Beyond Botox: The Role of Fascia, How It Can Affect Our Appearance, and Why Face Yoga Can Help.
In a world where cosmetic and surgical procedures seem to be the norm for achieving youthful looks, there's a natural and healthier alternative that's gaining popularity: face yoga.
Unlike Botox or other cosmetic procedures, face yoga is a natural and non-invasive way of firming the skin. It doesn't involve any injections, surgery, or chemicals – just simple exercises that you can do anywhere, anytime. And the best part? It's completely safe and free from any side effects. But what is fascia, why is it important for our skin, and where’s the science you ask? TIB investigates for you.
the role of fascia
Fascia is a connective tissue that runs throughout your entire body. It's like a spiderweb that connects all of your muscles, bones, and organs together, is incredibly strong and flexible, and it plays an important role in keeping your body stable and functional.
When it comes to the benefits of face yoga, fascia plays a critical role. As we age, our fascia can become tight and stiff, which can lead premature wrinkles and sagging skin, and it can also restrict lymph flow leading to puffiness, especially under the eyes.
By practicing (face) yoga, its well known that you can increase blood flow to your fascia and help to release any tension or stiffness.
what is face yoga?
Face yoga is a natural, non-invasive practice that involves performing exercises that target the muscles of the face, neck, and head. The practice is based on the principles of yoga and involves a series of movements, stretches, and poses designed to improve the overall health and appearance of the face.
The idea behind face yoga is that by exercising the facial muscles, we can improve circulation, increase oxygen flow to the skin, aid lymphatic drainage and stimulate collagen production. Studies have shown that this can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin tone and texture, and promote a more youthful appearance. Face yoga is also beneficial for those who suffer from tension headaches, TMJ disorder, and even sleep apnea.
Similar to yoga or gym workouts, face yoga also involves stretches that work with the muscles. BABOR expert esthetician Kimberly Keelan shares:
“The facial movements are like [weights] training for the muscles, and as you work them you see a lift and tone to the skin."
The Benefits of Face Yoga
A recent study data that showed the results and benefits participants experienced when practicing face yoga for only 8 weeks:
Increased circulation: Face yoga increases blood flow to your face and neck, which can help to nourish your skin and promote a healthy, youthful glow.
Reduced tension: Face yoga can help to release tension in your face and neck, which can reduce headaches and other discomforts.
Improved skin elasticity: By toning and tightening your facial muscles, face yoga can help to improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Increased relaxation: Face yoga can be a great way to relax and destress, helping you to feel more calm and centered.
Natural alternative: Face yoga is a natural alternative to more invasive beauty treatments like Botox or facelifts.
Celebs that love face yoga
An A-list celebrity facialist, Thuyen Nguyen, (who’s clientele include Cindy Crawford, Katy Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman and more) prescribes facial exercises to his clients and believes in a whole and holistic skincare routine (not just products!) for the ultimate glowing and youthful skin.
“In Asia, we believe that when it comes to skin care, you must challenge the skin and muscles in order to train them, strengthen them and keep them remaining toned. Westerners do this with their body muscles but often ignore the face.” - Thuyen Nguyen
Another huge fan of face yoga is the Duchess of Sussex herself, Megan Markle, who raved about her daily face yoga routine and the amazing benefits she see’s from it on her defunct personal lifestyle chic advice site, The Tig:
“I do facial exercises from one of my favorite aestheticians, Nicola Joss, who basically has you sculpt your face from the inside out. I swear it works, as silly as you may feel. On the days I do it, my cheekbones and jawline are waaaay more sculpted. There’s a reason she is in high demand around awards season when every actress wants to look A-plus.” - Megan Markle, Duchess of sussex
It seems like aestheticians and skincare experts globally are beginning to incorporate skin massages and facial exercises into their client’s treatments.
How to Get Started with Face Yoga at home
Getting started with face yoga is easy! All you need is a few minutes each day and a willingness to try something new. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Find a comfortable position: Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight and your shoulders relaxed.
Warm up: Before you begin your face yoga routine, take a few minutes to warm up your muscles. You can do this by gently massaging your face or doing some simple neck stretches.
Start slowly: Begin with simple poses and stretches, and gradually work your way up to more challenging exercises as you become more comfortable.
Be consistent: To see the best results, practice face yoga regularly, ideally every day.
Get creative: You can create your own face yoga routine by mixing and matching different poses and stretches. There are also many online resources and books available to help you get started.
bottom line
Learning how to release fascial tension through face yoga is an innovative and natural way to rejuvenate your face and improve your overall well-being. Even though its an emerging practice and more studies are being done, practicers have seen an increased circulation, reduced tension, improved skin elasticity and overall feeling and looking better because of it.
But remember, Facial Yoga isn't a quick fix. Face Yoga experts can do the exercises for 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week! So slowly getting into your own routine with it, and give face yoga programs a few weeks to start seeing results.
Experts also urge people when starting the practice to still keep up their hydration and be aware of environmental factors that can contribute to skin health, such as sun damage or pollution.
So whether you're looking to reduce the signs of aging or simply destress after a long day, face yoga is definitely worth a try.
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