BLOG 18: 5 FIRMING FACE YOGA MOVES TO DO BEFORE BED

Do you have trouble falling asleep at night? People the world over are not enjoying the same amount of sleep as they did a few decades ago. In 1942, the average amount of sleep per night was 8 hours, now it is only 6.8 hours. We are busier, more stressed, and many of us feel like we don’t have time for sleep.

Sleep, however, is vitally important for good health, both inside and out. It is also so important for our glowing, youthful skin.

But how can you relax and enjoy a better night’s sleep? A few simple Face Yoga moves as part of your bedtime routine is a perfect way to wind down, offer some stress relief, and help prepare the body for sleep. 

Check out how to do 5 moves from the Danielle Collins Face Yoga method right here!

SET THE MOOD

Get ready by first thoroughly cleaning your face and hands. Apply a bit of the nourishing Fusion by Danielle Collins face serum or any facial product you like. 

Find a comfortable place to sit, either on your bed or in a comfy chair, wherever you feel best. 

To help set the atmosphere, turn down the lights and you can even light a candle if you like. Once you’re comfortable, it’s time to begin. 

1. GENTLE BREATHS

Begin releasing the tension from your face and neck with a simple breathing exercise. 

STEP ONE:

Close the eyes and focus on your breath. Inhale and exhale deeply, allowing the abdomen to rise and fall with the movement of the breath. 

STEP TWO:

Go through each part of the face, consciously relaxing each area.

2. INNER CORNER OF THE EYE

This exercise makes use of a famous acupressure point located in the inner corner of the eye. It appears in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda as an excellent point for helping people get to sleep. It is also very calming to use throughout the day as needed. 

If you tend to spend a lot of time on your laptop, phone, or other electronic devices, this is a great trick for reducing eyestrain and stimulating the energy around the eyes.

STEP ONE:

Place both index fingers on either side of the nose directly next to the corner of the inner eye.

STEP TWO:

Gently massage in a circular motion. 

3. RELEASE THE UPPER FACE

Now it’s time to relax your whole upper face to lift eyebrows and open the overall face. Releasing this tension will help avoid droopy eyes and forehead lines in the morning. 

STEP ONE:

Place your open palms on your forehead with the bottom of your palms aligning with the outer corner of your eyebrows. 

STEP TWO:

Gently pull the eyebrows slightly away from each other and slightly upwards. Be sure to only lift the area directly at the outer edge of your eyebrows otherwise you’ll create horizontal lines on the forehead.

STEP THREE:

Open up the eyes as wide as possible.

STEP FOUR:

Hold this position and focus on your breathing — in through your nose, out through your nose.

4. FINGERTIP TAP

If you’ve applied Fusion by Danielle Collins or another nourishing facial product, this move helps get the most benefit from the product. It helps the product to further penetrate the dermis to nourish the collagen in your skin. This helps plump and firm your skin.

STEP ONE:

Beginning at the forehead, working all the way down the face, quickly and gently tap with the fingertips.

STEP TWO:

If it feels comfortable, tilt your head back and continue tapping up and down your neck to help release tension in the neck and shoulders. If it feels nice, you can spend a couple of minutes doing this.

5. WARM ENERGY

Now it’s time to build up some energy (qi, chi, prana) and use it to relax the entire face.

STEP ONE:

Rub your hands together vigorously to build energy between the palms.

STEP TWO:

Place the palms over your face. You can either hold them a few centimetres away or allow them to rest gently on your face. 

STEP THREE:

Feel the heat from the energy in your palms and allow it to penetrate and relax the face muscles. Again, focus on your breathing as you allow the tension to drain away.

WINDING DOWN WITH FACE YOGA BEFORE BED

Once you’ve finished these simple but effective facial exercises, keep your eyes closed as you bring your hands down. In your mind, repeat 3 times the affirmation, “I am calm, healthy, and glowing.” 

That’s it! You’ve finished an easy bedtime set of facial yoga that will help relax you for the night. Now you can simply blow out your candle and go to bed feeling a bit of stress relief. Not only will it help you to sleep more deeply and get more benefit from your sleep, but also you will enjoy waking up with a fresher face and healthier skin each morning. 

Interested in learning more about the Danielle Collins face yoga method? Check out my YouTube channel for effective facial exercises for every occasion.