FACE YOGA

Face yoga is a popular wellness practice that’s gaining increased popularity. It involvesexercises that target the muscles in your face, aiming to keep the face toned, youthful and glowing without the need for invasive procedures or expensive skin-care products.

By enhancing blood circulation, reducing stress and releasing tension commonly held in the facial area, face yoga serves as a moment of self-care that potentially smooths fine lines, counters gravity effects and can even reduce the appearance of scars. The purpose is to create healthier, rejuvenated skin by enhancing the life of the skin cells through increased blood and oxygen supply.

Kamalaya Koh Samui Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa expert yoga instructors share their favourite rituals for you to try at home:

To smooth the forehead
To start, make fists with both hands and place the knuckles of the middle and index fingers in the centre of your forehead. Apply light pressure and slide your fists out to each side, ending at your temples. Do this 10 times, then repeat going in the opposite direction, starting at your temples and ending at the centre of your forehead.

To lift cheeks
Open your mouth and form an “O”. Position the upper lip over your teeth and smile to lift cheek muscles up. Place your index fingers lightly on top of your cheek muscles, directly under your eyes. Release cheek muscles, then smile again, thinking about pushing the muscles up toward your eyes. Repeat this lowering and lifting the cheeks 10 times. On the 10th time, hold your muscles up as high as you can and hold for 20 seconds. Repeat this entire sequence three times.

To firm the jaw and neck
Open your mouth and make an “aah” sound. Fold your lower lip and the corners of your lips into your mouth and hold tightly as you extend your lower jaw forward. Using your lower jaw, scoop up slowly as you close your mouth, pulling your chin up about 1 inch each time you scoop and tilting your head backwards. Open and close your lower jaw 10 times. On the 10th scoop, your chin should be pointing to the ceiling. Hold this position for 20 seconds and think about the sides of your face lifting. Repeat this sequence three times.

Find out more about the youthful benefits of yoga and the selection of results-orientated programs and retreats available at our award-winning wellness sanctuary here.