Facial yoga - the new Botox?

Why pay thousands to go under the knife when you can do facial yoga from the comfort of your own home?

The exercises - involving grimaces, smirks and other extremely silly-looking expressions -  help tone and strengthen the muscles of the face and fans claim reduce wrinkles and worry lines.

So could exercising your face help you retain that youthful look?

Why not try some of these basic facial yoga exercises to get you started:

The Lion

Take a slow, steady inhale of breath and constrict every muscle in your body. On a slow, steady exhale, relax those muscles, stick out your tongue and roll your eyes upwards. Repeat three times. On the last repetition, try to hold the exhale position for 30 to 60 seconds to really stretch your tongue.

Result: tightens the throat and reduces lines around the eyes.

Kiss the Ceiling

Tilt your head back and try to kiss the ceiling. Repeat four times.

Result: Firms the jaw, neck and throat and plumps the lips.

The Marilyn

Visualise throngs of admiring fans and blow kisses. Repeat four times. Then do the same while adding resistance by pressing two fingers lightly against your puckering lips.

Result: creates firmer lips.

The Satchmo

Puff both cheeks with air like Louis Armstrong, and then transfer the air from cheek to cheek until you run out of breath. Repeat four times.

Result: Keeps cheeks strong and supple.

Brow Smoother

Raise the muscles above the eyebrows and use your fingers to smooth out the resulting forehead wrinkles. Raise eyebrows 20 times. Repeat.

Result: Firms the forehead.

Get the book Yoga Face: Eliminate Wrinkles with the Ultimate Natural Facelift  

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