If you’ve been paying attention to pop culture at all in the past year, you’ve probably heard about the Megan Markle mania that’s swept the world since the royal wedding was announced. Lately, Markle has been making headlines in the wellness world along with other A-listers like Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jennifer Aniston, for their adoption of something called Face Yoga.
Facial yoga exercises, usually just known as face yoga, work by targeting specific facial muscles with stretching and strengthening exercises. By toning these muscles, the skin on top stays plump and firm and is not as susceptible to fine lines and wrinkles. Face yoga is a much better alternative to traditional anti-aging methods like Botox and facelifts because it is 100% natural and non-invasive, whereas dermal fillers like Botox are full of harmful chemicals. The best part of all, it’s free while cosmetic surgery is known for its hefty price tag.
It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? However, many people have been trying the face yoga method ever since it gained popularity, and their before and after photos make a compelling argument. In addition, scientists have begun studying this phenomenon to see if it can be proven that exercising the facial muscles can keep the skin on top plump and firm.
In one recent study, a group of 40-65-year-olds were given training on muscle-resistant facial exercises and told to do the exercises on their own every day for 30 minutes. After eight weeks, scientists compared their before and after photos using the Merz-Carruthers Facial Aging Photoscales. When the test compared the two sets of photos, the average estimated age for each participant went down significantly, and they also showed improved upper cheek fullness.
In another study, scientists evaluated participants using a sonograph and laser scanning device to measure muscle thickness and overall facial surface area. Similar to the first study, participants were instructed to do facial exercises every day over the course of eight weeks, though this time the duration was only for 30 seconds a day using a Japanese PAO device. The results revealed that the participants’ facial muscle thickness increased due to twice daily PAO using, resulting in an overall more youthful appearance.
If you’re ready to get started on your own face yoga journey, take a look a the guide from Rory below for pose illustrations and instructions. You can also download their printable schedule to keep track of your poses on a daily basis.
Infographic source: HelloRory.com
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