Confession: I have a strong aversion to yoga. Despite fitting the mold of a health-conscious individual who enjoys organic foods, natural cleaning solutions, and meditation, I simply cannot stand yoga. Each attempt leaves me feeling frustrated and angry.
I understand that disliking yoga is as taboo as disliking puppies; it seems irrational. Yet, amidst the chaos of life, it seems more common to embrace the unconventional.
However, there’s an emerging trend that piques my interest: face yoga. This term refers to a series of facial exercises aimed at promoting a more youthful appearance, without the traditional yoga poses that often leave me feeling defeated.
The premise of face yoga is intriguing: it promises to help counteract the sagging and hollowness that naturally occurs as we age. The fat pads that cushion our facial tissues diminish over time, leading to a less youthful appearance. Why does Mother Nature have to take those fat pads away? If only she could redistribute them to my hips instead.
Facial exercises are designed to strengthen the underlying muscles of the face, thereby restoring lift and volume. The youthful plumpness of cheeks can be rejuvenated, making this method appealing for those of us navigating our 40s.
While this may sound like mere internet hype, a study published in JAMA Dermatology reveals promising results. Researchers from Northwestern University discovered that after 20 weeks of consistent facial exercises, participants appeared up to three years younger.
In this study, 27 women aged 45 to 60 participated in two 90-minute training sessions with a face yoga instructor before embarking on a 20-week regimen. Interestingly, nearly half of the participants dropped out before completion. What compels someone to invest three hours into training only to abandon the effort? Perhaps they were overwhelmed or just didn’t want to make silly faces in front of others.
The 16 women who completed the study had their before-and-after photos evaluated by dermatologists using a standardized aging scale. The dermatologists, unaware of participant identities or which photos were from which phase, rated the “after” photos as appearing an average of 3.1 years younger—a significant finding, even with the study’s small size and lack of a control group.
Three years younger could potentially restore my youthful glow, so I decided to explore some face yoga techniques.
A word of caution: practicing face yoga is best done in solitude, preferably in a locked bathroom. The expressions you’ll make may feel absurd, and you might prefer not to have an audience.
Here are a few facial exercises I attempted, humorously renamed for relatability:
- “What Are You Doing, Child?” – Wide-eyed surprise to combat habitual frowning.
- “This Diaper Smells Terrible” – Puffing up cheeks to tone cheek muscles (but watch out for unintended effects).
- “If You Don’t Quiet Down, My Head Will Explode” – Using your hands to gently pull back on the skin around your eyes.
- “Don’t Forget to Smile” – Engaging cheek muscles while listening to your kid’s endless stories.
- “If I Look Up, I Can Ignore the Mess” – A pose to strengthen neck muscles.
- “Mommy’s Gone to Her Happy Place” – A relaxation pose that’s surprisingly challenging, especially when a child is knocking on the door.
The exercises are simple and, if they can delay the appearance of jowls, the effort is worthwhile.
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In conclusion, while the concept of face yoga may sound whimsical, it presents a practical approach to maintaining a youthful appearance, one playful face at a time.