Giving Your Face A Lift, Naturally

Facial Exercises for Health and Beauty

Like any body part, your face can benefit from regular exercise. By strengthening and firming facial muscles, you can give yourself a natural facelift. The following exercises pull the muscles upward so that the skin looks firm and youthful. And, because facial muscles are small, you'll see improvements quickly.

To get the circulation going, tap lightly from the bridge of your nose upward along your eyebrows and then downward around to your cheekbones. Tap up from the sides of your mouth to each inner eye. Then out from the chin, along the jaw line to each ear. Tap sharply and quickly with the pads of your middle fingers, 20 times in small sections covering the whole face.

You can get your face glowing with an ear massage. Rub your ears in small circles between your index fingers and thumbs. Hold the top rim of your ears and pull upwards. Move down around the rim of the ears pulling gently and massaging. Pull the lobes down slightly and massage for about one minute. Massage all the cervices as well.

Massage your throat by gentle squeezing the skin up and down your throat in gentle circular motions between your thumb and fingers. Firm the jaw line with quick, gentle slaps under the chin. Do this 30 times using the back of your hand.

Face stroking is soothing and relaxing and lifts up your facial muscles. With open palms stoke upwards ten times from your chest to your jaw, alternating hands. Smooth your face with upward from the jaw, over your cheeks and along each side of the nostril. Go gently over the eyes to the forehead. Then go back down the side of the face, repeating five to ten times continuously. Next, with your middle fingers follow the bridge of your nose, out along your eyebrows, down to your cheekbones and back ten times. Then smooth downward from the forehead, holding and pressing lightly for a moment at temples. Go down and come back up along the bridge of the nose. Do this ten times.

To lift the eye area, place the base of your palm, or the pads of your fingertips, against your temples and push upwards. Suck your tongue to the roof of your mouth, making sure to keep your back teeth together. Hold for a count of ten, then slowly release and relax. Work up to a count of 20.

Exercise your mouth and lift lip lines by opening your mouth wide, as if yawning. Pull in the sides of your mouth to form an oval then curve your lips over your teeth. Slowly count to ten, close your mouth leaving you lips 1/2 inch open, feeling an outward pull. Release very slowly.

Cool down by closing your eyes and breathing deeply for a few moments. Just imagine, you're on your way to a more beautiful you in just a few minutes a day!

From DailyOM

60-Second Energy Boosters

It's 4 p.m., and you're wondering how you're going to muster enough get-up-and-go to finish the day. The next time you start crashing, try one of these tips from four of the nation's top spas. Slather yourself with citrus scents. They're said to enhance energy and boost mood, so look for products infused with lemon, lime, or orange essential oils.

Chill Out With Cool Water: Run your hands under cool water for 20 seconds. Then close your eyes and, using the middle finger of each hand, tap each of the following areas five times: between your eyebrows, the tops of your cheekbones, your chin, and the area just under your nose. This stimulates the nerve endings in your face, giving you an all-over pick-me-up.

Step Up to More Energy: Walk or run up two flights of steps (about 20 stairs) twice. Land on every other step on the way up, and hit every step on the way down. It's a great way to get your heart rate and circulation going.

Wash Up to Wake Up: Soak a clean cotton washcloth in water that has been infused with a few drops of lavender or mint, put it in the refrigerator, and let it chill for 10 minutes. Then place the washcloth over your face and breathe deeply.

Feel Like a Million Mints: Brushing your teeth isn't just good for your teeth and gums, it can also pep you up. Keep a toothbrush at the office and brush with a minty toothpaste, followed by a gargle with a minty mouthwash, to stimulate all of your senses

Back Pain?

Poor sitting posture can cause a tremendous amount of neck and shoulder discomfort; it’s also a frequent culprit in headaches. One easy way to start improving your sitting posture is to move back in your chair so that your hips meet the chair’s back. Manyof us, without realizing it, sit near the front edge of the seat and lean forward. If you find it difficult to keep your hips incontact with the chair back, try placing a pillow or rolled towel behind you to support your lower back.

Fitness Tip of the Day

When using your gym’s free weights, it’s important to handle themas mindfully as you do during the exercises themselves. A little carelessness can result in an injury. Here are few common-sensetips:

- Use both hands when lifting weight plates and placingthem on the bar.

- Always bend your elbows and your knees when lifting plates or dumbbells from the floor.

- At the end of yourset, put the weight down gently. (Don’t drop it.)

Fitness Tip of the Day

I have been wanting to learn how to skate. Now that my foot problems is behind me I have decided to start looking for a good pair of in-line skates and learn before another summer has come and gone.

Someone passed the following tip to me and I thought it was such a good one that I would share it with you.

In-line skating can be great cardiovascular activity – and lotsof fun. If you’re just starting to learn, strap on your skates and head straight for…your lawn. Walking with skates on grass or even carpeting is a great way to develop the balance you’ll need when you hit the harder (and faster) pavement.

The Fitness Tip of the Day

A common strength-training mistake is to bend hands back at thewrists when lifting weights. This can result in muscle strain orother wrist injury. To help protect your wrists, keep your handsaligned with your forearms when working with weights. This ruleof thumb pertains both to free weights and to weight machines.

OFFICE ENERGY BOOSTERS

Shortcut moves to wake up your mind

If you're ready for a nap by midafternoon, you're not alone. Half of all women report the energy drain that descends after lunch. Next time, try a quick, easy workout instead of coffee. The following mini-workouts to be quick and office-friendly. Do at least one move from each category.

Stairs. If you're lucky enough to have them in your office, use them—they'll get your heart pumping. Race up them as quickly as you can, then take them two at a time. Walk at a normal pace on the way down.
Jump rope. You don't need the real thing. Close your office door or find a private corner, and try these different jumps for 15 seconds each: Begin with standard jumps, then quick skips (like boxers do), next do the twist, then jump side to side, and finish with jumping around the four corners of an imaginary box. Repeat if you have time.

Chair aerobics: If you can't get away from your desk, quickly pump your arms overhead, then twist at your waist as you punch out across your body, side to side. Follow with several quick toe taps, heel lifts, and a seated jog-lift with your knees. (Slip off your shoes if you're worried about disturbing coworkers.) For a real heart pumper, try punching and jogging at the same time.

Upper-body push/pull: Sit in a chair with wheels, and grip your desk with hands about shoulder-width apart. Fingers should be on top and thumbs underneath. Lift your feet off the floor, tighten your abs, and slowly push away from the desk until you're looking down at the floor with your head between your arms. Then pull yourself slowly in until your belly touches the desk. Repeat 12 to 15 times, taking 3 seconds to push away and 3 to pull in.

Lower-body push/pull: Sit on the edge of a chair with wheels, your feet flat and hands on your thighs. (Depending on the type of shoes and hosiery you're wearing and the floor surface, you may need to remove your shoes.) Lift your toes off the floor, so only your heels are touching. Slowly push back with your heels, letting your chair roll back until your legs are fully extended. Keep your upper body relaxed. Then dig your heels into the floor, and pull your chair forward. Do 12 to 15 times, taking 3 seconds to push back and 3 seconds to pull forward.

Sit-and-pulse: Stand up from your chair, with feet about shoulder-width apart. Keeping your back straight, bend at your knees and hips as though you are sitting down. Don't let your knees move forward beyond your toes. Stop shy of touching your chair, and stand back up. Do this four times. Then squat and hold in the down position. Pulse (going up and down in a short range of motion) three times, then stand back up. Do this six times.
Desk push-up: Standing, place your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart on your desk. Step your feet back until you are in an angled push-up position, arms straight, but not locked. Bending your arms so your elbows point out to the sides, slowly lower your chest toward the desk. Keep your head, back, hips, and legs in line. Hold for 2 seconds, then push back up. Do 12 times.

Push-and-lift: Stand with feet about hip-width apart, knees slightly bent.
• Interlace your fingers, and hold your arms in front of you at shoulder height. Turn your palms away from you and push your arms forward, rounding your upper back to feel a stretch. Hold for 15 seconds, and release.
• Next, place your hands on your lower back just above your hips, fingers pointing down. Gently press your hands into your back, pull your shoulders back and down, and lift your chest, keeping your head level. Hold for 15 seconds.

Chair twist: Sit upright in your chair, with your left leg crossed over your right. Take a deep breath and, as you exhale, gently twist from your waist to the left, looking over your left shoulder. Keep your hips facing forward. Reaching across your body, grab the arm, seat, or back of the chair and gently pull to deepen the stretch. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat to the other side. Stretch two times to each side.

Exercise Benefits You Cannot See in the Mirror

A few weeks ago I had started a new exercise routine...actually...I just added walking everyday to my existing one. I am eager to see results but they are slow in appearing. I just have to stick with it and keep the following tip in mind.

Everyone who starts a fitness program is eager to see results – on the scale, in a favorite outfit, in the mirror. But keep a lookout for benefits that may not be immediately visible. By sticking with an exercise plan, you’ll not only look better; you’ll FEEL better in several ways:

- More energy
- More self-confidence
- Less stress
- Better sleep

And the best part of this all: These less visible benefits ultimately do make you look better too.