Yoga has long been known for its rejuvenating effects on the body and mind - helping millions of people look and feel younger. But did you know there is a yogic method to help relax and tone your face? It’s known as face yoga (or facial yoga) and people worldwide are feeling the benefits.
Even though face yoga may sound (and, we’ll be honest, sometimes look) funny, all you need is a little time and dedication to see results. For those who are looking for an all-natural way to beat ageing, face yoga could be the answer! Don’t worry though, you don’t need to stop smiling and laughing to get better skin.
Face yoga is a form of exercise that concentrates on the muscles of the face, of which there are quite a few - 43 to be exact. Just as we exercise the rest of the body and it rewards us with increased longevity and toning, the same can be said for the face. By regularly practising face yoga, you may benefit from the following:
- Relief of tension in the neck and face
- Tighter, firmer facial skin
- Improvement in circulation to facial muscles
- Smoothed-out wrinkles
- Stronger facial muscles
When the muscles of the face become stronger, the skin naturally begins to smooth out. However, it takes time and dedication to see results. Recent dermatology study results suggest the exercises should be performed for at least 30 minutes per day to see improvement within 8 weeks.
Despite all this, you may remain sceptical. So, why not try it yourself? Here are our top 5 face yoga exercises for you to try right now.
5 Face Yoga Exercises
Warm-Up
Get into the groove with these 2 exercises:
- Stick your tongue out. That’s it! Hold for as long as you can.
- Fish face. Remember this one from being a kid? Suck the inside of your cheeks inward so the lips scrunch up. Hold for as long as you can.
- Repeat these a few times until you feel ready for the next part of your face yoga routine.
The ‘O’
Tighten the area around the mouth, hide the teeth and open the mouth into an O-shape. Look up with the eyes only (not moving the neck) without wrinkling the forehead. Hold for 10 seconds, then release. Repeat 10 times.
Mini Facelift
Extend one arm down to a 45-degree angle and reach the other arm overhead. Clasp the top hand over the head onto the opposite ear so that you pull the face muscles up and lean the head down toward the same shoulder. Open the mouth and on a long exhale, stick out the tongue toward the floor. Repeat on the other side.
Eye Lift
Say goodbye to crow’s feet! Pull back the area around your eyes with your fingers and close the eyes firmly, then open. Repeat 100 times.
Upside-Down Blinking
It’s like crunches for your eyes! Lay on the edge of your bed so your head is upside-down but supported. Open your eyes wide and then blink them closed. Repeat 100 times.
Puppet Mask
Smooth out smile lines with this exercise. Make a smile with your mouth and take your hands to pull back the skin around the lips so it becomes taut. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times.
Cool Down
Finish by rewarding yourself with a face massage! Massage your forehead, temples, jaw, and cheeks to relieve any tired muscles.
At the time of publishing, entering the code FY177 at checkout will reduce the price of our
Face Yoga Diploma Course by 50%.
