Face yoga targets specific facial muscles through specific facial movements or by using your hands and fingers to massage your face. It comprises a variety of stretches, massaging techniques and sometimes making weird expressions to the extent that people refer it as ugly crying. Face yoga is said to work as an unpaid method to attain a natural face lift.
Benefits of face yoga
Facial exercises combat the outward indications of aging as they relax the muscles, release tension, and improve the blood flow making the skin smooth and look more radiant. Annelise Hagen, creator of the face yoga course, once mentioned that those struggling with anxiety and distress can and should opt for face yoga to regulate their nervous system and to calm themselves as she starting feeling better, happy, and on the road to recovery when she opted for face yoga while suffering from fight or flight state. She further encouraged people to do face yoga to soothe themselves and have a better energy as it’s a form of self-care.
Moreover, face yoga promotes a slimmer face and helps with a more youthful appearance which automatically lifts your mood and simultaneously boosts self-confidence. Some experts also say that facial yoga poses stretch the skin that help to minimize the appearance of scars. Face yoga also helps with reducing puffiness, improving under eye circles, and skin tightening.
Does face yoga actually work for wrinkles?
In 2018, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that women ages 40 to 65 did a daily, 30-minute face yoga routine for 8 weeks. Then, they did the exercises every other day for 12 weeks. After 20 weeks, the women had better upper- and lower-cheek fullness. However there were no improvements in other signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines. Pavitt, who runs a skincare studio and treats patients with sensitive skin very carefully advises them not to touch their faces excessively as if somebody has aggravated acne or hormonal breakouts, engaging in facial yoga can further inflame the skin condition and as suggested by Dr. Houtan Chobaki, a facial plastic surgeon in Washington DC stated that one can also unintentionally worsen wrinkles as they further mentioned that the tissue around eyelids are super soft and sensitive making it more prone to loosening. Some doctors also say that such exercises may create more wrinkles and frown lines.
Beauty and skincare enthusiasts assert that it can help with everything from stress relief to wrinkle softening. But science contradicts the concept, as excessive face yoga may cause the loosening of skin. Limited studies suggest that it’s typically harmless and might enhance the look of your skin. In general, face yoga is less risky and a better option for some rather than opting for any kind of surgery.
