Author: Nisha Paraman

How to practice face yoga creatively for anti ageing. 

Let’s make face yoga more art induced  to practice it  for 5 minutes everyday to keep face fat away.We can connect  Face yoga with Navarasa than Yoga. Because when we express Navarasa, more muscles are moving than  face yoga. Watch Kathakali more carefully.  We are going to do  a kind of solo acting workshop in front of the mirror this time. It’s just about waking up small facial muscles from a long sleep. Maybe it only moved when you cried for your favorite ice cream in your childhood or in a constipation crisis in the toilet.

 There are no standard facial postures or  asanas and names for facial yoga exercises. Every self-assured Yoga therapist names it as they want. You can familiarize with the concept in the link  if you are completely new to face yoga. Let us try some popular facial experiments.

I  have included face yoga in my daily workshops and people enjoy it. Suddenly the yoga floor looks like a theater workshop. There is much to explore about Yoga theater where people can find their own yogic freedom. Here, I write about some of my floor favorites and you can improvise it. Only one rule; muscles have to move, continuously, everyday. The entire anti-aging movement regime is a 24/7 obsession. You cannot make it if you fake it. This is real. Names made for an international audience.

Awful Awful Milkshake: Quenching the Thirst of the Skin

The first exercise, whimsically named the “Awful Awful Milkshake,” takes me by surprise. With a slight smile, I pucker my lips into a straw-like shape and begin a series of exaggerated sipping motions. As I do so, I feel the muscles around my mouth and cheeks come alive. It’s as if I’m quenching the thirst of my skin, reviving it from the inside out. The exercise, which seems peculiar at first, is a reminder that beauty and self-care often take unexpected forms.

Alleged Cheek Lifters: Sculpting and Toning

Next on my face yoga journey are the “Alleged Cheek Lifters.” Placing my fingers gently on my cheeks, I lift them upwards while resisting with my facial muscles. It’s akin to a silent conversation between my fingertips and my skin, a subtle dialogue of sculpting and toning. With each lift, I envision a sense of upliftment not just in my cheeks but in my spirit too. As I hold the pose, I find myself embracing a sense of empowerment that radiates from within.

Eyebrow Firmer: Elevating Confidence

The “Eyebrow Firmer” exercise brings my focus to the windows of my soul. Placing my fingers just above my brows, I gently push them upwards, allowing my forehead muscles to engage. It’s a simple yet powerful movement, as if I’m elevating not just my eyebrows but my confidence too. With every repetition, I’m reminded that my expressions are a reflection of my emotions, and by nurturing my facial muscles, I’m nurturing my emotional well-being.

Sculpted Smile: Embracing Joy

One of the most delightful exercises in my face yoga routine is the “Sculpted Smile.” With a beaming grin, I form an “O” shape with my mouth while keeping my teeth concealed. As I hold this pose, I can’t help but feel a surge of joy bubbling up from within. It’s as if I’ve unlocked a secret reservoir of happiness that was patiently waiting for my attention. This exercise reminds me that beauty is not just about appearances; it’s about the genuine warmth that radiates from a heartfelt smile.

The Journey Continues: A Radiant Reflection

As I conclude my face yoga session, I take a moment to appreciate the vibrant energy that now courses through my facial muscles. My reflection feels like a familiar friend, reacquainted and reinvigorated. The exercises, each with its unique charm, have left an indelible mark on my journey of self-discovery and self-care.

My experience with face yoga has shown me that beauty is a holistic and deeply personal journey. It’s not just about the lines and contours on our faces, but the stories they tell and the emotions they convey. With each exercise, I’ve learned to nurture not only my skin but also my spirit, embracing the art of self-love one gentle movement at a time. And so, I continue on this path, sculpting not just my physical appearance, but also the radiant reflection of my innermost self.

For those who feel jealous when others snore brutally in your long nights.

Talking about sleep is always painful. Because only sleepless people talk sleep. Others snore.Here are 8 things I do to help me fall back asleep:

1. Avoid Checking the Clock: When I’m tossing and turning, I resist the urge to look at the time. Checking the clock can make me more anxious and awake. So, I keep the clock out of sight and avoid using my phone.
2. Relaxation Exercises: I’ve learned a few relaxation techniques that help calm my mind. One is where I tense and then relax each muscle group, starting from my toes and working up to my forehead. Another is a breathing exercise where I inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7 counts, and exhale for 8 counts.
3. Visualisation: Instead of obsessing over falling asleep, I distract my mind by visualising something calming, like a peaceful beach or a favourite place.
4. Sleepcasts: I sometimes listen to sleepcasts, which are like guided stories designed to help me relax and drift off to sleep.
5. Write Down Worries: If worries keep me awake, I jot them down on paper. This clears my mind and helps me let go.
6. Listen to Music: Soft music with a slow rhythm helps me relax. I stick to something familiar and soothing, like classical music.
7. Meditation: A short meditation before bed can create a buffer between my busy day and sleep. I focus on my breathing and let go of thoughts.
8. Change of Environment: If I can’t sleep after 15-20 minutes, I get out of bed and do something relaxing in another room, like reading or taking a warm bath.

The key is not to force sleep but to create a calm environment that encourages it. Remember, falling asleep should feel effortless. It’s all about finding what works best for me and allowing my body to naturally drift into sleep.

Season signals celebration. But the new billboard for winter is ‘PRONE TO DEPRESSION’. The colder the darker days? And They nailed it by naming it ; Seasonal affective disorder-SAD.

SAD — a type of depression that occurs with the changing of the seasons — can affect a comparatively lower number of people . It highly  depends on where they live. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about seasonal affective disorder, with answers from experts in mental health.

What exactly is seasonal affective disorder?

“One big, common misconception about SAD is that it’s just the ‘winter blues,’” said  John K, a professor of psychology from a prestigious mental health institution in Bangalore. When the days get dim, colder and the holidays are closer , it’s not unusual to experience temporary feelings of tiredness or stress. But seasonal affective disorder is much more serious — a form of clinical depression, Dr. John said — with symptoms that can last longer, and that come and go with the seasons. 

Signs

Mostly SAD has a winter pattern where signs begin in late fall or early winter and go away when season changes. The disorder is much more common in women globally.

“People may not appreciate how severely someone who has SAD is affected,” said Karuna Patel, a therapist who has talked to people who have faced SAD  . For some people, she added, “their life just shuts down for half the year.”

What causes SAD?

Experts don’t know exactly why this happens.

Most recent theory says the body produces melatonin at night, a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness which helps to sleep. When the levels of this ‘sleeping hormoe’  taper off as sunrise approaches, that helps people wake up. But if you have SAD, melatonin peaks later and lingers for longer into the morning, making it harder to wake up and leaving you fatigued. Because you don’t reach peak wakefulness until later in the day, it’s harder to fall asleep once evening comes — perpetuating a cycle of insomnia, inadequate sleep and fatigue, and more depressive symptoms.

There are  some evidence that the negative anticipation of shorter days — thinking, for instance, “I just don’t function well in the winter” or “I’m going to start feeling poorly soon,” Experts said — can combine with biological effects to create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

What are the best ways to manage seasonal depression?

The good news, experts say, is that there are several evidence-backed ways to find relief.

Bright light therapy

It is a popular treatment among Sad affected people in America. The idea is to illuminate indoors with lights equivalent to a bright summer morning. This should stimulate your body to produce the right hormones to increase your wakefulness and alertness to get you through the day.

If you think you have seasonal affective disorder, consult with a therapist or psychiatrist before deciding on a treatment plan. They can offer guidance on the best plan for you — and if it involves bright light therapy, they can teach you how to do it properly.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (C.B.T.)

If you say things like, “I hate winter” during a session, she said, the therapist will try to reposition those negative thoughts. Cognitive behavioural therapy for SAD involves retraining your negative associations with darker months, it is the only treatment that could have long term benefits after doing it just once, 

A dose of the outdoors

Simply going outside can also help boost your mood. Even if it looks a little grey, the quality of light on a winter morning will be better than what you can get in your home. And an excursion will most likely boost your mental health too. 

You can share your outdoor experiences and places in the comment session to help people who need a dose of the outdoors for their potential SAD or sadness.