Cosmetic procedures aren't the only option if you're concerned about wrinkles and sagging skin. Face yoga offers a completely natural way to improve the way you look. Best of all, it's free.
Improving Tone and Circulation Naturally
Do you recognize the face looking back at you from the mirror these days? As you age, your face goes undergoes changes that can alter your appearance. Muscles lose tone and begin to sag. At the same time, the amount of fat in your face drops and collagen, the protein that gives skin its elasticity, decreases. Muscle tone, fat deposits and collagen all play a role in a wrinkle-free appearance. When fat deposits decrease and your muscles are no longer taut, the skin over the muscles begins to loosen and wrinkle. Changes also occur when the volume of your facial bones decreases.
Facelifts, fillers and Botox injections can erase some of your wrinkles and relieve sagging, but these procedures don't always produce the most natural appearance. Cost is another important consideration. Surgery can cost thousands of dollars. Although fillers and Botox are less expensive, you might spend $400 or more for a single session, which you may need to repeat in three to six months.
Face yoga uses special poses and facial exercises intended to firm your muscles, improve circulation to the face, increase collagen production and smooth out wrinkles.
Does Face Yoga Really Work?
A 2014 Aesthetic Surgery Journal literature review of nine facial exercise studies discovered positive results in all of the studies. Although the results of the studies were encouraging, additional research will need to be conducted, as none of the researchers used control groups.
The best way to determine if face yoga will help you is to try the poses and exercises for several months. If you notice changes in your face, you'll have discovered a simple, free way to keep wrinkles at bay.
Reversing the Signs of Aging
The exercises described below help reduce vertical forehead lines, stop eyelids from drooping and firm your jaw. Keep in mind that in addition to performing these face yoga poses, it's also important to exercises that target other areas of your face. Exercising your entire face will help prevent imbalances that can affect your appearance. As you perform the exercises, breathe slowly and deeply while you picture your wrinkles slowly diminishing. Consistency is the key to performing face yoga. Set aside five to 10 minutes every day to perform the poses.
- Forehead. Do you have two or three vertical lines between your eyes? Years of squinting or furrowing your brow in concentration can cause these dynamic expression lines. Strengthen your forehead muscles with this simple face yoga exercise. Draw an imaginary line on your forehead from the top of your nose to the top of your forehead. Place one hand on either side of the line vertically. Apply pressure to your forehead with your fingers, then slowly move your hands away from each other. When your hands reach the sides of your head, hold the pose for 10 to 15 breaths.
- Eyelids. Strengthening the muscles that serve your lids is an excellent way to stop the droop and open up your eyes. Place your left index finger horizontally above your eye just below your eyebrow and pull up as far as you can. Do the same thing with your right index finger. As you hold the skin and muscles in place with your index fingers, let your upper eyelids drop slowly, then raise and lower them 20 times. The last time you drop your eyelids, hold the pose for 60 seconds. Repeat the entire sequence five times. When you do this pose, use the upper eyelids only. Your lower eyelids shouldn't move.
- Jaw. Firm your jaw and reduce your double chin with this face yoga exercise. Place your thumb under your jaw at the spot where it meets your neck. Push up, applying gentle pressure to the muscle. As you apply pressure, push your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Hold the pose for 60 seconds or as long as you can. Repeat four or five times.
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Sources:
PubMed: The Effectiveness of Facial Exercise for Facial Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review, 1/14
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24327764
Marie Claire: Face Yoga is Here and This is What You Need to Know, 3/21/17
http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/beauty/how-to/5-anti-ageing-facial-exercises-you-can-try-at-home-94678
LiveScience: Our Face Bones Change Shape as We Age, 1/5/11
http://www.livescience.com/35332-face-bones-aging-110104.html
Medline Plus: Aging Changes in the Face