Anti Aging Yoga Poses

Based on the premise that facial muscles, like any other muscle, need exercise to stay toned, enthusiasts of facial yoga say the regular practice of making kissy faces or wagging one's tongue can reduce worry lines and wrinkles and even create a little peace within.

Facial yoga is a better, more permanent, and far less expensive way to look younger year after year…

Here are the  benefits of facial yoga. 

The forehead: Erase frown lines and release your worries. This leads to a more relaxed body
The eyes: Improve your vision, relax the muscles that allow you to move your eyes around. Dry eyes, blurry vision and headaches can be eased away
The cheeks and mouth: As you age, muscle tone begins to decrease, making the face appear as if it is melting, facial yoga sets this right
The chin: Get rid of the double chin and get a sharper jawline
The neck and shoulder: Prevent a drooped posture and wrinkles on the neck
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Facial Yoga Poses 

Lion Breathing – To clear chesty lungs.

• Inhale through the nose and raise your shoulders all the way up to the ears. Hold your breath for 10 counts.
• With palms on knees, bend your elbows and lean forward. While sticking out your tongue, exhale through the mouth to empty all the air from your lungs and stomach.

Fish face – For Face Muscles:

• Take a deep breath and hold it. Pucker up like a fish, suck in your cheeks and purse your lips.
• Now try to smile, that is, stretch your lips. It might feel uncomfortable, breathe in and out as slowly as you can.

Look sideways – To Eyes Strengthen:

• Hold your head straight, breathe in, now without moving your neck, turn your eyes to the extreme right. Hold the position.
• After a few seconds, turn your vision to the left. This pose also feels uncomfortable because your eyes have probably exercised so much.

Facial Scrunch – Exercise all facial muscles:

• Close your eyes and widen the lips as much as possible. Inhale through the nose and hold your breath for 10 counts.
• As you exhale through the mouth, open your eyes as wide as possible. Hold for 10 counts.

Neck Stretch – To give releif for neck muscle:

• Tilt your right ear as close as possible to your right shoulder.
• Extend your left arm without lifting your fingers off the floor. Stay in this position for 8 to 10 breaths. Repeat on the other side.

Calm down – For eyes brightness:

• Rub your hands together briskly and warm them up. Close your eyes and cup the palms over your eyes. Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it for as long as you can.
• The eyes will feel relaxed, and the slow breathing eases tense muscles and feelings.

Simply Yoga: Power Poses

"One of the most frequently utilized yoga poses, downward-facing dog is challenging as you begin your practice and becomes a resting pose as your body heats up. Start in push-up position with toes tucked. Push down into hands, engage core, and lift hips to form upside-down V position, pushing heels flat to the floor. Your gaze should always be toward your feet."

Experienced yogis seem to defy gravity with inversions and balances, but many of the most powerful yoga poses are relatively simple. Jaimi Jones, yoga instructor at Charlotte Yoga, offers insight on taking your practice to the next level by mastering these essential yoga poses.

Child's Pose

"Child's pose is a perfect way to start your practice, as it centers your thoughts, and steadies breathing. Start on all fours and touch your big toes together behind you. Separate knees wider than your torso and shift weight back to sit on heels. A variation: lift belly and extend arms forward with forehead resting on your mat."

Downward-facing Dog

"One of the most frequently utilized yoga poses, downward-facing dog is challenging as you begin your practice and becomes a resting pose as your body heats up. Start in push-up position with toes tucked. Push down into hands, engage core, and lift hips to form upside-down V position, pushing heels flat to the floor. Your gaze should always be toward your feet."

Warrior One

"Start by standing tall with feet hip-distance apart. Keep one foot forward, step other foot to back of the mat. Keeping your front foot facing forward, turn your back foot slightly outward. Reach arms overhead, lower shoulders from ears, and lift core as you bend the front knee into a ninety-degree angle. Switch your feet and repeat on opposite side."

Chair Pose

"Stand tall with big toes together and heels a few inches apart. Simultaneously, squeeze thighs together and bend knees. Lower your rear as if you're sitting in a chair and be sure not to arch the lower back. Lift arms overhead, reach fingers toward ceiling, and drop shoulders away from ears."

Tree Pose

"Standing with feet shoulder-width apart, begin to shift the weight over to the right foot, lift the left foot off the floor, and bring the sole of the left foot high onto the inner right thigh. Press the foot into the thigh and the thigh back into the foot. Keep both hips squared toward the front. Repeat the move while standing on the left foot."

Ashley Kaufman