Face Yoga: Benefits and Alternatives
Preserving a youthful appearance is one of the things most people sought for these days. Who doesn’t want to look good, right? But with medical emergencies and financial restrictions, some people can’t afford to maintain a fancy skincare routine. The good thing is there is another affordable and natural alternative to keep you looking young: facial yoga exercises!
What is Face Yoga?
Face yoga is a series of exercises aimed to tone muscles in the face. It uses acupressure techniques that target various facial muscles. It has been developed by Fumiko Takatsu, who had the thought to exercise her facial muscles the same way she exercises her body. People noticed the difference before, and after she practiced face yoga, they approached her to know her secrets. Thus, face yoga is born.
Another famous face yoga instructor is Koko Hayashi. She was born in Japan and is exposed to face yoga instructors. However, she only started to practice it after a failed plastic surgery on her chin. She did not like how her chin looked after having the implant removed, so she resorted to natural methods like face yoga. Today, she is one of the most popular face yoga instructors situated in California.
To validate the claims about the anti-aging benefits of face yoga, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine conducted a study about face yoga. In the research, the dermatologists conducted a 20-week (almost 5 months) strict facial exercise program that involved 32 exercises and have found that the facial appearance of the 16 study participants looked about three years younger. The participants did the standard 30-minute face yoga routine and achieved astounding results.
Practicing face yoga regularly can make you look younger by keeping your skin plump and supple. As face yoga stimulates blood flow and collagen production, it can also give you flawless skin. Studies have shown that it reduces signs of facial aging and can keep a person looking young for a long time.
Its purpose is to tone muscles in the face – as gym-goers do for their biceps and abs – it does not produce wrinkles. Instead, it significantly reduces the appearance of wrinkles, tightens the skin, maintains your face shape, gives you a more radiant complexion, and even makes your jawline more visible. Contrary to popular belief, practicing face yoga and moving facial muscles a lot will not contribute to the appearance of fine lines in your face.
Aside from rejuvenating your skin and improving your looks, facial yoga has other benefits too. Regularly exercising facial muscles improves the coordination of your neck, mouth, tongue, and other facial muscles significantly. It also alleviates headaches, neck pain, and speech issues. Face yoga can also do wonders for people who snore and those who suffer from mental health problems.
Say goodbye to expensive Botox treatments, trips to your local dermatologists for laser treatments, and plastic surgery corrections. Dive into the fun world of face yoga and enjoy its many benefits! Join a face yoga class or find the right instructor to find which facial exercise program works best for you. In the meantime, try these simple face yoga practices you can do even in the comfort of your home.
8 Facial Exercises for You to Try
1. To relieve tension
This targets the acupressure point near the eyes and reduces eye strain. To achieve this, use both of your index fingers to gently press the inner corners of your eyes while gradually adding light pressure for 30 seconds. Then gently make small circular motions using your fingers for another 30 seconds. Do the same in the opposite direction.
2. To boost oxygen circulation
Work your brow muscles and look forward to a more relaxed look. For this exercise, place both of your ring fingers at the inner corners of your eyebrow. Gently do tapping motions along with your eyebrows towards the outer corner. Press your temples for about 10 seconds, then continue the tapping motions, this time following the direction of your cheekbones ending on the inner corner of your eyes. Do this thrice.
3. To reduce tightly-knit eyebrows
Bring all your fingers of both hands to a pinching position, then place them at the center of your forehead. Apply moderate pressure as you press gently as you move your fingers towards your temples. Release your fingers and bring them back to a pinching position at the center of your forehead. Do this exercise for 30 seconds.
4. To alleviate neck pains
Visibly reduce sagging around your jaw and neck while boosting your lymphatic drainage with this facial exercise. Place your fingers – except for your thumb – at the nape of your neck. Tilt your head back slightly, then apply moderate to firm pressure as you gently slide your fingers down to your collarbone. Press your fingers in place for 10 seconds before releasing the pressure. Repeat the exercise for 30 seconds.
5. To promote relaxation
Reduce your stress levels by doing the lion’s pose. This is preferably done on the floor as you have to go from a kneeling position to a sitting position. Then straighten your back as you bring your palms down on the floor with your fingers pointing at your crotch. Arch your spine, look up and inhale deeply through your nose. Open your mouth as wide as you can, then stick out your tongue as if reaching for the chin. Exhale forcefully with a “HA.” Inhale slowly as you go back to the starting position. Repeat this up to seven times.
6. To give you a better mood
Uplift your mood while doing a facelift with this method. This exercise is straightforward as you only have to smile with your mouth closed. Smile as wide as you can and make sure that there is no gap between your lips. Hold the wide smile for ten seconds, then release it. Do this at least three times.
7. To burn cheek fat
If you are not a huge fan of chubby cheeks, this exercise is for you. Give your cheek muscles a toned appearance by doing this simple technique. Say the letters “X” and “O” alternately while using the most exaggerated facial movements as you can manage. Do it slowly and hold each letter for at least three seconds. Repeat this exercise ten times.
8. To make your face slimmer
Tone your cheek muscles with this simple face exercise. You have to purse your lips together while sucking in your cheeks, just like making a fishy pouty face. Bring the corners of your lips to a smile while holding the position of your lips. Hold that pose for 10 seconds before releasing. Do this at least thrice.
How Soon to See Results?
To achieve the best results, you need to practice consistent face yoga twice a day for at least 30 minutes every day. Stick to the regimen and make it a point to eat healthy meal to keep your skin glowing. Eating fruits and vegetables can do a lot for your skin and your overall health. Pair your facial exercises with the right kind of food and a good night’s sleep to maximize the amazing benefits of yoga.
What are the Alternatives to Face Yoga?
If you are having trouble maintaining consistency over time doing 30-minute facial exercise sessions, don't lose hope just yet. A great alternative to doing face yoga with one hand free is by using facial rollers. Like face yoga, facial rollers can improve blood circulation, stimulate the lymphatic drainage system, reduce frown lines, and evenly distribute the product all over the face.
The benefits facial rollers deliver are very much like that of face yoga. This is because facial rollers also massage the face, and the material of the face roller contributes to the benefits behind using it. For instance, rose quartz facial rollers can purify the skin, and jade can help contour your double chin.
A major difference between the two is the amount of time you have to spend on it. For face yoga, at least 30 minutes is recommended, but in using facial rollers, 5 minutes is just enough time. Exceeding 10 minutes when using facial rollers is unheard of, as prolonging the rolling may cause your face to hurt. Remember, you can achieve the best results in the least amount of time. There is no risk to use face rollers on a daily basis. In fact, some dermatologists recommend daily use for optimal results.
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