Face Yoga: Natural Exercises for a Youthful and Glowing Face
Overview
Our face is our most distinguishing feature. It is what differentiates us from others. Yoga, practiced regularly is beneficial for our mind and body. At times we may forget that our face needs exercise too. The solution is Face Yoga which helps us feel good and improves our appearance.
What is Face Yoga?
Face Yoga comprises certain facial exercises/postures/massage/Acupressure techniques that stimulate our skin, lymphatic system, and muscles. Our facial muscles are connected to our skin and working on them makes our skin glow and radiant. It tones our facial muscles, improves blood and lymphatic circulation, and induces relaxation. It is one of the most sought–after holistic alternatives to Botox, plastic/cosmetic surgery, and other such face-sculpting techniques. There is a sudden surge of online Face Yoga classes, and many are signing up for these.
Effects of face yoga
As we age, our muscles lose mass and volume. Face Yoga has many benefits that make us feel youthful and radiant.
- Prevents sagging: Face Yoga lifts and tones our facial muscles naturally and prevents our skin from sagging due to lack of exercise or atrophy.
- Toning: It stimulates the muscles to improve tightness and tones them. It improves the blood circulation to our face, neck, and shoulders.
- Reduce fats: It helps to reduce fat deposits in our face and reduce the effect of double chin, wrinkles, puffy eyes, and dark circles.
- Appearance: It works on the micro-muscles in our face, that affect our facial expressions, and overall appearance.
- Active muscles: It also works on our face and neck muscles, thereby keeping them active and in working order. It also strengthens the facial/neck/shoulder muscles.
- Relaxes: It helps in increasing our radiance, glow, and youthfulness. It relaxes the tension around our jaw, forehead, etc.
- Blood circulation: It increases the blood circulation in the face thereby imparting a blush /color to our face.
- Glow: It brings about a glow to the face.
- Improves mental health: It may also improve our mental health as we tend to be more relaxed and able to focus better, thereby reducing stress/anxiety levels.
- Reduces musculoskeletal pain: It helps to alleviate musculoskeletal pain.
Examples of face yoga exercises
Let us see some of the Face Yoga exercises that should be a part of our daily Face Yoga routine:
- Face tapping: These are gentle taps by our fingers on the pressure points on our face. It increases blood circulation and improves lymphatic function by stimulating it to boost collagen production. It also aids in providing proper channeling of oxygen into our skin allowing it to breathe.
- Pout: Also called pucker up, this helps to tone the area around our lips and mouth.
- Fish face: This tones our cheek muscles and strengthens them, reduces cheek fat, and makes us look younger and slimmer.
- Balloon pose: This acts on all the facial muscles increases blood circulation and gives us a look of lifted and plump cheeks.
- Forehead smoothers: They tone and relax the frontalis muscle thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles on our forehead, that are caused due to tension from stress and frowning.
- Eye brighteners: They reduce the dark circles and puffiness around our eyes. However, care should be taken to do these exercises gently otherwise there may be formation of new wrinkles on our forehead.
- Jawline definers and cheek sculptors: They help define our cheeks and prevent sagging of the skin as well as tone the facial muscles.
- Chewing motion: This acts on the neck muscles and tones them, thereby reducing the effect of a sagging neck (Turkey’s Neck).
- Neck toners: This stretches our neck and is effective for reducing the effects of double chin and toning the neck muscles.
Points to remember
- It is recommended to practice Face Yoga outdoors so we can receive better oxygen.
- The most important aspect of Yoga (be it any type) is breathing or Pranayama as it regulates the energy flow in our body as well as channels the oxygen flow to the blood and brain. It removes toxins like carbon dioxide from our body making our skin glow.
- Of course, it is not possible to get a radiant face in just a couple of Yoga sessions. Practice Face Yoga regularly and make it a habit. It is an ongoing process and you can reap the benefits after continued regular practice.
- The preferred time to practice Face Yoga is in the morning as that is when we are the least stressed or tired. However, it can be practiced at any time of your convenience, as nowadays “convenience is king”.
- The benefits of Face Yoga are long-term. Regular practice, healthy food with lots of essential nutrients, adequate hydration, stress management, sound sleep, exercise, meditation, and no bad habits, all work in tandem to make us feel energized and radiant. It relaxes us and relieves us of our tension. With a calmer mind, we can focus better and thereby excel in our work.
Caution
However, moderation is the key. Slow and gentle movements should be practiced, so that there are no new wrinkles to worry about. When you join up for a session, practice it for a while and observe how your body reacts to it. Continue only if you are comfortable. It is better to learn under supervision. If you have any skin ailments like acne or psoriasis, it is advisable to consult your medical practitioner before joining up.
Conclusion
The topic of Face Yoga is still a subject of study and research. Regular practitioners of Face Yoga have observed marked differences in their overall appearance.
To quote a real-time Face Yoga practitioner – “It has been a very good experience and helped me to understand and look after myself without much fuss. A few things that I can incorporate into my daily routine can help me relax and take care of my lines. We all use some moisturizer or cream. But the correct way of application and stokes gives great relaxation and makes me happy too.” – Ms. Denise Dua (Eclairs Café & Bakery, Gurugram).
Indeed it’s very effective. Have been doing it regularly with my asanas.