What fitness routine do you have scheduled for today? You’ve heard me say that your commitment to honoring a fun and engaging exercise program is your conscious decision, expressing love and compassion for yourself as you continue your life journey.
But for a move-more plan to work, it must be sustainable, and sustainable plans usually rely on enjoyment and value. Today, I want to share a type of exercise that may help to improve your outward expression and appearance. No need to grab your dumbbells or slip into your walking shoes right now. In fact, all I want you to do is get a mirror and relax in a comfortable chair. We are going to have fun activating our facial and neck muscles.
Did you know there are 43 muscles in the face and 26 in the neck? These are important muscles that don’t receive a lot of attention. And this is the area where people’s eyes are always focused when you’re engaged in conversation. Working these muscles can help improve skin texture, elasticity and delay the aging process. As you know, the neck cooperates with other important structures in the upper chest, shoulders and head. So I want to focus your attention on seven simple movements to help keep your facial muscles toned and your neck strong and flexible.
Your Daily Face And Neck Lift Operations
Look at yourself in the mirror, and laugh out loud while executing these exercises. Poet and novelist, Victor Hugo said, “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”
• Flutter and wink your eyes. Now pull your eyes to each corner and hold for a few seconds.
• Blow out your cheeks as if two small peaches are inside your mouth. My dentist recommended that I blow out my jaws every day to avoid biting the inside of my cheeks. A fun exercise that really works.
• Quickly raise and lower your eyebrows and forehead. Can you feel that in your ears and nose, too?
• To reduce the appearance of fine lines around your mouth and improve your smile, vibrate and pulse your lips. Then run your tongue along the inside top of your mouth. Do the same along the bottom. Now pucker up.
• Display your teeth! Smile your way to a more youthful appearance! If you only display your pearly whites during your dental hygiene routine, laughing and smiling throughout the day will give them more exposure.
• Make silly and distorted faces, while keeping one hand on your neck. Did you notice how your neck muscles are also activated? Laughing and smiling can help tone your face and neck muscles, and improve your overall well-being. There’s some truth to the old adage, “Laughter is the best medicine.”
• Stretch your neck. Pull your chin down, lift your face to look at the ladybug crawling on the ceiling, and then back to center. Turn your head to the left, center, then to the right, and back to center. Gently lower your neck to one shoulder, center, then the other side and back to center. Did you feel the stretch? Do this sequence three times.
“A smile is like an instant facelift and an instant mood lift.” — Christie Brinkley
Can you think of more movements? Hopefully, this sequence has aroused your imagination and caused you to chuckle at your twisted expressions.
Keep your facial muscles toned by incorporating face-lifting exercises into your daily fitness plan. Prevention is key. The sooner you start, the better. If you forget, consider practicing the listed movements during your weekly commute or while sitting in traffic. Just make sure the other passengers and drivers are looking, when you make those silly faces. You’re sure to get a facial response — hopefully, a smile.
Consider This
Research shows that smiling and laughing lowers your stress levels, improves your mood, helps build better relationships, enhances your appearance, and elevates your spirit. If smiling and laughing are this beneficial for your overall health and well-being, why not lift your face and heart more often?
Four Steps to Nourish, Transform and Flourish
• Set a loving intention to exercise your face and neck muscles.
• Begin by following the examples in this post, and then creating some of your own movements.
• How will engaging your face and neck muscles help to keep them strong and toned?
• Close your eyes and visualize how this lifestyle change can prepare you for your amazing second half.
Need help designing a personal fitness routine specifically for your needs?
It can be challenging to maintain momentum on your own. My Sprout Your New Life™ course will give you the tools and the strong spiritual foundation to make lasting change in your life. Click here for more.
In love, peace and health--
Your feminine glow guide,
T. Kari Mitchell, M.Ed.
Motivational Speaker
Certified Holistic Health Coach
Lifestyle120.com
When your spirit is nourished, your inner light produces an outer glow reflecting your beauty and truth.