Just like the body, the face needs regular exercise too, says MEENA SREENIVASAN, who has given us some simple tips.

THERE are 44 muscles in the face and by toning these muscles, your face will look brighter, smoother and younger.

Devoting just 10 minutes a day to a few simple facial exercises will make your face look firm and more youthful. These facial exercises will get rid of wrinkles, reduce those sagging jowels and “turkey” neck.

And they can be performed anywhere, although it might cause a few odd stares if you carry them out in public. This is not just a question of vanity. Strangers usually judge us by our faces, unfair as that may seem.

According to Parveen Nair of Swarupa Yoga, certain facial exercises are practised during yoga to activate the face and improve blood circulation.
“We don’t use our facial muscles as much as the other muscles. Specific facial exercises have great benefits but they also demand continuous practice,” he said.

Here’s a simple “Face Plan” for you to work on.

Exercise One
Pucker your lips tightly, leaving a small hole as though you are about to whistle. Shut your eyes and continue to force your lips forward like you are trying to reach an object in front of you. Hold this position for 20 seconds.

Exercise Two
This exercise involves doing the reverse of the above exercise. Open your eyes wide and raise the eyebrows. Open your mouth as wide as possible, stretching it to its limit and stick out your tongue.

Concentrate on pulling every part of your face away from your mouth. Hold this position for 20 seconds, then repeat Exercises One and Two alternately for two minutes.

Exercise Three
Close your mouth and clench your teeth, then force the corners of your mouth down towards your chin, so that all the muscles in your neck are taut and stand out.

Hold this position whilst keeping the upper part of your face relaxed.

Next, bring the chin muscle upwards, causing the corners of your mouth to contract towards the centre of your face and hold.

Do four very slow movements, then eight fast. This exercise improves the jawline.

Exercise Four
Tilt your head back as if you were looking at the ceiling. Next, place the palm of your right hand in the centre of your forehead.

Try to bring you head back to its normal position whilst resisting with your hand, and imagine someone pushing your head back against your will.

Repeat this exercise six times. This is excellent for your throat and neck.

Exercise Five
Bring your head forward onto your chest and place the palm of your right hand on the back of your head.

Force your head back up whilst resisting with your hand. Repeat this six times initially and then alternate this exercise with exercise 4. These two exercises build up the muscles in your throat and neck.

Exercise Six
Puff out your cheeks, as though your mouth were full of water and purse your lips as tightly as you can. Squeeze your mouth to the size of a pea.

Following this, slap your face with both of your hands for two minutes. This might sound a trite masochistic, but it works wonders.

For maximum effect, the above exercises can be used in conjunction with the 10-minute facial massage below, which concentrates on key points on the face.

These exercises will do as much, if not more for your face than the expensive creams and potions you are using.

The real beauty is that you can practise these exercises while watching television, doing the ironing or undertaking any other task when you are not in public view.

Facial exercise for specific areas

Forehead
To firm up your forehead, place your index fingers just above your eyes and pull down while trying to raise your eyebrows. Repeat 10 times.

Eyes and Crows Feet
This one’s easier said than done. Try raising your lower eyelids without moving your upper ones. Repeat 10 times.

Cheeks
Push your lips out and make a round shape, stretching forward, now smile as wide as possible. Hold for a second and resume the round shape. Repeat 10 times.

Lips
• Suck on your finger as hard as possible and then slowly remove it. Repeat 10 times.

• To get rid of smokers wrinkles: Hide your teeth with your lips and then make a small “O” shape, keeping the lips as tense as possible. Looking at a mirror while you do this will help.

Neck and chin
• Looking straight ahead place the index finger and thumb on your neck and gently pull the skin down as you lift your head. Repeat 10 times.

• Keeping your mouth closed and your teeth together press the tip of your tongue against the bottom of your lower teeth, gradually increasing the pressure to the count of 10, hold for six counts and slowly release.

At the same time, use two fingers at the hollow of your neck as resistance, gently pressing in.

• Jut your lower lip out as far as possibe, place your fingers on your collarbone and point your chin as high as possible and then pull the corners of your mouth down.

• Place your thumb behind the bone just under your chin, press tongue against your lower gums and pretend to touch your tongue to your thumb.

• Tighten your chin muscle as firm as you can by pushing your lower lip up and out as though you are pouting. Tighten as hard as you can so chin turns white and dimpled.

• Begin looking straight ahead with your chin level. Turn your head to the right so that it is at the same angle with your right shoulder and then push your head backwards. Count to eight.

Return head to forward position with chin level. Turn your head to the left and keep it at the same angle as your left shoulder. Push your head back and hold for six to eight seconds. Repeat six times.

The hardest part of these face exercises is keeping them up but try to get into a routine and do them every morning or every evening. You will soon see results and that sagging face will slowly disappear.

Give it a shot. You have nothing to lose except the years!