As you age, gravity pulls everything downward. Facial muscles lengthen, eyes droop, mouths turn downward, chins double, and cheeks and jowls sag. Yoga exercises, however, may affect changes caused by time and gravity. Targeted facial exercises can shorten muscles, according to Marie-Veronique Nadeau, chemist, licensed aesthetician and author of "The Yoga Facelift," helping to restore a more youthful appearance -- one with tighter, firmer jowls.
Baby Bird
The baby bird exercise helps firm your cheeks, chin and neck. Annelise Hagen, New York City-based yoga instructor and author of "The Yoga Face: Eliminate Wrinkles with the Ultimate Natural Facelift," claims that this simple exercise helps prevent the formation of sagging jowls, as well as reducing existing jowls.
Tilt your head up, look at the ceiling and relax. Swallow while you firmly press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Now swallow while tilting your head slightly to the right. Then tilt your head to the left and swallow. Perform four repetitions.
Sandbag
The sandbag facial exercise offers multiple benefits. It not only stretches your shoulders, neck and jaw muscles, but it also reduces the appearance of double chins and sagging jowls, as well as improving your posture.
While sitting, bend your right arm up and over your head and clasp your left ear with your right palm. Bend your head to the right and apply gentle pressure to your left ear with the palm of your hand. Maintain this position for seven seconds and then repeat the movements on the opposite side.
Yawn
M. J. Saffon, beauty expert and author of "The 15-Minute-a-Day Natural Face Lift," recommends the yawn exercise to tighten flabby skin and wrinkles, and prevent sagging jowls. Saffon claims that the exercise also erases sagging from the area around your nose and mouth.
Open your mouth and jaw as wide as you can in a yawning position. Close your jaw in a slow and controlled movement to a count of 25. Do not let your upper and lower molars connect, but rather concentrate on maintaining tension on the sides of your face. Repeat three times.
The Lion Face
The lion face helps in creating a physical profile sans sagging jowls, and it imparts a rosy glow to your complexion. If you perform the exercise properly, it uses all the facial muscles and releases tension. Marie-Veronique Nadeau teaches this effective exercise in her workshops.
While inhaling through your nose, make fists and scrunch all your facial muscles as if you have just eaten a sour lemon. Now exhale through your mouth, stick out your tongue, look up at the ceiling and open your fists. Perform three repetitions.
References
- "The Yoga Face: Eliminate Wrinkles with the Ultimate Natural Facelift"; Annelise Hagen; 2007
- "The 15-Minute-a-Day Natural Face Lift"; M. J. Saffon; 1981
- "The Yoga Facelift"; Marie-Veronique Nadeau; 2007
- Look Younger! w/ Happy Face Yoga Facial Exercises
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