Facial yoga exercises for the bride-to-be

Have you ever tried face yoga? Here's how it can improve your appearance, with some exercises to try yourself

Face yoga can be a wonderful way to help your skin to look its very best for your big day. Regular practice leading up to the wedding can strengthen and tone the muscles, thereby smoothing the skin, boosting the collagen and elastin to firm, and relaxing any tension in both the face and the mind. Face yoga also seves to improve blood circulation, giving the skin a naturally healthy glow. Here, face yoga expert, Danielle Collins, details and demonstrates four key exercises.

The Owl

Make a big C shape with your thumb and index fingers. Place your index finger just above and parallel to your eyebrows and your thumbs on your cheeks. Start to pull down with the index fingers while trying to raise your eyebrows and making the eyes wide. Hold for two seconds, relax and repeat again. Now do three more times. Then hold this position for ten seconds. This will firm up the forehead, reducing lines and wrinkles. 

Circle the eyes

First place your middle fingers at the beginning of your eyebrows. Start to gently tap around your eyes following the top of your eyebrow and then continue under your eye just at the top of your cheekbones. Continue to the inside corners of your eye. Then repeat, going in the opposite direction, making little tapping motions. This is great for reducing eye wrinkles, boosting circulation and relaxing the muscles. Then, with your index fingers, very gently stroke just under your eyes from the nose outwards four times to warm up and relax the eye area. This helps to reduce bags and puffiness under the eyes by removing toxins and increasing blood flow and oxygen to the area.

Swan neck

Begin looking straight ahead with your chin level. Turn your head to the right so that it is even with your right shoulder and then tilt your head backwards. Hold for six to eight seconds. Return your head to the forward position with your chin level. Turn your head to the left, even with your left shoulder. Tilt your head back and hold for six to eight seconds - repeat up to three times. This lifts and tones the neck muscles,  therefore firming lines and wrinkles on the side of the neck and face.      

Giraffe

Looking straight ahead, place your finger tips on the top of your neck and lightly stroke the skin down as you tilt your head back. Bring your head back down and repeat twice more. Then jut your lower lip out as far as possible, place your fingers on your collarbone and point your chin upwards, pulling the corners of your mouth down. Hold for four deep breaths. This releases neck tension, tones and lift the neck area.