A common condition that affects many people across the world is osteoarthritis. This condition results from gradual degeneration of cartilage due to wear and tear on joints, which may cause pain and stiffness in the affected areas. Some key risk factors for osteoarthritis include being overweight or obese, having a previous bone or joint injury, genetic predisposition, age (over 40 years), and some medical conditions including diabetes. Treatment options for this condition vary depending on the severity of symptoms and involve use of medications, physical therapy, weight loss (if needed), surgery, or lifestyle changes such as doing regular exercise and stretching exercises. With proper treatment and management strategies, one can manage their symptoms effectively while living a healthy life.
How does it work?
Face yoga involves massaging or tapping your face in a certain manner which stimulates your facial muscles, improves blood circulation, and strengthens the underlying facial muscles. The result? A healthy glowing appearance to your overall facial skin.
Here are a few facial yoga exercises that you can do right now. Beware, however. Some of the exercise involves making an overly exaggerated face. So, if you are worried about looking silly, find a nice, quiet place and let's get started!
-
The big 'O'
As the name suggests, stretch your lips out to form a big 'O', Imagine you are trying to scream like in one of those cheesy horror movies. Go like 'Ahhhh' while trying to open your mouth as wide as you can. You can start of with a 10-second hold but aim for 30 seconds gradually.
-
Kiss and smile!
Start off by pouting your lips as much as you can (imagine an overly exaggerated kiss) and immediately transition into a broad smile. Aim to hold the pout for about 1-2 seconds and transition into the smile and hold that for about another 1-2 seconds. Aim for 10 to 15 repetitions.
-
Balloon pose
Take a deep breath and fill you face in with as much air as possible and then puff up your cheeks. Then, place your index and middle fingers on your lips to prevent any air for escaping. Now, trying to move the air in your mouth from left to right and right to left as fast as possible. Practice this pose for a couple of minutes each day.
-
Simple tapping pose
This is a simple yet relaxing exercise. Using the tips of your fingers, start tapping either side of your forehead and gently move the tapping down to the base of your neck. Reset to the top of your forehead. Repeat this a few times and feel extremely relaxed.
-
Lift your eyebrows
Gently place the index finger of either hand about half an inch above your eyebrows. While keeping your face looking forward, try to look up as high as possible. Let this movement shift your index finger a little. Repeat this about 10-12 times per day.
And there you have it. 5 facial yoga exercises that you can perform any time during the day. We hope that you feel extremely relaxed and happy after performing these exercises. Remember: being mindful during the process is key.
