You have probably heard of practicing yoga to reduce stress and improve your fitness. But did you know that you can do yoga to prevent future signs of aging on your face? Facial expressions have been thought to be part of whataccelerates aging, but can exercising those very muscles reduce sagging skin and wrinkles? Many people are now putting yoga to the test for themselves and taking part in facial exercises for skin rejuvenation.

Our face is made up of 50 different muscles and there are various facial expressions we make each day that cause deep creases because we perform them so much without being aware. These facial expressions will slowly start to creep up on us in the form of wrinkles and permanent expression creases years down the road. Instead of opting for surgery once the damage is already done why not try preventative methods instead. Face yoga is putting the very muscles in your face to work against wrinkles instead of promoting them.

By regularly exercising your facial muscles you can ensure they stay firm and tight. This will support your skin and prevent sagging. It is said to even help reduce under eye bags. One of the benefits of exercising your facial muscles is that much needed blood flow is worked to face and this will give your skin a youthful glow as well as prevent aging. Doing face yoga will keep your eyelids and neckline firm and youthful by contouring the skin appropriately.

Here are a couple facial exercises to try for yourself:

• Open your mouth as wide as possible and stick your tongue out as far as you can and hold for a few seconds.
• Using your three center fingers, press down on your cheeks and smile as hard as you can to raise your cheek muscles against your fingers.
• Move your nose as much as you can from side to side.
• Pucker your lips out as far as possible into the shape of an “O.” Then change your expression into a wide smile. Repeat several times.
• Sit in a comfortable chair and look up at the ceiling. Pucker your lips and stick your tongue out as far as possible to exercise your neck muscles.

Face yoga is said to relax your face and ward off those unwanted expressions we make unknowingly. Though many people are starting to do their daily face yoga exercises some are still skeptical. “The earlier you start face yoga, the earlier you’ll get wrinkles,” says cosmetic facial plastic surgeon Jeffrey Spiegel, MD. “You don’t get wrinkles from loss of elasticity in your muscles; you get wrinkles in your skin. And repetitive movement creates creases in the skin. It’s like folding a piece of paper.”

Though plastic surgeons are ripping it apart it might very well be an alternative to anti-aging plastic surgery. But just as you shouldn’t rely on only exercising to get your body healthy likewise you should not just rely on face yoga to keep your face healthy and young. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may ward off wrinkles by boosting your skin’s natural defenses against sun damage, for example. And clearly, drinking enough water is essential for healthy skin,? recommends renowned Dr. Mercola. In addition to adopting a healthy diet try using an anti-aging treatment as well. There are anti-aging treatments that incorporate antioxidants and vitamins from fruits and vegetables to complete your efforts to reverse or prevent aging. Above all just try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and you will be well on your way to aging gracefully.