You’ve heard of yoga for the body? Well, face yoga isn’t all too dissimilar. Face yoga is a fun and natural way of looking and feeling younger and healthier. Treating our skincare routines as a way to decompress and connect with ourselves again, incorporating some face yoga into that when we feel like we have the time can help you to slow down and get the most out of your regime.
Catching up with face yoga expert Victoria Kiste, face yoga instructor and founder of ‘Radiant Face Yoga’, Victoria tells us exactly what it is.
“Facial Yoga is an ancient technique composed of facial massage, acupressure, facial exercises, breathing techniques and mindset work”
“Facial massage and acupressure help us to release pressure in our muscles. This release then ultimately helps to strengthen our facial muscles.”
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Revealing that the benefits to practising face yoga are endless, Victoria continues:
“Firstly, releasing tension from our faces can be great for people who suffer from anxiety, it alleviates things like teeth grinding and tiredness”
“More than that, It boosts collagen and elastin production to increase radiance of the skin and slow down the creation of fine lines and wrinkles, it strengthens facial muscles to have a natural uplift of the face, preventing/reducing sagging skin. Importantly it also helps us to work towards a positive self-image, granting us with acceptance of our own mirror reflections.”
Being aware of all the benefits incorporating it into my beauty routine can bring, now it’s about time I got tacking those moves. Usually a little tricky to get the hang of, Victoria recommends booking in to a workshop, where a one on one trainer can address your areas of concern and help you to perfect a routine specifically for you. In the meantime, if you do fancy giving some face yoga a go for yourself, you can work your way through 5 beginner moves outlined below.
The Warm-Up
To warm up your face muscles and get blood flowing, Drop your jaw, as if yawning and slowly roll your eyes up towards the ceiling, without moving your forehead. Hold this pose for 10 seconds and repeat three times.
Flirty Eyes
To lift and tone the upper eyelids and reduce and prevent under eye lines. Place index fingers flat under your eyes, and make an ‘O’ shape with your mouth. Look up towards the ceiling and flutter the eyelids, for 30 seconds.
The Smile Smoother
To prevent lines between the nose and the lips, and to lift the cheekbones. Make an ‘O’ shape with your mouth, covering your teeth with your lips at all times. Change the ‘O’ shape to a smile shape quickly, and continue for 30 seconds.
The Giraffe
To lift and tone the neck and jaw area. Tilt your head back, stretching out the neck. Hold for ten seconds, and bring your head slowly back to centre, Repeat this three times.
Smooth The Brow
To increase skin collagen and release tension that may be held in the forehead area. Place the index fingers on both hands on the forehead, touching them in the middle. Gently sweep out and lift off once you reach your temples. Repeat this a minimum of four times.