Although it’s wrapped in rumors, FitEngine is happy to share that face yoga is legit. We also understand why you might have been doubtful. Yoga is about being conscious of and respecting every part of your body. How does that apply to a face?
If yoga and Pilates are things you’ve done before, but can’t imagine restricting to your face, then don’t worry. Facial yoga is relatively new to us all. Although, as a yogi, you’ve seen how much and quickly you can stretch away your troubles with some quick workout yoga classes. So think about how great it could be if you could do for your face what yoga does for your body!
If feeling young is more your speed than looking it, then you might be more interested in trying out some beginner’s yoga online. In that case, you should check out this workout review for an at-home routine, or let us set you up with some of the best yoga classes in New York City.
However, although it might seem like a largely aesthetic-geared workout, face yoga can help you feel just as young as the good old stretching classes. While a regular yoga class will help you relax and stress your muscles to stimulate underused muscles and promote healing, face yoga is no targeted flexibility and mobility workout. It’s a quick and easy way to get your face to produce more collagen.
What is Collagen?
You might have read the name on skin serums, you might even have seen pills containing it, but the most effective way to increase the collagen content in your face is to get producing it.
It’s responsible for giving your face a bright and full look. While all skin contains some, healthier skin contains more. Your skin should have about 80% of its chemical composition being collagen. It is a protein bonded by vitamin C that keeps skin supple. If you raise your hand to your face and tug on your cheek skin, you’ll notice it bounce back into shape quite quickly. That’s collagen working.
However, with time, the amount of this protein in your skin can start to dwindle, no matter how many New York fitness classes you sign up for. This is a normal side effect of aging and sun exposure. Since the former is unavoidable, and the latter is close to unavoidable, many turn to the aforementioned supplements and products that promise to introduce more collagen into your skin.
These things might make your skin softer, but there’s only so much they can do in the face of naturally-lowered collagen levels. That’s where yoga helpfully comes into the picture. A beginner’s guide to stretching and mobility will tell you that by working these muscles, you’ll not only create flexibility but preserve it. When you practice stretch and restore yoga class, you protect your bones and muscles against many of the perils of aging.
The same is true for your face.
So Where Should I Start?
Since it’s a new area, you can’t exactly ask a yogi for tips. You’ll have to find the best yoga for faces online, or perhaps someone well-versed in stretching classes would have practiced it. Only trying it for yourself will give you a comprehensive comparison between the benefits of each “pose”.
Keep in mind that these exercises need to be done daily, for at least twenty minutes to take effect. Here are some actions that will help you get started:
The Sculptor
This facial fitness Pilates workout is great for defined cheekbones. Those with resolutely round faces love the sculptor!
Begin by putting your index fingers and the middle fingers of both hands close to your chin. Slide them up your face, tracing your smile lines with your index fingers, all the way up to your nose, on both sides. Your middle fingers should slide straight up, eventually forming a V with your index fingers. Keep doing this for at least a minute.
The Neck Relaxer
This move will increase the blood flow to your face, bringing a healthy pink to your complexion. It also opens up the shoulders, which will be great for managing any back pain you might be experiencing.
Start by slowly tilting back your head and then using your index fingers to do light taps tap across your neck, starting from the sides, and working your way into the middle. Gradually shift these taps higher until they cross your cheeks and reach your forehead. Follow a pace you feel comfortable with for the movement, but ensure you do this for a whole minute.
The Third Eye
If you get a lot of headaches, maybe even migraines, these are just for you. It’s also easy enough to do anywhere, although you may get strange looks in public. Use one finger to press the spot between your eyebrows at the top of your nose. It may seem overly simple, but repair it for a minute to relieve tension.
The Forehead Smoother
The forehead smoother is a great pilates yoga crossover for your face. It can lift your eyebrows and halt the drooping of the eyelids brought on by aging.
Moving both hands the same way, start by putting your index and middle fingers along your hairline on the forehead. Then press your fingers, whole fingers downward, pulling your skin, and you bring the tips of your finger down to your eyebrows.
As you do that, raise your eyebrows and take a deep breath in, and hold this for five to ten seconds. Do three reps, and slowly increase the time, so that you hold the last for twenty seconds.
All these things will cause collagen production to improve, meaning that you’ll look better now and in the future. On top of that, your soft skin won’t be dependent on chemicals or medication. Only on your diligence when it comes to face yoga. A good idea is to do these exercises during your cooling-off period after a fitness workout.
Youth and Much More
If you thought that smooth skin was the only reason we love face yoga, here’s some happy news. It’s got a ton of extra benefits! Just like Pilates is one of the ways to lose weight fast with exercise but still promotes good health in several ways, face yoga works wonders. Regularly treating yourself to fitness classes for your face can help you with:
- Improving posture
- Reducing puffy skin
- Rapid healing of any cuts or bruises on the face
- Healthy circulation
- Eases tension
- Banishing fine lines and wrinkles
Whatever part of your body you’re looking to get into working order with some stretching yoga or social dance classes, let FitEngine be your spotter! We’re in the know about every New York Pilates academy, and we make all our resources available online. This way, our customers can ensure they get exactly what they want when they try to introduce some flexibility workout into their routines.
Whether or not you decide to pursue face yoga, we highly recommend you include some form of stretching into your week, even if it’s not a fitness insanity workout. Yoga can help you with muscular or bone pain, healthy circulation, and slow the progression of degenerative diseases like osteoporosis.
If you’re intrigued, our team of yogis has much knowledge and would love to help you find the right classes in The Big Apple. If you’re looking for a way to lose weight fast with exercise or simple, affordable fitness classes to fun up your workweek, then we’re here for you.
Our blogs also outline the pros and cons of many different types of yoga, as you’ll surely see. Check out the “fitness funnies” for some relatable takes on workout culture. But although you laugh, remember that when you practice good flexibility and mobility exercises, you’re investing in your body. So let us help you dance away your troubles with musical workouts or even some intense workout yoga in NYC. Whatever you need, we can find it for you.
We love hearing from yogis. Drop us a line at info@fitengine.com, and we’ll be in touch as soon as we finish our pilates workouts!
