Thinking of trying Faceyoga? Now is the time..
Over the last year, I have watched the physical self-care routines of those around me and my community step up a notch. Perhaps due to the temporary closure of beauty salons and spas, the thirst for information on beauty or simply to feel our best and confident when life, in so many ways feels out of our control.
With this increase in awareness of looking after our inner and outer beauty, the interest in facial exercise and facial yoga has increased. A centuries-old practice that saw women all around the world working their facial muscles to create more beauty, everywhere from ancient Egypt to ancient China.
Like the gua sha, which is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, face yoga is a non-invasive path to the supposed destination of a contoured countenance and youthful skin. Face yoga has been popular in Japan for approximately two decades. In contrast to gua sha — or a Botox-filled syringe — face yoga only requires your hands and a few minutes of your day, which I like to teach in the Faceyoga GYM. Faceyoga focuses on two categories of muscles within the face: the “sleeping muscles” and the “overworking muscles” muscles.
Just as is the case with your body, fitness practices create muscle tone and the theory here is that toning for face this way will help combat the sagging effects of gravity as well as increase the appearance of volume, which is also lost with age.
Through regular Faceyoga use, we want to wake up [using facial exercises] the sleeping muscles to lift up the skin and relax the overworked muscles for wrinkle reduction. With these exercises, you can reduce wrinkles, depuff your face, sculpt your cheekbones, and you can work on facial asymmetries and overall improve your complexion.
When we exercise our face, we enhance blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. By allowing these two factors to release and move, we release tension and inflammation, and our appearance softens.
Everyone who practices Faceyoga sees results they are happy with! It takes time but it is so worth it for your face.
"If you think of the sagging face as being the result of gravitational pull on the facial muscles, one way to combat this (particularly on the mid cheeks, jowls, and smile line) is to regularly exercise these muscles," explains Dr. David Goldberg, author of Light Years Younger and Secrets of Great Skin. "Think of this as the same thing we do with our core muscles. Core muscle exercise helps the muscles of the abdomen — and we can do the same for our face."
There are a few key ways to try facial exercise — experts will differ on how long and how frequently to do it but I find if you give yourself 5-10 minutes, or up to 30 minutes ideal, a day at the minimum to practice, that is enough to see sustained results.
If you're able to add on this time to your daily/weekly routine, there will be rewards for your efforts! Joining the GYM and practicing regularly will allow you to reap the benefits of firmer skin, fuller cheeks, and a younger appearance.
If you haven’t already joined us in the GYM, I welcome you with a 7-day free trial! It’s the best way to experience a daily practice, connect with other Faceyogi’s and see if the GYM is right for you.
