To lose fat in your cheeks, you will need to lose overall body fat since there is no such thing as spot reduction, according to the American Council on Exercise. To lose fat, you will need to burn more calories than you eat daily by cutting down on how much you eat and doing cardiovascular exercise. Adding facial exercises to your weekly workout routine will strengthen and tone the muscles to create a firmer, slimmer appearance.
Blow Fish
Step 1
Sit in proper posture with your shoulders down away from your ears holding your head in neutral alignment. Open your eyes and relax the face.
Step 2
Pucker your lips, squeeze them close together and push them forward. Inhale and fill your cheeks with air, mimicking a blow fish. Push the air from the left to right for five to eight counts.
Step 3
Exhale and slowly release the air from your mouth. Take a deep breath and relax your lips for three to four counts. Inhale and repeat the exercise five to eight times.
Open and Close
Step 1
Sit or stand in proper posture, relaxing your shoulders away from your ears and your head in neutral alignment. Relax your entire face from your forehead to your chin. Keep your lips together softly, and do not clench your teeth.
Step 2
Open your entire face as wide as you can. Open your eyes, lift your forehead, open your mouth and drop your chin. Feel your face lengthening from your forehead to your chin. Hold for 10 to 12 seconds.
Step 3
Close your face as tight as you can. Close your eyes, squeeze your mouth shut and pull your forehead and chin in toward the center of your face. Hold for 10 to 12 seconds.
Step 4
Repeat the entire sequence, opening and closing, five to eight times.
Lion Face
Step 1
Sit tall on your sit bones in proper posture, relaxing your shoulders, neck and head. Place your head in neutral alignment, chin parallel to the floor. Relax your face from top to bottom.
Step 2
Tighten every muscle in your body, starting with your toes and working your way up to your face. Inhale and squeeze the face as tight as you can, and hold for three to five seconds.
Step 3
Exhale and release every muscle in the body, at the same time widen the eyes, open the mouth and stick your tongue out as far as it can go. Hold your tongue out for 10 to 12 seconds.
Step 4
Take a deep breath and relax the face completely. Inhale and repeat the entire exercise five to eight times.
References
- ACE Fitness: Why is the Concept of Spot Reduction Considered a Myth?
- "Facebuilding: The Daily 5-Minute Program for a Beautiful, Wrinkle-Free Face"; Reinhold Benz; 1991
- Time Magazine: Facial Yoga--Satchmo
- Gaiam: Face Yoga: Fountain of Youth?
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