By Diane Small

It seems that Botox is falling out of favour as increasing numbers of women become disenchanted with the frozen, waxy look associated with the product. Luckily, there are increasingly effective – and more natural – Botox alternatives and other ways of dealing with the first signs of ageing.

Here, the world’s leading Face Yoga Expert, Danielle Collins, shares the benefits of doing Face Yoga, the exercises which form a key part of her unique anti-ageing routine for the face.

Easy to do just about any time, anywhere, the benefits of facial yoga are many:  it can help delay the onset of wrinkles, prevent drooping and  wrinkling of the skin, but it’s also relaxing and kind of fun!

Facial yoga exercises are a great thing for anyone to do, no matter what their age and no matter what their skin is like. As with any exercise, it’s never too  early to keep  muscles strong, boost collagen and elastin and relax tension, right?

Here, Danielle answered some of our questions and shares some of her favourite Face Yoga exercises with us.

Can Face Yoga reverse existing issues as well as prevent them?

Yes. As we age we lose our muscle tone which means the skin attached to those  muscles sags, causing lines and loose skin. Simply toning this muscle helps to lift  and tighten the skin again. Just like body exercise, it is never to late to start and  build strength. I have even had clients in their 90s seeing results from Face Yoga!

What are the benefits of facial massage?

By regularly massaging the face using the techniques from The  Danielle Collins Face Yoga Method, you will increase the circulation, lymph  flow and remove toxins. This will reduce poor skin tone, puffiness and dark  circles and allow the skin to look healthier and more youthful. The massage  techniques will also increase the collagen and elastin, the natural plumping  agents which will mean a firmer and healthier complexion.

Besides massage and yoga, what else does your Facial Yoga involve?

Acupressure: this age-old technique works by pressing on certain points on  the face. This can increase the flow of the subtle energy or prana in the face.  This therefore reduces tension, increases circulation and gives a healthy glow  to the skin. I also incorporate some relaxation: by learning to relax tension in the face this will help to reduce and  prevent the deep sets lines and wrinkles caused by stress, squinting or  grimacing,  giving the face a more open, youthful look.

What are the best moves for the eyes?

To reduce lines and wrinkles around the eyes and to make the eyes  more open and energized, put both your middle fingers together between your eyebrows then apply  pressure to the outer corners of your eyes with your index fingers. Look up and  start to move the lower eyelids upwards, making a strong squint. Then relax  and repeat 6 more times. To finish squeeze your eyes shut for 10 seconds then  relax.

What about for jowels and sagging skin?

Try the giraffe to tone and lift the jowl and neck area.  Looking straight ahead place your finger tips on the top of your neck and lightly  stroke the skin down as you tilt your head back. Bring your head back down  and repeat twice more. Then jut your lower lip out as far as possible, place  your fingers on your collarbone and point your chin upwards, pulling the  corners of your mouth down. Hold for 4 deep breaths.

And to tighten cheeks?

I designed the Smile Smoother to reduce lines around the mouth and to lift and firm the  cheeks and jaw.  Hide your teeth with your lips and make an O; shape with the mouth. Then,  smile as wide as you can and keep hiding the teeth. Repeat 6 times. Next, hold  the smile shape and place one index finger on the chin. Then start to move  your jaw up and down as you tilt your head back. Relax and repeat twice more.

Is there anything you can do for the forehead?

Yes, you can increase collagen and elastin in the forehead to smooth  the skin in this area.  Using all the finger tips, gently stroke outwards at least 3 times.

How often do you need to practice? How long for?

The full Danielle Collins Face Yoga Method consists of a 10 minute upper face  workout and a 10 minute lower face workout. These workouts can be done  together as a 20 minute session or as two 10 minute sessions at different times  of the day. It should be done 6 days a week. This is the ideal and this is what  you should do to see results very quickly. However anything is better than  nothing. Even picking a couple of exercises and doing them daily can have a  positive effect. Face Yoga works in the same way as Yoga for the body or  indeed any exercise for the body. We know we may feel a bit better doing a  few sessions or even look a bit better but to see real results we must do this  regularly. This time shouldn’t be looked at as a chore though. It is a wonderful  pampering time for you.

When will I start to see results?

You will see and feel some difference straight away. Your muscles may feel they have had a good workout (just like with body exercise), you will see and  feel less tension in the face and you will have a rosy glow due to increased  circulation and better lymphatic drainage.  Everyone has different faces so the time it takes to see changes varies from  person to person. As a general rule you will start to see more of a long term  improvement in your face and neck after 2 weeks. After 2-4 months, you will  notice you have less fine lines and less tension and people will notice you look  healthier and more energised. Within 6 months people have reported that  they look and feel many years younger and feel more relaxed within  themselves.

Remember that taking two sessions of 10 minutes each for yourself to do this  every day will also do wonders for your overall wellbeing and stress levels. This  time to relax, do something for you, and knowing you will look and feel better  as a result may mean you also notice yourself feeling calmer and happier. How  we feel on the inside radiates out through our faces. This is why my Method is  called Face Yoga rather than simply ‘Face Exercises’.

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