It’s Face Yoga Time!

Face yoga, or sukshma yoga, is a light form of yoga that can make you look younger and healthier, while rejuvenating your energy levels. It does this by relaxing your muscles and nerves. Here is a set of techniques that you can do every day to reap the most benefits from face yoga.

For your eyes

First, if you wear glasses, remove them. Make fists with your hands while keeping your thumbs upright. Close your eyes. Using gentle pressure, move each thumb in circles around your eyes – left thumb around your left eye and right thumb around your right eye. Do this for 2-3 minutes. Doing this can gradually relax your muscles and remove the dark circles around your eyes.

Next, open your eyes as widely as possible. Then, close your eyes by squeezing your eyelids tightly. Repeat these moves quickly until your eyes feel like they are going to water. After that, close your eyes and relax. Do this for 3-4 minutes, and you will be giving the muscles around your eyes and forehead a good exercise.

For your cheeks

Inhale through your mouth and hold your breath while puffing your cheeks for 2 seconds. Then, exhale through your mouth. Repeat this 8-10 times to give your cheek muscles a strengthening workout.

For your smile

Smile as wide as you can – stretch your lips to the max. Then, pucker your lips tightly as if you’re going to kiss someone. (Try imagining Chris Pratt or Henry Cavill in front of you!) Repeat this 20-25 times to relax the muscles around your lips and cheeks. It will bring a lovely pink hue to your cheeks while making your face brighter.

For your chin

Make fists with your hands while keeping your thumbs upright. Stroke your chin outwards with gentle pressure using your thumbs. You can do this move for 2-3 minutes to improve your digestion and provide some relief to an upset stomach.

For your ears

Pull your earlobes down for 30 seconds. Then, pull them outwards for 30 seconds. Hold your earlobes while rotating them clockwise and anti-clockwise for 30 seconds each direction. This move relaxes your facial muscles.

For your eyebrows

Gently pull your eyebrows with your fingers from the centre to the end. Repeat this move for 3-4 minutes. This move removes accumulated stress near your eyebrows, helping them – and you – relax.

The best thing about face yoga is that you can do it anytime and anywhere that is convenient for you! Do these moves regularly every day, and you will soon see and feel the difference – your face will project calmness and confidence. Also, if you meditate regularly, doing face yoga before your start meditating can help you progress deeper into meditation.

Reference: The Art of Living. Available at www.artofliving.org

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