Forget Botox, Wipe Out Wrinkles With These Yoga Asanas

Yoga secrets for an ageless face

Face yoga is the latest beauty craze that works wonders and doesn’t cost a dime (Photo: iStock)

Want a younger face for longer? Facial yoga can get you there!

Follow these small set of yogic asanas for a toned, smooth face with a healthy glow:

Suksham Vyamas

Kapolshakti Vikashak: Take a long, deep breath to fill your mouth with air completely. Your mouth should be closed as shown in the picture below. Now gently close your nose as well with your fingers, pushing the air out to create an upward air pressure.

(Photo courtesy: Yogaguru Neha)

Air Gargle: Take a deep breath and fill your mouth with air. Gargle with the air as long as you can hold your breath moving air to every part of the mouth. This is an easy and powerful technique to tone facial muscles.

(Photo courtesy: Yogaguru Neha)

Pravatasana

(Photo courtesy: Yogaguru Neha)

Lie on the floor with your hands and knees by your side. Inhale. Lift up the pelvic region up pushing your tailbone in the air while you exhale. Make sure to contract your abdomen in this posture. Straighten the knees. Drop the head down till you make an inverted “v” as shown in the picture. Hold this position for 20 to 25 seconds.

Sarwang Asana

Lie down on the back. Take a deep breath and lift your legs up to 90 degrees. Now, releasing your breath, lift the body up shifting the weight on shoulders. Hold it for 20 to 50 minutes.

(Photo: iStock)

Note: Patients with high BP should avoid this.

Simhasanam

(Photo: iStock)

Sit down on the mat folding your legs apart. Put both your hands in between the legs just below your shoulder. Now open your mouth and take your tongue out. Look at your third eye center (between the eyebrows). Take a deep breath and exhale with a roaring sound like lion. Repeat this 3 times. Rub both your palms tightly to make them warm and then massage your throat upwards.

Related Read: Five Yoga Poses For a Guaranteed Flat Tummy

Pranayamas

Kapalbhati:
This breathing exercise will oxygenate your body, while strengthening your stomach muscles and giving a glow to your face.

Sit in a comfortable position. Take a deep breath and forcefully exhale through your nostrils. Repeat this for 10 to 15 minutes. Remember to pump your abdomen while exhaling.

(Photo: iStock)

Note: If you have blood pressure problems then don’t push yourself, do as long as comfortable.

Anuloom-Viloom:
This is an alternate breathing technique and is very effective in detoxifying the body and clearing the mind from stress.

Sit in a comfortable position and block your right nostril with the right thumb. Inhale through your left nostril and block it with the ring finger and middle finger. Exhale from the right and simultaneously, inhale from the right and exhale from the left. Repeat this process for 10 to 15 minutes. Do this every morning on an empty stomach for best results.

(Yogaguru Neha is one of the founder members of the Holistic Healthcare Foundation Society. She is a qualified yoga expert and has been teaching it since 11 years. She can be reached at theyogaguru.com and tygyoga.com)