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A flat tummy, toned thighs and an altogether lean body are what you aim for when you opt for yoga. And of course yoga helps you to stay healthy and youthful. The most obvious benefits of this popular form of exercise include increased flexibility, a calmer state of mind and balance. Yoga has also been associated with age-related ‘symptoms’ as it can help in turning back the clock. One of the lesser-known benefits of yoga is that it rejuvenates the skin, which makes it super effective when it comes to the face. Now you don’t need to go for Botox or other surgical treatments to get rid of your wrinkles. Through a few yoga stretches you can get a face-lift and say goodbye to frown lines, double chin and the dreaded ‘turkey neck’.

Here is all you need to know…

Stretch it all away

A few facial stretches can make you glow, reduce wrinkles and erase lines and yoga helps you achieve all this absolutely naturally, with no chemicals or painful procedures! By stimulating collagen production face yoga can help keep skin tight and less prone to wrinkles. Moreover, it aids in relieving tension and stress from the areas we tend to squeeze and scrunch the most. These areas include the forehead, eyebrows and around the jaws and mouth. Following are some simple facial stretches that you can incorporate in your regime.

The eyebrow stretch

The first thing to do is raise your eyebrows as high as possible – as if you are trying to touch the ceiling. Then turn your eyeballs towards the ceiling as if you are looking at the ceiling. Hold this for 15 seconds. Do ‘the eyebrow stretch’ 10 times, twice a day.

Nirvana eyes

What you need to do is lift your eyeballs towards the ceiling. Stretch and raise your eyebrows to touch the ceiling, stretching the eyeballs while simultaneously looking at the ceiling. Holding the above position, slowly close your eyelids shut completely (This might take a bit of practice). Shut your eyelids while enjoying an inner smile. Try to maintain a tranquil expression while doing this. Be happy. Hold this position for 15 seconds. Try doing this stretch twice a day, at least 10 times.

The ‘O’ exercise

Open your mouth wide forming an ‘O’ shape. Fold your lips over the teeth. Tighten this position and hold. Now, smile and keep breathing. Hold for a count of 15 seconds. Repeat the stretch at least 10 times, twice a day.

Jaw firmer

This is a two-part exercise. The first does wonders for firming the jaw and getting rid of a double chin, while the second corrects that horrid turkey neck. All you need to do is sit with your back straight. Grin from ear to ear while letting your head carefully drop backwards. Keeping it there, still grinning, open and close your mouth very slowly three times.  Slowly return to an upright position, relax and repeat twice.

For the second part, sit straight and gently drop your head back. Gently take your bottom set of teeth upwards, as if towards your nose. Hold this position for five seconds. Relax and repeat three times.

The neck toner

This exercise is perfect for firming and toning the jaw and neck; it also helps in releasing tension. Start off by sitting either cross-legged or kneeling. Keep your spine straight. Close your eyes and drop your head gently forwards. Then carefully roll your head to the right, gently and slowly roll it backwards, roll it to the left, then slowly forwards. Make three circles to the right. Follow with three to the left.

The lion stretch

Sit up straight in a kneeling or crossed-legged position. Place your hands on your knees.Inhale deeply, then exhale forcibly and simultaneously stick your tongue out, aiming to curl it over your chin, stretch your hands out wide and open your eyes as wide as possible. Hold for a count of ten, inhale and relax. Repeat it three times. This exercise not only stimulates blood flow to the face, but also tones the face, neck and eye muscles, as well as the skin around eyes.