Over the past few years, face yoga has become one of the most discussed above-the-neck sculpting techniques. While #faceyoga has now clocked millions of views, celebs have already touted the powers of facial fitness designed to lift and tone muscles naturally. There are even instructors teaching lessons IRL. But what is face yoga and what are the real benefits?
What Is Face Yoga?
Face yoga is a description for exercises performed to tone and stretch facial muscles. A more holistic approach to face sculpting than fillers and injectables, face yoga has become extremely popular among existing yogis and newcomers. Muscles lose mass and volume with age, so target-exercising face muscles as one would the body will sculpt, firm, and plump. Anyone can practice its methods with caution and, hopefully, supervision in the same way they would traditional workouts. An older person can still drive benefit from practicing yoga techniques that promote facial rejuvenation, and a younger person can cultivate habits that will last a lifetime—plus prevent sags that could happen with atrophy and lack of
exercise.
How Face Yoga Works
Face yoga is a gentle form of strength training for your face and neck that typically concentrates on one of the 57 facial muscles (or groups of muscles) at a time. The more you repeat certain face yoga exercises, the more you may notice that the muscles and skin start to tighten. There are three main ways that face yoga may work for you: First, by stimulating muscles to improve their tone and tightness. Next, by increasing circulation and blood flow, which helps skin heal and appear healthier, and finally, by reducing strain and tension in facial muscles that are being contracted constantly during stress. And while there are myriad versions to try, the key to all of them is not to scrunch your face or squint a lot while doing these exercises. The focus should be on lifting and expanding instead. It is suggested practicing for at least 20 minutes a day for six weeks to see the benefits.
The Benefits of Face Yoga
Face yoga exercises aim to tone and lift features, soften fine lines, and even reduce facial asymmetry. People really can sculpt their neck and have a carved profile, and relaxing tensed muscles can create a
“calmer, happier” resting expression she calls “vacation face.”
When to Start Face Yoga
To start your own face yoga practice, aim for short instructional videos and incorporating exercises as an extension to your wash-and-moisturize regime in the morning or at night. After applying a face oil or moisturizer for a bit of slip, you can kick off your face yoga practice by doing a little warm-up and treating yourself to tapping and self-massage. Rather than using fingers, tap with your finger pads and flat hands, emphasizing that the movement should be delicate and not a slap. Begin at the clavicles, move out to the shoulders, up to the jaw, sides of the neck, and continue tapping down the back of the neck. Go to the hairline and tap down to the brows, then you’ll very, very lightly tap the under eye area. Along with gentle facial massage, helps with lymphatic drainage and makes the skin more pliable for movement.
A Beginner’s Guide to Face Yoga Poses
Here, are tips for improving posture, stretching muscles, and releasing tension to guide beginners through a few basic poses. It is encouraged to holding the head over the spine and shoulders in a neutral position, since many common facial issues are symptoms of bad posture. For the pose, it is suggested that you actually wear a crown or put a book on your head and practice an excellent, regal posture, and practice cultivating a mysterious smile that gently flexes the mouth without squinting the eyes. This will elongate the neck, drop the shoulders, and lift the chin. This one is for anyone spending a lot of time leaning over tech devices.
The Lion Face
One of the most well-known face yoga exercises, Hagen likes this one as an overall facial stretch that also helps tone the eye area. To start, breath in and scrunch all your muscles from head to toe, including face, fists, and buttocks, then exhale and stick out your tongue and widen your eyes, and repeat three times.
The Owl
This brow workout and tension reliever starts with creating a C shape with your hands and placing them over your eyes as though you were holding binoculars. Next, gently position index fingers above eyes so that they are parallel to your eyebrows, and rest your thumbs under your eyes just above the cheeks. Next, Pull down on your eyebrows with your index fingers while you try to raise your forehead, making your eyes wide and hold for two seconds, relax, and repeat five times.
Adapted from: Vogue
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