As people strive to find inner tranquillity and age gracefully, several individuals are exploring natural as well as affordable procedures to enhance their emotional and physical well-being. Recent studies have indicated that exercises similar to those in face yoga have the potential to enhance the overall appearance of the face.
Face yoga offers a holistic as well as an alternative approach that can give long-term outcomes. This technique includes various exercises and massages specifically targeting the neck, face, and shoulders. Research suggests that face yoga can effectively improve the structural appearance of the face by strengthening the muscles inside the face and cheeks, resulting in a more youthful appearance. Practitioners of face yoga have reported experiencing a rejuvenated and youthful appearance.
By regularly practising face yoga, you can achieve lasting and positive transformations. Developing a consistent routine allows you to address specific facial concerns like crow’s feet, forehead lines, or frown lines. The convenience of online tutorials has made face yoga accessible to a wide range of individuals. You have the opportunity to learn this technique from instructors through workshops, one-on-one sessions, or comprehensive courses.
Benefits of Face Yoga Exercises
Face yoga combines a variety of stretches, exercises, and massage procedures, including acupressure, specifically targeting the neck and face. It is believed to have the ability to counteract the effects of ageing and stress, such as sagging skin and frown lines. While the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of face yoga is limited, proponents of this practice claim that it can bring about the following positive effects:
- Enhances skin radiance, giving it a healthy glow
- Improves blood circulation in the face
- Strengthens the muscles of the face
- Tones the muscles of the face.
- Minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Alleviates dark circles under the eyes
- Reduces puffiness in the face
- Tightens the skin
- Makes the skin firm
- Provides relief from musculoskeletal pain in the facial area
- Contributes to improved mental well-being.
Best Face Yoga Exercises for Men and Women
1. For a lean face
- Cheek lifter: To begin, create a round shape with your mouth by making an ‘O’ with your lips. Then, gently rest your upper lip on your top row of teeth. Next, give a smile while placing your fingers softly on top of your cheeks. Finally, relax your muscles and bring down your smile. Repeat this exercise as needed.
- Cheek’s sculpting: Start by puckering your lips and forming a small smile without revealing your teeth. Take your fingers and position them at the corners of your mouth, then slowly slide them upwards towards the upper part of your cheeks. Maintain this position for about 20 seconds, allowing the muscles to be engaged. Afterwards, release and relax. Feel free to repeat this exercise as desired.
2. For a good jawline
- Fish face: Try pulling your lips and cheeks inward, resembling the pouting face of a fish. You’ll feel a gentle stretch in your cheek muscles. Hold this position for a few seconds before releasing. Repeat as desired.
- Puffy fish press: This technique, known as the mouthwash method, can also help diminish the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines around the mouth area. Here’s how to do it: keep your mouth closed and puff up the cheeks, then gently move the air inside your mouth from one side to the other. Repeat this process for about 30 seconds. This exercise can be repeated as needed to target the desired areas.
3. For reducing dark circles
- Pat near the eyes: Using your index finger, gently tap around your eyes in circular motions. Continue this pattern for approximately 30 seconds, and you will quickly notice a reduction in puffiness around the eyes. Additionally, you may observe smoother skin in the eye area. Give it a try and experience the immediate benefits for yourself.
- V-squint: Create a V shape with your middle and index fingers and place them under both of your eyes. Then, gently tap your index finger around the area encircling your eyes. This technique aids in the drainage of lymphatic fluid from under-eye bags and promotes blood circulation. Repeat this process three to five times for optimal results.
4. Neck and jaw firmer
Here’s a facial exercise you can try to help lift the sides of your face:
- Start by opening the mouth and making an ‘aah’ sound.
- Take the lower lip and the corners of the lips, and fold them inward into the mouth. Hold them tightly in this position.
- While keeping the lips folded, extend the lower jaw forward slowly as you close your mouth.
- As you close your mouth, use the lower jaw to scoop upward, gradually lifting the chin about one inch with each scoop.
- Repeat the motion of opening and closing the lower jaw, scooping up, a total of 10 times.
- When you reach the tenth scoop, your chin should be facing upwards.
- Maintain this position with the chin lifted for 20 seconds, and imagine the sides of the face lifting.
- Repeating the entire sequence of exercises three times gives the maximum benefit.
By practising these face yoga exercises for women and men, you can get an appealing look on your face and improve your overall appearance.
Risks of Face Yoga Exercises
Some experts suggest that practising facial yoga exercises could potentially lead to the development of wrinkles. This is because repetitive movements of the skin, such as repeatedly contracting facial muscles, may contribute to the formation of wrinkles.
Additionally, as we age, our skin naturally loses elastin and collagen, which are responsible for its elasticity. Over-massaging or manipulating the skin could potentially accelerate the loss of elasticity. Repeatedly contracting specific areas of the upper face, like the forehead, crow’s feet, and frown lines, may deepen these lines over time.
Experts state that visible anti-ageing effects from face yoga may take around 3 to 4 weeks to become noticeable. Consistency is crucial, with the recommended practice of facial yoga exercises 6 to 7 days per week, for about 20 to 30 minutes each day.
Before beginning facial yoga, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional. Face yoga may not be suitable for everyone, and certain precautions should be taken. If you have undergone cosmetic injectables like dermal fillers, face yoga may potentially impact the longevity of the fillers, causing them to last for a shorter duration.\
Face Yoga FAQs
Can face yoga really work?
A. Yes, face yoga exercises can work to some extent according to some studies and individual feedback. In a study published in JAMA Dermatology in 2018, a group of women aged 40 to 65 years participated in facial exercises for 30 minutes a day over the course of 8 weeks.
Afterwards, they continued the exercises every other day for the following 12 weeks. The results of the study revealed a noticeable improvement in the participants' appearance, with their faces appearing nearly 3 years younger. The participants also experienced increased fullness in their upper and lower cheeks, contributing to a more youthful look.
Additionally, the women expressed high satisfaction with both the program and the results they achieved. This study suggests that regular facial exercises may have a positive impact on facial appearance and overall satisfaction.
Is it safe to do face yoga exercises every day?
Engaging in face yoga exercises every day is considered safe and has various benefits for your facial muscles and skin. Consistency in practising face yoga is essential to see potential results. However, face yoga exercises for beginners should be done at a gradual pace. Overexerting your facial muscles by doing too much too soon may lead to skin strain and have negative effects.
How many times should I do face yoga in a day?
Face yoga exercises for beginners can be practised for a duration of 5 to 10 minutes each day. As you become more comfortable and accustomed to the exercises, gradually increase the practice time to 15 to 20 minutes per day. This can be incorporated into your skincare routine and considered as a self-care practice.
Can face yoga help to tighten your skin?
Face yoga exercises are highly beneficial for tightening and rejuvenating specific areas of the face that are prone to showing early signs of ageing, such as the forehead, eyes, and cheeks. If possible, aim to dedicate 15 to 20 minutes each day to practising facial yoga to observe noticeable improvements.
Which yoga is best for glowing skin?
There are many best face yoga exercises for glowing skin. These include:
• Bhujangasana also known as cobra pose
• Matsyasana also known as fish pose
• Halasana also known as plow pose
• Sarvangasana also known as shoulder stand pose
• Trikonasana also known as the triangle pose
• Shishuasana also known as child pose
What are the disadvantages of face yoga?
When you repeatedly focus on exercising a single muscle for an extended period, it can lead to undesirable changes in its appearance, making you look older. This occurs because the elasticity of the skin gradually diminishes over time due to repetitive actions. The continuous repetition of specific facial movements can cause the skin to lose its natural firmness and begin to sag.
This can result in changes in the texture of the face as well. These alterations in the skin's elasticity and texture can contribute to an aged appearance.
