Skin is the largest organ of the body. It needs more attention than simple application of products. It requires a deeper, more holistic approach, which will, in turn, allow your inner beauty to shine.
Skin is the largest organ of the body. It needs more attention than simple application of products. It requires a deeper, more holistic approach, which will, in turn, allow your inner beauty to shine. Eating fresh and seasonal foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle are just some things that can greatly help you. Adopting a mindful practice such as Facial Yoga, will allow you to treat your skin with care while simultaneously allowing yourself to connect with your inner self.
What Is Facial Yoga?
Facial exercises and massages have been used and valued for ages. The concept dates back to the ancient scriptures of Ayurveda. In essence we use these techniques to release energy pathways which allow us to achieve better health and a greater sense of well-being. A regular adoption of these exercises and poses leaves us looking radiant.Facial yoga impacts and does to your face; what traditional yoga impacts and does to your body. It relaxes, tones and gives a significant boost to the skin, whilst concurrently resetting your facial muscles. The idea is to stretch the 57 face and neck muscles to tone and boost circulation. This would yield results of firmer skin for a youthful appearance.When you exercise or indulge in a mindful session, the muscles in your body feel firmer, stronger and activated. Similarly, when your facial muscles are put to use with facial yoga, they feel toned and lead to the sensation of a natural face lift. The key to good results is ensuring that you practice regularly.We have hand-picked a set of 7 facial yoga exercises or poses that you can easily adopt into your routine to ensure supple, healthy and radiant looking skin!
1. The Broad Smile
Push the lips out as much as you can, as if you are about to kiss and then smile broadly. This exercise works on your cheeks and chin simultaneously.
Do at least 15 repetitions a day. The regularity of your practice will determine the extent of results that you attain!
2. Lifting Your Eyebrows
Place each of your index fingers one centimeter above each eyebrow. Attempt to lift the eyebrows upward, while simultaneously gently pressing them downward using your fingers.
Repeat this 10- 12 times. Try and repeat this exercise twice a day if possible.
Our forehead is the first place for the appearance of wrinkles to show. We can tone these muscles, release tension and reduce the appearance of wrinkles by performing this specific exercise on a regular basis.
3. Puff Your Cheeks
Inhale deeply through the mouth. Distend the breath from one cheek to the other cheek and then exhale.
These quick and easy movements will strengthen the cheek muscles and prevent them from looking hollow. Do this exercise regularly for plump cheeks.
4. Chant ‘Om’
Chanting calms the mind and body and leads to the relaxation of muscles. This yoga exercise is the easiest of all of the facial yoga exercises and is easy to do anywhere, anytime.
Close your eyes, smile slightly and visualize the point between your eyebrows. Take a breath and Chant ‘Om’.
Most people frown unconsciously and these repeated grimaces can lead to the formation of wrinkles. This will help offset the formation of lines and wrinkles and give the skin a glow.
5. The Eyelid Stretch
Look upwards while raising your eyebrows at the same time. Then gently close your eyelids, while still looking up. Our eyelids have a tendency to droop with age.
This stretching exercise helps keep the eyelids engaged and helps keep them firm.
6. The Fish Face
Suck in the insides of your cheeks, like making a fish face when you were a little child. Hold the position for a few seconds, keeping your eyes firmly open. Then you may blink and release the pose.
7. Conscious Breathing
Facial yoga is incomplete without breathing exercises. Respiratory changes affect the skin and body and can have a major effect on our moods. It has been witnessed that shallow breathing pales the complexion. Furthermore, modern day living has shown increased stress levels which disrupt the natural breathing pattern.
Stress and shallow breathing patterns have been known to deplete Prana (the life-giving force within each of us). In order to restore this delicate and very important balance, we recommend deep breathing exercises. These exercises include abdominal breathing and alternate nostril breathing, which need to be done consciously.
Do these Exercises Really Work? Just like any other physical exercise, the effects of Facial Yoga can be effectively seen on the skin if one makes sure to practice regularly. The main advantage of these exercises and poses is that you can practice these anywhere, anytime!In time you will find that your face and overall disposition will exhibit that sense of contentment, which will be visible thru outer radiance. That’s the secret to true beauty involves cultivating inner beauty and well being.