Embracing Natural Beauty with Face Yoga: Shifting Away from the Toxic Anti-Ageing Culture

As if aging and showing it were some kind of crime…

Anti-ageing culture is all around us. I don’t want to add fuel to that fire. But that fire is raging and it’s out of control. What I want is to let people know that there is another way. Maybe that way is a mindset shift. Maybe that way is to show people another way.

Mindset Shift

So consider a mindset shift. For me, I had a huge mindset shift which led me to the decision to stop dyeing my hair. As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s, I watched adverts for hair dye, promising to cover 99% of greys and keep you looking young. And of course the myriad adverts for Oil of Ulay (as it used to be called) and every miracle cream under the sun that had “anti-ageing” properties. As if aging and showing it were some kind of crime…

Personal Experience with Hair Dye: Shifting away from anti-ageing

So when white hairs started popping up at around the age of 17, there was only one option for me. Quick-cover them up. Get a box of dye and don’t look back.

What I didn’t realise was that I was covering up a really cool silver streak. I wish I had let it grow and had this as part of my identity through school, university and beyond. Instead, every few weeks I’d grow increasingly paranoid that the whites were showing, dye it and then feel instant relief that I was looking as society expected once again.

Until one day, about 4 years ago, when I met the mum of one of my daughter’s friends who didn’t dye her hair. She looked striking. Beautiful, unique, and (and this is key) - NOT OLD! She looked “her age” (doesn’t every single person, I don’t like that phrase), but what I am trying to say is that nobody was going to mistake her for her daughter’s Grandma. She looked vibrant, vital, lovely. And something shifted. It was like a huge “ah ha” moment for me. I don’t need to dye my hair.

So I stopped. Then, I started again when my hair had grown about an inch.

Then, I stopped.

And started again at around the inch-and-a-half of regrowth stage.

And then, I bit the bullet and I stopped. That was three and a half years ago.

I am allowed to like the story my face tells, the character that is forming and the way I can express myself without saying a word. That’s OK!

Even yesterday, I was asked whether I’m happy with my hair. I assumed the question was related to my “short” (for me) hair cut. Didn’t even consider the question was around the colour. No regrets, no looking back - none at all.

And that’s just me, my choices. I know others who have done exactly the same thing, then got bored, dyed it again, after all, we have one life, have fun with it, and of course others who love to dye their hair and wouldn’t be without it. But for me, the thought of going back to constant root touch ups, the chemicals in the dye, the mess, the time out of my day; it just doesn’t appeal.

So, going back to my point, perhaps we need a mindset shift. Actually I don’t have to prevent the formation of wrinkles (gasp!). I don’t have to try to hide all evidence of the fact that time is passing (shock!). I am allowed to like the story my face tells, the character that is forming and the way I can express myself without saying a word. That’s OK!

BUT

This feels to me like it is going to be a long battle. Like this is not going to be a quick mindset shift. After all, there is far too much money to be made by huge corporations who hugely profit from providing women with a solution to their manufactured “problems”.

So how about option two - we find another way. OK, so women want to look “younger” or to halt the signs of ageing. The trend seems to be growing towards quick fixes - Botox, fillers, instant results. This is fine if that is your preference, and you like/want the resulting look. But what if you want to keep the movement in your face, and if, like me, you are super cautious about injectables? What if you are worried about something going wrong, or no longer being able to recognise yourself when you look in the mirror?

Discovering Face Yoga

When I found Face Yoga, I just thought I’d give it a try, but I didn’t honestly have any expectations for any kind of actual effects on my looks and I really didn’t know much about it - how it works, IF it works, and any of the science behind it. So let’s consider how Face Yoga is a good alternative for someone still wanting to look like themself, but also wanting to look their most vibrant, vital and radiant self - not the tired, puffy, ashen-faced reflection that many of us notice when we get two minutes to look in the mirror whilst we’re brushing our teeth.

Comparing Quick Fixes and Face Yoga

I want to reduce my frown lines - I look like I am frowning all the time, but I’m not even frowning!

(This was me)

Option 1 - QUICK FIX: Botox in the forehead to prevent frowning, maybe also from raising the eyebrows (they are different muscles, so can be independently targeted).

Option 2 - FACE YOGA: Work the muscles and connected tissues that cover the forehead all the way down to the back of the skull to RELEASE TENSION. Lengthening, stretching and toning these muscles so they are not constantly holding tension. Teaching the body to recognise when we are frowning and prevent the behaviour behind the wrinkles (these frown lines (eleven lines) and a type of wrinkle known as a mimic line, brought on through repeated holding of certain expressions.

I have wrinkles all over my face

Option 1 - QUICK FIX: Filler - fill under the skin, plump the face and the skin will smooth around it.

Option 2 - FACE YOGA: Work the muscles of the face to increase facial muscle volume. We lift, firm and tone the facial muscles, and at the same time we reduce tension. Skin is attached to muscle, so as muscle grows, the skin will smooth around the muscle. Not a quick fix, but sustainable.

I look tired, sallow, grey.

Option 1 - QUICK FIX: Creams, potions, lotions, supplements

Option 2 - FACE YOGA: Lifting, toning and releasing tension in the facial muscles helps to release and boost stalled lymph, remove toxins from the face, neck and skull, boost circulation and boost the natural production of collagen and elastin = radiant glow. Natural, sustainable.

My eyes are starting to look sunken and/or puffy

Option 1 - QUICK FIX: filler in the undereyes (OK I don’t know the term for this procedure) - risk of filler migrating, looking “not quite right/a bit off” 

Option 2 - FACE YOGA: Releasing tension in the masseter muscles can directly impact the under-eye region. The more tension in the jaw, the more lymphatic drainage is stuck. Release the jaw, release the lymph, hello brighter eyes.

I am grinding my teeth - my jaw is starting to look bulky

Option 1 - QUICK FIX: Botox in the masseter muscles. Relax the muscles. Sorted. Risks of using a neurotoxin are always present.

Option 2 - FACE YOGA: Lengthen, stretch and tone the masseter muscle, RELEASING TENSION, boosting circulation and benefitting from all the other effects of Face Yoga - reduced headaches, reduced jaw pain, keep your teeth!

Help - My skin is sagging - I’m starting to get / I have got jowls!

Option 1 - QUICK FIX: A surgical face lift.

Option 2 - FACE YOGA: Lift and tone the muscles beneath the skin, and the skin will follow. Especially as you start to build volume in the cheeks and everything lifts up.

You are ACTIVELY ageing - making the most of your own face and body.

The main difference between (structured, effective) Face Yoga and these quick fixes is that by doing Face Yoga you are only going to benefit yourself, your skin, your facial muscles, even the underlying bone structure of the skull. You are ACTIVELY ageing - making the most of your own face and body. Still looking like yourself, but like your most vibrant, calm and radiant self.

With a quick fix, this is very PASSIVE - you are preventing movement, and the affected muscles will start to weaken, to atrophy. Not to mention the inherent risks involved. When we start to involve filler, sometimes our appearance can change. Subtly and almost imperceptibly, but the brain knows that something about the proportions just isn’t quite right. 

This is absolutely a choice. My concern is that for many, there doesn’t appear to be a choice. Tweakments are fast becoming the norm; the “done thing”, just like for me there was only one option when those white hairs popped up - I went straight to Boots and took action.

So maybe you’re considering Botox or fillers, but maybe now you might stop to think - do I actually NEED to do this? 

Subtly and almost imperceptibly, but the brain knows that something about the proportions just isn’t quite right.

The answer is definitely no. We don’t NEED to do Face Yoga either, but given that it has so many benefits other than simply reducing wrinkles and lines and lifting the face, I would love for you just to give it a try. 

You might be surprised how much it changes things for you - improved sleep, improved vision (yes, really!), fewer headaches, reduced tension, reduced tooth grinding, AND yes, smoother, lifted, more radiant skin.

It is not a quick fix. It does require some commitment - around 5-10 minutes a day. Not every day, but most days. Perhaps you can shave 5 minutes off your daily Instagram scroll and spend that working out your face instead?

If you would like to try it, you can find the link below to one of the most powerful exercises from my Face Yoga programme. It’s called the Total Facelift, and it works ALL of the muscles of the face. Follow along with me in the video - it takes less than 5 minutes - and let me know how you get on.

And if you have any comments on this blog post, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Charlotte x

www.authenticfaceyoga.com/liftmyface