Face yoga: 5 exercises to lift and tone facial muscles
Did you know you have 52 muscles in your face? Many people go to the gym to work out and tone but do you ever tone the muscles in your face? Facial yoga is completely natural and may increase the size of muscles in the face, making cheeks look fuller and firmer. Face yoga is a growing trend. A 20 week study by NorthWestern Medicine, led by Dr.Murad Alam concluded that there is evidence facial exercise may even reduce some visible signs of ageing. Just following the short routine below can give you a clear, healthy complexion with a beautiful glow with less toxins and increase your skins ability to absorb moisture. 5 exercises to move your muscles and tighten their appearance:
How to: Raise your eyebrows and widen your eyes, trying to expose as much of the white in your eye as you can. How long: Hold that position until your eyes begin to water. How it helps: This exercise reverses the effects of scowling by exercising the muscles around your eyes and forehead.
How to: Place both hands on the forehead facing each other inwards and spread all the fingers out between eyebrows and hairline. Whilst applying light pressure, gently sweep the fingers outwards across the forehead to tighten the skin. How long: Once you reach the edge of your head relax and repeat 10 times. How it helps: Tightens the skin and can help reduce horizontal forehead lines.
How to: Open your eyes wide (similar to Surprise!) and pull back your skin while doing this exercise with the help of your hands. How long: Hold for 10 seconds repeat 10 times. How it helps: By exercising the muscles around your eyes, the skin becomes firmer which prevents it from folding into itself, which creates wrinkles.
How to: Pucker your lips and look up as tall as you can. You can also stick out your tongue whilst looking at the ceiling to further strengthen your neck. How long: Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times. How it helps: Strengthens the muscles in your neck, giving you a more prominent jawline and high cheekbones.
How to: Smile whilst pursing your lips, then suck the inside of your cheeks into the gap between the sides of your teeth to create the fish face. How long: Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 5 times. How it helps: Helps to firm and tone your lips and cheeks. You can find protocol’s naturally advanced skincare range here.
- Surprise!
How to: Raise your eyebrows and widen your eyes, trying to expose as much of the white in your eye as you can. How long: Hold that position until your eyes begin to water. How it helps: This exercise reverses the effects of scowling by exercising the muscles around your eyes and forehead.
- Smooth out the brow
How to: Place both hands on the forehead facing each other inwards and spread all the fingers out between eyebrows and hairline. Whilst applying light pressure, gently sweep the fingers outwards across the forehead to tighten the skin. How long: Once you reach the edge of your head relax and repeat 10 times. How it helps: Tightens the skin and can help reduce horizontal forehead lines.
- Goodbye Crow’s Feet!
How to: Open your eyes wide (similar to Surprise!) and pull back your skin while doing this exercise with the help of your hands. How long: Hold for 10 seconds repeat 10 times. How it helps: By exercising the muscles around your eyes, the skin becomes firmer which prevents it from folding into itself, which creates wrinkles.
- Reach for the stars
How to: Pucker your lips and look up as tall as you can. You can also stick out your tongue whilst looking at the ceiling to further strengthen your neck. How long: Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times. How it helps: Strengthens the muscles in your neck, giving you a more prominent jawline and high cheekbones.
- Fish Face
How to: Smile whilst pursing your lips, then suck the inside of your cheeks into the gap between the sides of your teeth to create the fish face. How long: Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 5 times. How it helps: Helps to firm and tone your lips and cheeks. You can find protocol’s naturally advanced skincare range here.