful Wrinkle-Free Face by Reinhold Benz
- Facial Fitness by Patricia Goroway
- The Danielle Collins Face Yoga Method by Danielle Collins
- 10 Minute Natural Facelift (DVD) by Danielle Collins
- Face Lift Without Surgery (eBook) by Wendy Wilken
Like a fine bottle of wine, it gets better as it ages! You too can preserve your body and skin!
Live, Love, & Laugh,
Maria
