Yoga has had an increasingly visible presence over the past ten years, but few think of it as a means of fighting aging through specific poses. Surprisingly, they do exist, and one such pose is the Lion Pose.
The Lion Pose, or Simhasana, is designed to address those very problems we all face as we age, including but not limited to sagging of the skin, wrinkles and fine lines. As you will see, nearly every step of the pose serves a purpose in exercising the muscles of the face. However, it’s also a great pose in that it strengthens the lungs, throat and voice.
Simplified by Dr. Shweta Shah, here is the lion pose in ten easy steps:
Kneel down on to the floor. Lean forward slightly and cross the ankles. Let the buttocks sit on the heels.
Place the palms on the knees. Let the arms be fully extended. Spread the fingers wide.
Close the eyes and inhale deeply.
While exhaling. Lean forwards.
Open the jaw as wide as possible and allow the tongue to roll out as far as it can.
Open the eyes and roll the eyeballs up to gaze at the third eye, in between the eyebrows.
Feel the skin on the face spread and get taut.
Make a roaring noise in the back of the throat.
Then, close the eyes, roll the tongue back in, close the mouth and sit quietly.
Relax and steady the breathing.
After you ease into the pose, consider how you are working muscles that you have probably otherwise ignored. The platysma in the throat, a thin rectangular shaped muscle, plays a pivotal role in keeping skin firm, especially around the neck, and every time you strike this particular pose you are stimulating that muscle. The more the muscle contracts the looser the skin around the neck will become, so the Lion Pose works to keep that muscle, and therefore the neck, firm.
Some additional benefits to regular practice of the Simhasa include relief from teeth grinding, tightness of the jaw and sore throat. Once you get into the daily habit of performing the pose you will notice your face looks a lot more vibrant with firmer and fresher skin. It can feel ridiculous at first, but embracing the spirit of the pose will work something close to a wonder in fighting aging.
Simplified by Dr. Shweta Shah, here is the lion pose in ten easy steps:
Kneel down on to the floor. Lean forward slightly and cross the ankles. Let the buttocks sit on the heels.
Place the palms on the knees. Let the arms be fully extended. Spread the fingers wide.
Close the eyes and inhale deeply.
While exhaling. Lean forwards.
Open the jaw as wide as possible and allow the tongue to roll out as far as it can.
Open the eyes and roll the eyeballs up to gaze at the third eye, in between the eyebrows.
Feel the skin on the face spread and get taut.
Make a roaring noise in the back of the throat.
Then, close the eyes, roll the tongue back in, close the mouth and sit quietly.
Relax and steady the breathing.
After you ease into the pose, consider how you are working muscles that you have probably otherwise ignored. The platysma in the throat, a thin rectangular shaped muscle, plays a pivotal role in keeping skin firm, especially around the neck, and every time you strike this particular pose you are stimulating that muscle. The more the muscle contracts the looser the skin around the neck will become, so the Lion Pose works to keep that muscle, and therefore the neck, firm.
Some additional benefits to regular practice of the Simhasa include relief from teeth grinding, tightness of the jaw and sore throat. Once you get into the daily habit of performing the pose you will notice your face looks a lot more vibrant with firmer and fresher skin. It can feel ridiculous at first, but embracing the spirit of the pose will work something close to a wonder in fighting aging.
