The quest for younger, clearer, healthier skin seems endless. While many people indulge in LED masks, 18-step skin care routines or occasional Botox treatments, a new trend has emerged called facial yoga.
Facial yoga, as you can imagine, is very different from the yoga you see in exercise classes and online tutorials. Facial yoga doesn't require you to roll out your best yoga mat and get into different stretches or poses. Instead, you can do facial yoga anywhere. Not only does it take about five minutes, but regular practice can also reduce the signs of aging and leave your skin looking younger.
To learn more, I spoke with Eva Norlick Smith, yoga therapist and co-founder of YogaUOnline , who explained the benefits of facial yoga and her favorite facial yoga poses that everyone should try.
What is facial yoga?
Facial yoga is a natural, non-invasive technique that involves a series of massages and exercises to stimulate the muscles, skin and lymphatic system. Facial yoga targets the face, neck and shoulders using tools or just the hands. It is said to improve appearance by strengthening muscles and making them softer and more relaxed to relieve tension and stress.
According to Smith, facial yoga “exercises the facial muscles by lengthening and strengthening the major facial muscles, activating acupressure points and increasing facial expression to contour and tighten areas that may have been weakened by the weather. » She says that regular practice of facial yoga improves facial muscles. changes the contours of the jaw, tightens the area around the eyes, softens age wrinkles, improves blood circulation and lymphatic drainage.
3 Face Yoga Poses You Must Try
Like any type of exercise, facial yoga can produce amazing results if you maintain a regular and consistent routine or practice. That's why Smith recommends "spending five minutes a day sculpting and toning your facial muscles to naturally reduce stress and the signs of aging."
1. Tighten your jaw
To perform a jaw squeeze, place your index fingers on the jaw joint and gently press inward and upward while keeping your lips pursed. Hold the button for five seconds, relax the jaw and repeat the procedure several times along the jaw. This exercise will enhance, define and shape your chin and jawline.
2. Blow the cheeks
For cheek pimples, purse your lips and puff out your cheeks like a puffer fish. Hold the button for five seconds before releasing it. Repeat the process, increasing the waiting time each time. Cheek Puff strengthens the cheek area, strengthens the muscles and reduces wrinkles.
3. Liquid eyelids
Liquid eyelids sound a bit cliche, but they are very effective in nourishing, brightening and firming the skin under the eyes. With your eyes closed, gently lift your eyelids up and out, as if to "stretch" them. Hold the button for five seconds before releasing it. Repeat this several times, but make sure to do it slowly and evenly.