The natural aging process, gravity and loss of muscle tone cause the skin on the neck to get droopy. Working the neck muscles under the skin can tighten sagging skin. The face and neck are comprised of a complex network of tendons and muscles that can be worked using yoga and isometric exercises. An added benefit is exercise increases blood flow and gives the complexion a healthy glow.
Yoga Throat Exercise
This exercise firms the skin directly under the chin and helps keep the neck from drooping. Stick out your tongue and say "ahhhhh." Hold your tongue out while keeping the rest of your face relaxed and hold for 60 seconds. Do not worry if your eyes start to water--this is normal.
Lower Face Lift
This exercise targets the lower jaw or jowl area. The muscles under the chin are connected to the jaw muscles and work together. Tightening the lower jaw will help firm droopy skin under the chin. Begin by sitting, keep your spine erect and your abdominal muscles tight. Open your mouth wide and roll your lips over the teeth pulling the corners of the mouth toward the back teeth. Look upward and smile. Place the index fingers at the tops of your ears and, while using light pressure, push your face forward and the shoulders back. Hold for 30 seconds. Carole Maggio, the author of "Facercise," teaches this exercise in her face lifting classes.
Kiss The Ceiling
This is a yoga exercise for the jaw and neck. This exercise can be done standing or sitting, but standing is preferable and works stabilizer muscles while performing the exercise. Stand with your arms at the sides, tilt your head back slightly (the head should not be parallel with the ceiling), pucker your lips and try to kiss the ceiling. The muscles in the jaw and neck should get a tightening and stretching effect. Hold for 10 seconds and release. Repeat this exercise 5 times. Annelise Hagen, author of "The Yoga Face," teaches this exercise in her facial yoga classes in New York City.
Shoulder Shrugs
These work the large trapezius muscle of the neck. This is the big neck muscle that holds the head upright. Shoulder shrugs have the highest level of muscle activation, according to the National Institutes of Health. Shrugs firm and tone the neck and are a great stress reliever as well.
Shrugs can be done with dumbbells, barbells or without weight. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart arms at the sides, holding the dumbbells and raising the shoulders up towards the ears, tighten, hold, release and return to the starting position. Repeat for 3 sets of 15 repetitions. These can be done without weights sitting at a desk. Be sure to keep the back straight when performing shrugs.
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