5 yoga poses to take years off your face

“What you feel inside reflects on your face. So be happy and positive all the time”

As the famous quote suggests, our face mirrors our thoughts, desires, personality and character and no one wants to be represented as dull and incompetent.

Unfortunately, owing to stressful lifestyles, our skin becomes the victim of premature ageing, turning saggy and pigmented at a much younger age.

Various surveys on skin care have shown that environmental and psychological factors are the prime reason for premature facial wrinkles.

Of course, you cannot change your entire lifestyle but you can certainly take some necessary steps to keep skin wrinkles at bay and stay youthful. No, we are not talking about stringent skin care routines or intensive treatment procedures. A smooth and young looking skin can be easily achieved through regular yoga practice.

Here are some easy yoga postures you can try to give a natural lift to your facial muscles.

Simha Mudra (Lion Pose)

Procedure:

Sit cross-legged on an even surface
Place your palms on your knees
Now, open up your chest by pressing your palms against the knees and inhale slowly through your mouth
Drop your jaw and open your mouth as wide as possible.
Make a “Ha” sound while sticking out your tongue
Try to touch your chin with the tongue and breath out
Repeat this exercise for 7-8 times a day

Benefits:

Lion pose helps in strengthening and toning facial muscles. It also exercises your brain and nervous system, leading to reduction in stress and anxiety. So you can shine with an inner glow.

Jalandhara Bandha (Chin Lock)

Procedure:

Start by sitting in Lotus position
Keep your spine straight
Place your palms on your knees and make sure that your knees slightly touch the ground
Now, raise your shoulders and inhale deeply
Contract your throat muscles and press your chin firmly towards your chest
Keep your arms straight, pressing your palms against your knees
Your chin should be in such a position between your collarbone that it creates a chin lock
Hold your breath and try to stay in this position for as long as you don’t feel choked
Repeat it 5 times

Benefits:

Chin lock helps in toning your jawline and helps in getting rid of a double chin.

Fish Face

Procedure:

Sit straight with face forward
Create a Fish like face by sucking your cheeks into the gap between your upper and lower teeth and pouting out lips
You might feel a slight stretch or burn on the inner region of cheeks while doing this exercise
Now, try to smile a little
Relax and repeat it for minimum 5 times

Benefits:

Fish face helps in lifting the saggy skin on your face, giving you perked up cheekbones. It also gives a slender and leaner look to chubby cheeks.

Jivha Bandha (Locked Tongue Pose)

Procedure:

Sit in a comfortable pose with your back erect
Place your palms on your thighs while applying minute pressure on legs
Press the tip of your tongue against the hard palate; the inner side of the upper front teeth
Slowly, open your mouth and continue to do so until you start to feel a pressure on your neck and throat
Try to keep your sight fixed at your nose
Initially, it would be difficult to hold your tongue but a repetition of Locked Tongue Pose 10 times a day will help in improving effectiveness

Benefits:

The above-mentioned exercise increases the flow of blood to your face. Regular practice of locked tongue pose makes the nerves in the regions of your tongue, nose, ears, teeth and eyes more active. It also helps in tightening facial muscles.

Chin Lift

Procedure: