Self-care is not selfish

We are in charge of our own beauty

Can you be the one responsible for your own beauty and not depend too much on treatments and pokes? I asked myself this question after the lockdown, when we all found ourselves having to fend for ourselves, and when, as a result, I accepted the fact that the "beauty" of beauty lay in its authenticity. A realization coupled with a need led me to practice Face Yoga, and to fall in love with it so much that I decided to study to be able to teach it. I believe, in fact, that there is no greater gift to give a woman than to give her the weapons to be able to manage her image.

Why Face Yoga?

Because unlike the facial gymnastics that have been depopulating for the past few years, Face Yoga has a more holistic, well-rounded approach; it doesn't just work on muscle toning but acts on multiple levels.

First and foremost, awareness

How can I mitigate or prevent the appearance of glabellar wrinkles if I don't learn not to frown every time I work on a computer or worry? How do I combat double chin if it is caused by poor posture? How do I make my smile more symmetrical if I insist on chewing only on one side? It's a path, it's not immediate, but once you "click" certain habits fade away, as do the wrinkles or tensions that come with them.

The release of tensions

Speaking of tensions, Face Yoga releases them. It is a pivotal point of the practice as certain wrinkles, asymmetries or even drooping eyelids can be caused by some imperceptible contracture, and it is amazing how they improve by pressing certain points on the face, or loosening the muscles of the neck and upper back, and how then, by flanking them with targeted exercises, you are able to bring harmony back to the face. I confess that it also solved headache problems for me.

The importance of breathing

Another level on which Face Yoga works is that of the breath. Conscious, regular and deep breathing, in and out of the nose, has two benefits: first, it relaxes on a mental level and releases stress, then it improves blood circulation, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. The result is a more radiant and less contracted face.

Practice, a commitment that makes you more self-confident

Finally, the exercises. There are more than 70 of them and they are chosen according to level or goal. They aim to tone and lift but also to "educate" the muscle (and here we return to the initial talk about awareness) to move it correctly or even isolate it, to prevent it from performing those movements that give rise to wrinkles.

Time is not a problem

Now I want to be realistic: a Face Yoga practice can take 30 to 60 minutes, but few of us have that time to devote to it. That's why I try to introduce it into my everyday life, releasing tension when I apply the cream and doing the exercises that I need most throughout the day, and whether it's in the car stopped at the traffic light or while I'm reading the newspaper or even while I'm cooking, it doesn't matter, what matters is to remember to breathe and to notice the change.

Smile, always

A piece of advice to get started? Whenever you can always try to hint at a smile, this way you will activate many muscles and lift the contours of your face.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)