THE FACE FIT WORKOUT
PUCKER UP
How? Bring your hand up as if you were blowing a kiss. Inhale and, as you exhale, push out your lips and blow the air along your hand. Repeat five times, inhaling to start and exhaling as you blow. Danielle says: “This helps to strengthen lower face muscles, release tension and calm your breathing.”
TONGUE TIED
How? Inhale through your nose. As you exhale, stick your tongue out as far as you can. Repeat five times. Danielle says: “This exercise helps to stretch and release tension from the lower face muscles and bring energy to your mouth area. It’s also great if you have been talking a lot or have an aching throat.”
SURPRISE ME
How? Make your mouth into an ‘O’ shape, wrapping your lips around your teeth. Tilt your head back slightly. Using your index fingers, gently stroke up from your chin to your nostrils. Repeat ten times. Danielle says: “This is a great all-rounder, helping to lift and firm the skin on your neck, strengthen and smooth the mouth area and release any tension.”
IT’S IN THE EYES
How? Place a hand on your forehead and look up, as if you are looking at twelve on a clock face. Move your eyes to one o’clock, two o’clock etc, right round to twelve. Repeat anti-clockwise. Danielle says: “Great for revitalising tired eyes, this also strengthens the muscles around the eyes, helping you look wide awake.”
SNEAKY SMILE
How? Using your index fingers, gently pull the skin back around your cheek area. Then, lift one side of your mouth and slowly lower back down. Repeat on the other side, doing ten lifts in total. Danielle says: “This exercise helps to tone the entire lower face area, and will also smooth and firm the skin.”
POINT OF CALM
How? Place your index finger on the top of your head– there will be a spot here that feels a bit tender. Gently press it for a few seconds while breathing deeply, before massaging in a circular motion. Repeat in the opposite direction. Danielle says: “This acupressure point helps calm the mind and rebalance the body. Use whenever you can’t switch off .”