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Facial yoga

Categories: Health & safety, In the news

The newest yoga trend doesn't require rolled mats or saluting the sun. You could do it while unloading the dishwasher, or if you're on your morning commute, or waiting in the carpool line to pick up the kids after school. And while it won't align your chakras, it just might take a few years off your face.

The theory behind facial yoga is if you stretch, tone, and learn to relax the muscles of the face, wrinkles and sagging won't be a problem. Some sample exercises:

  • Kiss the Ceiling: Tilt your head back and try to kiss the ceiling. (Firms the neck, throat, and jaw as well as plumps the lips.)
  • The Brow Lift: Raise the muscles above the eyebrows and use your fingers to smooth out the resulting wrinkles. Raise eyebrows 20 times. Repeat. (Firms the forehead.)
  • The Satchmo: Puff both cheeks with air, then transfer the air from cheek to cheek until you run out of breath. Repeat four times. (Keeps cheeks strong and supple.)
  • Crow, Crow Go Away: Smile, and place a finger on the crease coming from each eye. Then pulse your lower eyelid muscles against the resistance. Repeat 20 times. (Reverses droop in lower lids, uncreases crow's feet.)
  • The Marilyn: Visualize crowds of admiring fans and blow kisses. Repeat four times. Then repeat the process while adding resistance by pressing two fingers lightly against your puckering lips. (Firmer lips.)

If you don't live in an area that offers facial yoga classes, don't scrunch up in dismay (causes wrinkles!), The Yoga Face by Annelise Hagen is now available at bookstores so you can have all the information needed to practice at home. However, if you have kids you might find that you're already doing most of these things.

  • Kiss the ceiling=Lifting up a baby and blowing raspberries on his/her belly
  • Brow lift= Normal parental reaction to kid's tall tales
  • Satchmo= Frantic blowing up of balloons before a party
  • Crow, Crow Go Away= Normal parental reaction to the state of the house (only the fingers are place directly into the eyeball)
  • The Marilyn= The never ending goodbyes that can occur during preschool or kindergarten drop offs.

I'm pretty wrinkle-free at nearly 40. I always attributed it to staying out of the sun and good genes, but maybe I owe it all to my kids!

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