JOIN USYoga for a perfect, natural facelift
Place both the index and middle fingers at the edge and corner of both the eyebrows respectively. Now, apply downward pressure using both the fingers and look upward. This posture, says international yoga exponent Mansi Gulati, “helps remove/reduce wrinkles, enhance concentration power, is very good for migraine and works very well for a healthy vision”.
Known as ‘V Pose’, this exercise is part of facial yoga which comprises of a series of poses/exercises designed to tone muscles of face areas like the jaw, mouth, eyes, forehead and the neck.
“I started yoga at the age of nine, when I was introduced to it as a treatment for my physical injury. This planted a seed in my mind which turned into zeal to learn the technique – which I realised is not simple but is a beautiful art in itself,” Gulati, who has
trained various celebrities, tells Metrolife.
Outlining the benefits of facial yoga, Gulati says, “There are a plethora of organic/ inorganic products available to retain one’s youthful look, and people often get confused while choosing these for their skin. Facial yoga is natural; it is a gradual process but you get lasting results through easy-to-do exercises. Also skin wrinkles are a clear sign of ageing and stress. Facial yoga works effectively in preventing wrinkle formation for the age group of 20-30 and gradually reduces the problem in the older group,” she explains.
She further says that the piling up of fat on the cheeks and chin results in plump double chin. “Similar to body exercises, facial yoga exercises burn down the excess fat, resulting in a toned and chiselled face,” she says.
Gulati, who has written many articles on facial yoga and is credited for introducing the concept in India, says that unlike regular workout, yoga works on the body internally and is beneficial for all age groups.
“Since the face is the index of one’s personality, each one of us wishes to retain his/her youth and flaunt a flawless face. And today's harsh environmental conditions have made it imperative for everyone to follow beauty techniques, go for Botox treatments, surgical corrections and many such measures to look beautiful and young. To avoid all these high on risk and exorbitant processes, I recommend everyone to follow face yoga - which is the most natural therapy to look young and beautiful. It accentuates your natural beauty and brings in vitality,” she says.
Suggesting a quick exercise for instant rejuvenation of facial muscles, Gulati, who will be conducting a workshop on November 21 at Radisson Blu, Dwarka, says, “Squeeze your face and hold it for 10 seconds keeping the breath normal and then, gently release. No matter how much tension you hold in your face and neck, facial yoga helps you in becoming more aware of those muscles, so that you can relax them within a few seconds and feel instant tightness.”