Take the years off with these 10 easy face yoga exercises
The skin is the largest organ in our body, so it makes sense that we should care for it like we would any other major organ. In fact, dermatologists say that diet and exercise are the two most important things you can do to keep wrinkles at bay (aside from not smoking). With that in mind, here are 10 simple face yoga exercises that will help keep your skin looking young and healthy.
Smile!
Facial muscles are activated by the brain, so if you feel like a smile can give you a lift, it’s likely because it actually does. Smiling also has social benefits: The more we feel connected to others, the greater our sense of belonging and well-being will be. So smile away!
Brow furrow and release
The second exercise is a great one for relaxing your face and reducing stress. It can be done anywhere, anytime and takes only a few minutes to do.
To start, place your pointer fingers on the outer corners of each eyebrow and raise the eyebrows until they match above the center of their respective eyes. Press gently downward with your fingers as you do this. Gently release the pressure on your brows and let them relax back down into their usual position. Repeat this process six to eight times at a slow pace (one or two seconds per movement) while breathing normally throughout all movements; this will help to relax tension.
Look the other way
Look up and down, then left and right. Repeat this exercise 10 times, or until your face feels like it’s been through a workout at the gym.
Forehead lift
This exercise is the easiest to do anywhere and can be done in less than 30 seconds, it’s a great way to relax and stretch your face. To do this exercise simply:
Place your fingers under your earlobes, then pull gently so that your head is tilted back slightly.
Hold for about 30 seconds. You should feel the muscles in your forehead contract as you do this (you’ll likely notice them getting tighter).
When you’re finished feeling these muscles contracting, try to hold them tight while they’re still contracted.
After holding them tight for another 30 seconds or so (this time without an active contraction), relax the muscles by releasing all tension from both sides of the face at once — this will result in a very satisfying “releasing” feeling!
Now repeat as necessary throughout the day until there are no more wrinkles on your forehead!
Surprise!
This exercise will make your eyebrows appear higher and more defined.
Raise your eyebrows as high as you can, then lower them slowly. Repeat this exercise five times, three times per day for optimal results.
Fish face
This pose or face exercise is easier than it sounds!
Open your mouth wide and stick your tongue out as far as you can.
Hold this position for five seconds or until you feel a burning sensation in the back of your throat, then return to normal breathing for one second before repeating the process again (repeat 10 times).
Why it works:
Fish face helps strengthen facial muscles which help improve muscle tone and elasticity, making you look younger and more relaxed overall.
It also stretches out the jawline and massages gums, improving blood circulation throughout the body.
Benefits:
Fish face is great for relaxing tense muscles around the mouth and jawline so that your face looks more youthful over time.
Chew on it
The next time you’re sitting at your desk, take a break from work and chew on something hard.
This will exercise the muscles in your jaw and face, which can help to make you look younger by strengthening them. You can also chew on something soft if you’d like to relax those muscles as well.
Tongue stretch
To do the tongue stretch, start by pushing your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Let it rest there for a few seconds and then gently pull it back towards you. Hold that position for a few more seconds before relaxing your mouth. Repeat this process several times until your jaw feels refreshed.
What does this face yoga exercise do? This facial exercise is great for opening up the jaw muscles to help improve chewing, swallowing and speaking skills as well as making sure that all those muscles are working properly which helps prevent pain in the neck and shoulders that often comes with aging.
How often should I do this face yoga exercise? The tongue stretch should be performed once a day—ideally at least twice but any less than that isn’t recommended because it won’t have enough impact on your facial muscles to make anything happen!
How long before I see results? You’ll notice an improvement after only one week but keep practicing throughout each month so that you keep getting better results each time!
The Kiss
The kiss is a good exercise to do twice a day. You can do it while you’re watching TV or waiting in line at the store, so it’s not hard to fit into your schedule.
To perform this exercise properly, gently kiss your fingertips with your lips and then press them against your cheekbones for 10 seconds. Repeat three times on each side of your face (both cheeks).
The kiss will stimulate blood flow and increase collagen production in the skin around the eyes, which helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps improve elasticity in the muscles that support facial expression, preventing drooping eyelids or sagging jowls!
Eye Roll
Eye roll: This is a great exercise for improving the elasticity of your upper eyelids, which can make you look younger when they’re lifted up. Keep your eyes open and look upward as far as possible without straining your neck or rolling your eyes back into the sockets. You can do this exercise while standing or sitting at a table in front of a mirror, which will give you feedback on how well you’re doing (you’ll notice more wrinkles at first).
Once you’ve got it down pat, try rolling your eyes left and right with them closed—or even while looking into a mirror!
Make these exercises a part of your daily routine for firmer, more youthful skin.
You can perform these exercises at home or while commuting. The trick is to do them for a minimum of three minutes on each area, but no more than 10. This will ensure that you get the most out of your face yoga workout without overdoing it and risking injury, which could negate any benefits.
If you have time, try doing these exercises twice per day—morning and evening—for best results. If you’re short on time however (or just want to spend more time with loved ones), once per day is still an excellent way to improve your skin’s health and appearance!
Conclusion
So there you have it—10 simple face yoga exercises that are easy to do and can help you look years younger. We don’t know about you, but we feel pretty inspired to start our own regular facial workout routine! But what if we told you that there’s one final trick up our sleeves?
Well, there is. In addition to all the moves above, this one also helps keep your skin looking fresh and healthy: drinking lots of water! It keeps your cells hydrated so they stay full of life, which keeps them working efficiently at fighting off environmental damage (such as pollution). So remember those eight glasses a day? They may seem like a chore at first glance but trust us—once they become part of your daily routine, it won’t take long before they become second nature.
If you are looking for more in-depth guidance on how to start, get my free yoga e-book on flexibility where I have pulled together my top tips and poses for anyone who is a beginner and wants more support.
For more beginner poses, or if you want a more in-depth practice and want to find out more, then get in touch and find out more!
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