Beauty tips
The best face yoga exercises for strong facial muscles
Looks strange, but is said to be extremely helpful: Yoga for the face.
© Lena Nester / Shutterstock.com
Face yoga is said to prevent wrinkles and improve the complexion. This is how the work-out works for the face.
Goodbye double chin and pigment spots, hello wrinkle-free skin: Face yoga not only promises relaxation for the facial muscles, but also an even complexion, more symmetry and many other advantages. It’s even supposed to improve posture. Stars like Gwyneth Paltrow (48), Jennifer Aniston (52) or Duchess Meghan (39) has allegedly been relying on it for years – and the results are impressive. This is how the face workout works.
Face yoga promises these advantages
We have numerous muscles in our face. A regular workout builds up the muscles and stimulates blood circulation. This leads to a natural plumping up of the skin: the muscles cramp less quickly, which means that fewer wrinkles appear. In addition, expression lines are smoothed and the entire face is tightened.
In addition, face yoga exercises stimulate the lymph flow and ensure that the body can better dispose of excess lymph fluid. This not only makes the face appear narrower and less puffy, but also helps the immune system. There is often too much lymphatic fluid behind “problem areas” on the face, such as a double chin, swollen eyes or thick noses – a difference can often be felt and seen after just one face yoga session.
Continuity is particularly important when practicing yoga for the face: it is better to train for five to ten minutes every day than for an hour once a week. Important before starting: The face should be cleansed and hydrated with face cream or oil, and the hands should be washed. During the entire workout, it is important to maintain a straight posture and keep your shoulders low. It is best to position yourself standing in front of a mirror in order to be able to control the exact movements.
This is how face yoga works: the best exercises for beginners
To warm up: Place one hand flat on the side of the top of the head and pull the head towards the shoulder so that there is a stretch on the neck. Then tap with the other hand down from the upper neck to the shoulder. Repeat for about 20 seconds on each side.
For a defined jaw area: “hook” both thumbs under the chin, shape the index fingers into hooks and support them on the chin. Then alternately move one hand from the chin along the jaw to just in front of the ear, exerting light to medium pressure and holding the chin with the other hand. Repeat the exercise ten times on each side.
Fighting the double chin: With “Mewing” the entire lower jaw area can be strengthened and the double chin reduced. To do this, close your mouth, place the teeth of the upper and lower jaw on top of each other and then press the entire tongue against the roof of the mouth. Then relax again and repeat 20 times. For even more resistance, place the palm of your hand under your chin and hold it in a fist with the other hand.
Against nasolabial folds: Press the tongue against the left nasolabial fold from the inside, as if trying to “iron out” it. Then move the tongue clockwise over the upper lip to the right nasolabial fold, to the lower jaw and back to the left nasolabial fold. Repeat the movement clockwise ten times and then counterclockwise ten times.
Preventing forehead wrinkles and exercising forehead muscles: Place both palms flat over the eyebrows and gently pull the skin down to apply pressure on the eyebrows. Then raise your eyebrows 20 times without frowning.
Against wrinkles in the eyes: To strengthen the muscles around the eyes, look up without frowning. Then place the middle and index fingers on both sides in a V-shape under the eyes, fix them lightly, but do not exert too much pressure on the thin skin under the eyes. Now squint your eyes slightly 20 times, as if you were fixing a point in the distance.
By the way: The best yoga exercise for the facial muscles is laughing, because 17 muscles are used at once.