A smiling face lightens the mood and puts everyone at ease. A popular study reveals that a baby smiles 400 times a day while an adult smiles barely 8 times. It’s a no-brainer that stress is one of the primary reasons for adults to lose their natural self and also their smile. Stress can seep into our lives due to different reasons and, unknowingly, reflect on our face. This stress causes the face to reflect premature ageing, dullness, and a constantly tired look. Taking up yoga is perhaps one of the best ways of overcoming this stress and brightening up the face again.
Sukshma Yoga means subtle or light yoga. This is a powerful yoga method that releases the muscles that have been tight due to lack of exercise and accumulation of stress. Facial yoga rejuvenates your face within minutes and brightens it up. It also relaxes the muscles and nerve connections. So, let's get ready to do some simple and effective yoga techniques:
Around the Round Eye!
Close your fists while holding the thumb upright. Now close your eyes and gently start moving your right thumb on right eye and left thumb on the left eye. Move the thumb with gentle pressure on the eye to make circles around it. Do this exercise for 2 to 3 minutes.
How does it work? It helps you to get rid of dark circles and releases the muscles around your eyes.
Surprise Me!
Widen your eyes trying to expose as much of the white in your eye as you can. Then squeeze your eyes tight. Open it wide and squeeze it again. Keep doing this rapidly till your eyes seem to start watering. Now close your eyes and relax. Do this exercise for 3 to 4 minutes.
How does it work? By doing this expression, you're exercising the muscles around your eyes and your forehead. This exercise improves the eyesight and may even help get rid of spectacles over a period of time.
Get Cheeky!
Breathe in from your mouth and puff both your cheeks for a couple of seconds. Now release the breath through your mouth and repeat for 8-10 times.
How does it work? This pose strengthens your cheek muscles and prevents them from becoming thinner and looking hollow. If you look at people who play the saxophone, they always have firm cheeks. When you use a muscle in a specific way, it changes the facial appearance. So, do this exercise for toned and plump cheeks.
Kiss Me!
Smile widely and stretch it further more. Now press your lips tightly together and kiss! Repeat this exercise for 20-25 times.
How does it work? This exercise relaxes the muscles around the lips and cheeks and also brightens up the face. Pink cheeks and an unshakable smile are the results of this beautiful and simple yoga. While smiling, remember – Fake it till you make it!
Chin Me!
Hold your chin such that thumbs of both the hands are below the chin. Start pressing the chin from the lower side and move upwards only with the help of the thumbs. Do this for 2-3 minutes.
How does it work? This technique helps you to get rid of constipation and improvises digestion. It also helps you to get rid of upset stomach.
Pull your Ears!
Hold your ears lobes and pull them downwards for about 30 seconds. For the next 30 seconds, pull the ear lobes outwards. While still holding the ear lobes, rotate them clockwise and anti-clockwise for almost 30 seconds each.
How does it work? This exercise brings awareness and also releases tension from the facial muscles.
Pull it Out!
Hold your eyebrows with your fingers such that you can pull the eyebrows from center towards the end of the eyebrows. Do this for 3-4 minutes.
How does it work? This exercise relaxes you as it massages and keeps stress from accumulating near the eyebrows.
These simple exercises can be done anywhere and at anytime. Regularly practicing these exercises will help you feel fresh throughout the day. Whether you are heading for an interview or have a big presentation, spend a couple of minutes to refresh your face with these exercises. Your face will radiate confidence and a sense of calmness, and will thus have a good impression on others. Practicing these exercises right before meditation will also help you go deeper into meditation.
Yoga practice helps develop the body and mind bringing a lot of health benefits yet is not a substitute for medicine. It is important to learn and practice yoga postures under the supervision of a trained Sri Sri Yoga teacher. In case of any medical condition, practice yoga postures after consulting a doctor and a Sri Sri Yoga teacher. Find a Sri Sri Yoga program at an Art of Living Center near you. Do you need information on programs or share feedback? Write to us at info@artoflivingyoga.org
