Yoga to try it
Exercises loved by celebs are secret to younger looking skin
FACE YOGA has celebs like Madonna, Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow raving – and unlike going under the knife it doesn’t cost a cent. With the help of a skin therapist,
tried out a series of simple, non-invasive exercises – and the results were impressive...
SIOBHAN O’CONNOR I joined Agnes Gajewska on Zoom to test drive the practice which claims to banish fine lines and even get rid of a double chin.
Polish native Agnes, 42, lives in Dublin, and has been a skin therapist for over 20 years specialising in face yoga.
There are 57 muscles in the face and Agnes explained: “There is a huge percentage of people who just invest in Botox, they don’t stimulate muscles.
“Fifteen minutes of face yoga every day can transform your skin and energy.”
We begin with self massage to the collarbone, armpits, chin, arms and knees to flush out the lymph nodes, before the series of poses.
1. Kiss the sky
This move is great for removing lines from the neck.
Agnes instructs: “Place your hands on your collarbone, open your chest, tilt your head back, then pretend you are kissing the sky 10 times.
“Spending too much time on our devices means we get more lines than usual.
“Next put your hands on the collarbone, open your chest and say ‘yum’ 10 times.”
2. Swan pose
This move helps lift the face and neck.
Agnes says: “Open your chest, place one hand on your chin, one on the shoulder and feel the muscles stretching.”
3. Jaw Toner Twist
Agnes advises that this pose sculpts the face, instructing: “Take your index finger, middle finger and thumb on both hands.
“Gently pinch along your jawline, towards your ears, pinching and releasing. We are trying to release tension from your chin and jaw area.”
4. Jowl Lift
This area is largely forgotten about, Agnes explains: “Using the tops of your index and middle and ring fingers on one hand, tap the chin area and go from side to side stimulating the collagen.”
“You need to keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth at all times.”
5. Tasty food pose
This pose involves sticking your tongue out and Agnes describes it as being “like a face lift”. She says: “Stick your tongue out and move it from side to side really slowly. You’re lifting the corner of your lips.”
6. Ear pull and massage
Agnes says: “When you massage your ear area you will get an incredible sculpting result.
“Using three fingers, thumb, middle and index fingers, pinch deep into the muscles near the ear area.
“We store cortisol in the chewing muscles, the idea is to release the tension.”
7. The Scream
Nasolabial folds – wrinkles from your nose to the corners of your mouth – are often dubbed laughter lines.
Marionette lines are wrinkles that extend from the corners of your mouth to your chin.
Agnes says: “Make an O shape with your mouth and curl the upper and lower lips over your teeth, holding for five seconds.”
8. Water Balloons
Agnes says: “Puff out the cheeks as though your mouth is full of water and purse your lips as tightly as you can.
“Then start to transfer air from cheek to cheek for 30 seconds. Fill the upper and lower lip area with air and hold for a lip filler effect.”
9. The Palm stroke
For the fine lines on the forehead Agnes advises: “Make sure your forehead is completely relaxed and you are not lifting your eyebrows.
“Place the palm of your hand on the middle of the forehead and slide it across.”
10. The forehead smoother
Agnes explains: “Make both your hands into fists. Place them in the middle of the forehead.
“Move them outwards, away from each other with gentle pressure.”
VERDICT
My skin felt rejuvenated and fresher – and I had noticeably more energy. This takes commitment but you can do it while watching telly
See www.faceyogabyagnes.com.