The Face Yoga Chick's 10 commandments
“that’s the beautiful thing about self-love
you wear it like a dress and it becomes more and more
exquisite
with time”
Kick-start the new YOU the Face yogi way. BUT— Before we start, step up to your mirror and say:
“I love myself. There is just one of me. I can be whatever I decide to be” Boom.
Now that your fierce mode is engaged let’s vibrate on that frequency:)))
I AM- Hot Water
First thing in the morning, last thing before bed and if you want to see dramatic changes in your face – all dayyyyy. In fact many cultures agree about the benefits of hot water. It’s helps with digestion. Flushes and detoxes your system. Your daily bathroom business improves dramatically (better than any Prune juice). It invigorates and gives you a slow-release-consistent-energy boost. If you drink a lot of coffee try replacing some cups with hot water and see how you feel. You can add lemons, and herbs to it if you don’t like the plain taste. (No lemons before going to sleep - your teeth don’t like it:))
My hot water is P E R S O N A L. When I bought my thermos, so I could have hot water on the go and at all times, I whispered:”You are my new best friend. You’ve got my back and I will sip at the fountain of youth with delight.” And it feels GOOD. Extra tip: Fill your thermos the night before, when you wake up your hot water is drink-ready.
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2. I AM- Awareness
Bring awreness to your daily habits. How are they affecting your physical/ emotional wellbeing? Are you crossing your feet? Chewing always on the same side? Placing that phone between your ear and shoulder? Carrying the bag on the same shoulder?
Stalk those habits like a private detective and examine them. I like to keep a journal to keep up with my discoveries. It’s also very effective to consult your notes after some time:))). Fascial asymmetry is directly linked to your posture. Posture is created by your daily habits and mindset.
3. I AM- Glasses, Hat, Sunscreen: As a Cali Girl, I love the sun and the outdoors. But for your skin’s sake the sun with it’s UV light, is one of the main culprit in skin damage- and for the most part AVOIDABLE. In fact nothing breaks your collagen down like sun exposure. And that’s a big no-no. Putting some thought into your sun protection, goes a long way regarding the skin game. (I’ve seen people wrapped up like a mummy and holding an umbrella to protect their skin- they might look crazy but their skin is gorgeous). A dermatologist once told me- No matter the season, rain or shine that sunscreen is coming on. And many moisturizers and foundations will already have them included. But, remember you need to re-apply throughout the day. I like a mineral powder sunscreen, that I can apply over my make up several times a day. Without even a mirror needed. Sunglasses aren’t just fabulous but do wonders for those pesky crow’s feet lines around the eyes. Which are often formed by squinting (and laughing, but we love that). Make sure the tint on your glasses is not too dark though, as the glass does not block 100% of the rays. Consider a tint that allows the person in front of you, to still see your eyes. This prevents your iris from opening too wide. Last but in no way less important: The hat. In my neighborhood they call me Virgina slim with the brim lol!! I’m down with that. I have a hat, cap, visor etc for every mood and occasion. I keep a selection in the car. Also since I am not a natural blond (lol) my hair loves the protection from the sun rays.
4. I AM- Headphones. Prevent bad posture by always using headphones. No phone-between the-neck-and-ear-asana. Instead of texting – use the record text option. Long conversations? Either put it on speaker or get the earphones ready. Great benefit- you can do some face yoga exercises while you’re on the call. Boom!!
5. I AM- what I think: How you feel shows up on your face. A positive mind can move mountains - so does lifting the corners of your mouth with face yoga:))). It is hard to feel down when you are smiling - try it- your muscles will trick your brain into feeling better. Most of us are great in reminding our friends to have a positive outlook. But much like flight attendants remind us, to put the mask on ourselves first, when there is a loss of cabin pressure- you can only help others when you are in a position to do so.
Your thoughts are your own responsibility. And choosing to focus on the positive end of the stick instead of the negative might take some practice but each time you do, it just feels better. I love listening to Abrahm/Hicks, affirmations I find on youtube, a good book even art- anything that challenges my habitual and often stuck mindset. When my perspective expands- oh it puts a fire in my heart. Let’s light ‘em up face yogis!!
6. I AM -what I eat: What you eat shows up on your skin. I once had a yoga teacher, who questioned the sense of eating a Christmas turkey. He said if you are what you eat - why would you eat a bird that doesn’t fly. Don’t you want to fly? Just to clarify I’m not a vegan- although I was for a number of years. We are all different and this is between you and you. BUT- quality and origin of the food does make a difference. Experiment with a seasonal approach to food, or cooking your food from scratch. There is a reason great chefs are considered artists- Let’s get them carrot crayons out and throw them in the juicer!! In some cultures food is medicine and its pretty amazing what we have easily access to in our kitchen cabinets. How about checking out some bio hackers like Tim Ferris, or Dave Asprey form the bulletproof coffee. It’s fun to find new flavors, ideas or simplify. My favorite thing about food? I can share it with my friends.
7. I AM- what goes on my skin: The skin is your largest organ. Think about that for a moment. What goes on your skin will be injested into your system. I remember watching an Agatha Christie movie, where the victim was poisoned with her face cream- yep. Now that’s cold. Point being, it’s worth while to consider what you put on your face. More expensive is not always better. And for some, all natural isn’t good either (I once broke out in hives after the make up artist sprayed me with an organic mist). Do your own research:))). My mum would pamper herself with some crazy concoctions- today I wish I could get her to tell me the recipes lol!!! And of course you can always make your own skin creams. ( We’ll cover that in another blog:))). Tip: the quickest skin fix- drink drink drink water. If I have less than 24 hours for an event, you’ll see putting a camel to shame.
8. I AM- good sleep: Quality and quantity are equally important when it comes to your shut eye. This topic deserves it’s own blog article (and it’s coming:)). BUT as a Face Yogi, we also want to minimize any wrinkles as we sleep. So, we aim to sleep on our back. If this is hard and you are a side-sleeper, make sure you switch up the sides. Sleeping on the same side every night plays into a-symmetry of your features. Use a satin or silk pillowcase. This prevents the pesky pillow lines in the morning that can be hard to get rid off (if you have random vertical lines on the upper face take not:)) AND- your hair and skin will thank you for it. For the best sleep, try to unplug 2 hours before bedtime, make the bedroom a destination spot- you only go there to sleep and that other fun thing- wink wink!!. Try to keep around the same bedtime. Bring awareness to how coffee and alcohol might affect the quality of your sleep. I tend not to eat after 6pm. That does wonders for me. There are also some super cool gadgets out there. Like the Oura-Ring. (you put it on your finger and it tracks you 24/7, so you can build an accurate, insightful baseline of information about your bio-rhythm and yourself, from which you and make improvements.)- Check out a guest blog entry about the Oura -ring coming soon- it’s some awesome stuff. And one important point: Remember when your parents said not to go to bed angry? It’s really true. Make peace with the world and sleep the sleep of the just.
9. I AM- Meditation: Meditation has been mentioned as one of the top 3 habits of successful people. Some people find it challenging to sit in silence and think of nothing. Not to worry. Walking in nature can be a meditation, working out in the gym- might be your form of meditation. Yet, there is something to be told about taking 15min a day and just sit with yourself. I heard somebody once say about meditation, that it’s not so much about silencing the thoughts in your head but to connect to an inner peace, source, universe, God (fill in the word that works for you) so that you can hear your inner voice of intuition much clearer. There are some great apps like Sam Harris meditation app or I love checking out youtube for theta wave- meditations. Get your Zen on and see how your focus becomes a laser beam. Also- expect miracles:))
10. I AM- taking a nap(preferably with a pet): One of my acting coaches would always say a change is as good as a holiday. I think that holds true for naps- especially with your pets lol! It enables you to hit the re-set button in the middle of a challenging day. Hanging with your furry friend, can take your mind off things. It can make you feel grateful for their unconditional love and how happy they are- you must be doing something right. Right? :)))
You are- anything you want to be. No matter your age- remember that.
Fierce in Love
Marem
