Face yoga gently embraces the story that our face reveals. Our face is like a map of our emotions and experiences.
I started exploring Face Yoga six years ago when I realized that almost every approach that I have studied was only referring to the human body from the neck down. It did not make sense to me.
Most of our basic senses and 57 muscles exist on our face, neck, and head. We use almost all of them daily, even if we are not always aware that we do so. We use our face to express ourselves to the world and nurture ourselves from the environment. We constantly interact with the people and the environment around us in so many ways; we talk, we kiss, we laugh, we smile, we sing, we cry, we hear, we smell, we chew; we express feelings like excitement, happiness, frustration, anger, fear, sadness and so on.
Many of the techniques are rooted in Eastern practices and philosophies which have been used for thousands of years in Japan, China and India for beauty as well as health purposes. Modern research and new techniques further enrich this already-solid foundation with remarkable results for every participant. Within the last few years, Face Yoga techniques and its benefits have been officially recognized, suggested and used as a powerful tool by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, dentists, orthodontists and movement professionals from all around the world to manage chronic jaw clenching, braces removal, nasal breathing , headaches, vertigo, dysfunctional eye movements, tilted hip posture and of course, to tighten the skin of the face, boost collagen and elastin, smoothen wrinkles, puff the cheeks and so on.
The skeletal posture begins in the mouth. The central rudder of our posture is defined by the positioning of our tongue to the roof of our mouth, which brings forth unconsciously a wave of supporting positions for the neck and spine. While posture muscles are out of our conscious control, the ‘rudder’ of your posture is your tongue.
Just as our body needs regular exercise to stay toned and firm, so does our face. Except the fact that the muscles in our face are smaller, so they take less time to tone.
In general, the muscles in our bodies are attached to tendons, therefore when we exercise our body muscles, we get volume. That is not the case with face muscles because most of them are attached to the skin. Some of those muscles are overworking and therefore create tension which then shortens those muscles and as a result, wrinkle or sagging skin appears. Other muscles are sleepy which means lack of movement, lack of blood flow, poor skin tone etc.
Face Yoga is here to balance the two, overworking and sleepy muscles. Gentle and precise movements are the key to avoid opposite results. Additionally, If you are the type of person that doesn’t really enjoy invasive procedures such as Botox, Face yoga will amaze you in so many ways..
Face Yoga is a combination of facial massage, relaxation and breathing techniques and exercises of precision. By regularly exercising these techniques, you can give yourself a chance to be healthier, more vibrant, more beautiful, and of course to have a youthful look. By regularly massaging and relaxing the face, we increase circulation, lymph flow and remove toxins. We boost collagen and elastin; two natural pumping agents which make the face look healthier and youthful, reduce puffiness and dark circles. Face Yoga is an exciting, playful and amazingly beneficial process and can be practiced by anyone, regardless of age or gender.
