Let’s get real for a second: I have a serious aversion to yoga. You’d think someone like me—organic food lover, vinegar-cleaning enthusiast, and meditation devotee—would embrace it, but every attempt at yoga sends me into a rage. I know, I know, hating yoga sounds like a sin, akin to despising puppies. Yet here we are in a world where nothing makes sense. #tidepods #usagymnastics #donaldtrump
Now, there’s a new yoga trend I might actually consider: face yoga. No more torturous vinyasa flows or warrior poses that leave my arms feeling like jelly. Instead, we’re talking about quirky facial exercises aimed at rejuvenating our appearance.
Yoga that can help me fend off the signs of aging? Count me in!
How It Works:
As we age, the fat pads that cushion our skin begin to dwindle, leading to the sagging and hollowness that comes with getting older. Seriously, Mother Nature, couldn’t you take some fat from my thighs instead? Facial exercises, or what I like to call face yoga, target the muscles beneath these thinning pads, aiming to restore lift and firmness. Who wouldn’t want plump, youthful cheeks back in their life?
While this may sound like just another beauty trend, research actually backs it up. A recent study published in JAMA Dermatology by Northwestern University revealed that after 20 weeks of daily facial exercises, participants appeared up to three years younger. The study involved 27 women aged 45 to 60 who were keen on trying facial exercises. After two 90-minute training sessions with a face yoga instructor, they embarked on the 20-week journey. However, nearly half of the participants dropped out!
Why would anyone quit after dedicating three hours to training for this? I could understand abandoning a hot yoga class, but this is just making funny faces at yourself in the mirror!
Nevertheless, the remaining participants had their before-and-after photos analyzed by dermatologists, who were unaware of the women’s identities or which photos corresponded to which stage of the study. The analysis concluded that, on average, the “after” images looked about 3.1 years younger than the initial ones. For a small trial without a control group, that’s all the convincing I need to give it a shot. Three years younger? Yes, please!
A Quick Note:
If you decide to try face yoga, do it in private—preferably locked in the bathroom. You will feel silly, and you might not want an audience for your silly expressions. Here are six face yoga exercises I experimented with, complete with my own mom-inspired names:
- “What The Heck Are You Doing, Kid?!” – Open your eyes wide to combat that perpetual frown.
- “OMG, This Diaper Smells Like Death.” – Blow out your cheeks to strengthen those cheek muscles.
- “If You Don’t Stop Making Noise, My Head is Gonna Explode.” – Gently pull back on your eyes to tackle crow’s feet.
- “Don’t Forget to Smile While Your Kid Talks About Minecraft.” – Push up on your cheeks to create resistance for perky cheeks.
- “If I Keep Looking Up, I Won’t Have to See the Mess on the Floor.” – This one tones your neck muscles.
- “Mommy’s Gone to Her Happy Place.” – Just relax all your facial muscles.
While face yoga might seem silly, if it helps delay the appearance of jowls, I think it’s worth a few minutes of making goofy faces in the mirror each day.
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Summary:
Face yoga offers a quirky solution for those looking to combat aging without traditional yoga’s stress. With research suggesting it can even make you look younger, it’s worth considering a few minutes of silly exercises daily.
Keyphrase: Face yoga
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