When it comes to headshots, preparing your face is as important as choosing the right outfit or background. Face yoga is a simple and non-invasive way to prep your face for a great headshot.
Yes — face yoga.
There are over 40 muscles in your face, and like working your body muscles at the gym, our facial muscles benefit from movement as well. Face yoga is a series of exercises and stretches that target and tone facial muscles to define your natural features, giving you a fresher appearance.
Suzie Heiam is a face yoga enthusiast based in Minneapolis.
Suzie Heiam, a Minneapolis face yoga specialist with The Lift Within who is currently working on her Face Yoga Method teaching certification, suggests daily 5-10 minute workouts for best results. Regular practice can lead to a more youthful and refreshed look for your headshots in several ways.
Face Yoga Method photo provided by Suzie Heiam of The LIft Within
Released Tension
As with any workout routine, it’s important to warm up your muscles. Face yoga warm-up exercises can release the tension we unknowingly hold in the tongue, jaw and shoulders, resulting in a more relaxed appearance.
Improved Circulation
Several face yoga techniques increase blood flow to the face, such as tapping and breathing exercises which deliver oxygen to your skin cells to brighten your complexion.
Lymphatic Drainage
Many warm-up exercises include facial massage and acupressure points which can help increase lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness.
Face Yoga Method photo provided by Suzie Heiam of The LIft Within
Muscle Memory
Through building awareness of how you move your face, you can correct your face posture to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by strengthening facial muscles to lift and sculpt.
“Though results vary, you’ll see a brighter complexion in as soon as three weeks with increased blood flow to the face with certain exercises,” Suzie explains. “Fine lines and wrinkles can be reduced in 4-6 weeks with daily practice. Transformation takes time, but you’ll definitely see results with the Relax, Release and Retrain methodology. It’s pretty amazing — and all natural!”
Photograghers use lighting, angles, and composition to create flattering headshots, but nothing replaces natural confidence that comes from feeling good in your own skin. The next time you update your headshot, give face yoga a try.
To learn more about face yoga, contact Suzie at suzie@theliftwithin.com.