Turn back the years with face yoga

Kiss the sky, smile and look younger with face yoga

I have always believed in organic growth in both my personal development and my career. I teach what I believe in and I explore various movement and exercise forms to enrich my knowledge. My research is based on exercise and movement science, which enable our bodies to maintain strength and vitality.  Throughout life we experience stresses and problems that could leave us feeling tired and weak. The body needs conditioning and a healthy diet on a regular basis.  If not, one could face serious problems and health issues.  I’ve spent the last 15 years of my life studying different methods of training and strengthening the body. Each and every method looks at the body from a different angle; from basic rehabilitation work to advanced movement patterns and exercise. In order to strengthen the body you must be able to read the body well. Posture and alignment are affected by our emotions and lifestyle and so is our face. 

Our face reveals a great deal about our overall health, toxin build up cause sagging skin, puffy eyes and dark circles. Bags under the eyes indicate that the person is suffering from lack of sleep; it might also be a sign of kidney-waste overload.

Our diet, hydration or the lack of it, pollution, stress levels and emotions are all factors that could be harmful to our skin.

Just like you train your body with exercise and your brain, you can also train your facial muscles to keep them firm and lifted.

Facial rejuvenation is not a modern day approach; ancient cultures like Ayurveda, an ancient healing system, treats the body and not the illness and aims both to prevent disease and promote good health. Facelift exercises and massage date back to Ayurveda; by unblocking and releasing energy pathways you will naturally achieve better health and a great sense of well-being while looking radiant.

You can boost your energy levels and ooze with confidence and positivity.  Yoga, like Ayurveda, has its origins in the ancient Hindu scriptures called the Vedas. It is a system of life that uses postures, special breathing methods, meditation, and other techniques to release and channel energy through the body.

The face yoga method, created by Danielle Collins, is a combination of face exercises, face massage, face acupressure and face relaxation. It also focuses on wellbeing techniques for the mind, body and soul.

We communicate our feelings and attitudes far more through body language than through verbal language.

If we can go through life looking radiant and healthy, why not give it a try?

But first, let’s find out what is ageing? Is it possible to slow it down or halt it? Are we able to banish wrinkles and rejuvenate our skin without chemical treatments or surgery?

Age, as most of us think, is not just a matter of how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

According to science, there’s a difference between chronological age and biological age, which means you can be 60 years old and have the body of a 45 years old. Joseph Pilates said,” you are as young as your spinal column”! Does that give you a hint?

We have all met someone who looks ten years younger and have boundless energy and stamina, glowing skin and a great posture; I’m sure you have seen the exact opposite as well.

So how much does genetics influence our ageing process and how much does our lifestyle impact the way we age and look? 

Various tests done by scientists prove that a healthy body with a balanced diet and the right amount of exercise can slow down the ageing process if not reverse it.

Bodily ageing, according to research, is caused by molecular attacks from free radicals.

Our metabolism slows down and our youth–promoting hormones diminish rapidly. Overtime, the cells that produce collagen and elastin start to decline, which causes a reduction in the number of fibers present.

Aging makes our bones weaker and more brittle by robbing the body of vital minerals that are essential for strong bones and for the production of collagen. Collagen is what keeps our skin elastic and firm. If we lead an inactive life, we loose our muscle tone, waistline, height, skin tone, energy and much more.

When we understand how our body functions and what shapes us to be the way we are, we realize that it is in our hands to do something about it and try to change for the better.

Exercising your face and body can dramatically decelerate your body’s aging process. So, your biological age will age slower than your chronological age—making you look and feel younger.

There are 57 muscles in the face and neck, and just as your body needs regular exercise to stay toned and firm, the muscles in the neck and face need to be exercised. As they become stronger through exercise they are lifted and firmed and the skin attached to the muscles is also lifted and tautened, therefore reducing lines and wrinkles. As the muscles are much smaller than those in the body, it takes a lot less time for them to increase strength and tone.

When I started practicing face yoga, I noticed an immediate change in my appearance. My rosy cheeks came back and my eyes and forehead area looked more relaxed. “Flirty eyes”, one of my personal favorite exercises in the method, did its magic!  

I find that taking twenty minutes a day for oneself is a form of self- love that we all need. The breath work and acupressure help me to become free of tension, centered and grounded after a long day at work. Nurturing oneself requires courage, commitment and kindness. Face yoga is an expression of the kindness you can give yourself. I highly recommend it to become a new “healthy- habit” to add to your daily routine. You will be able to look better, express yourself gracefully with a complexion that radiates confidence and positivity.

Face training is offered by lara in private sessions and part of the body by lara anti – ageing package which include postural work, a nutrition advice and a chart which has a list of exercises you can do at home.