Uplifting yoga

• Facial Yoga Class Series

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Facial yoga instructor Sabrina Stevens assists Judy Vierck with the "half-moon pose," a sort of eye push-up exercise that helps balance the smile, release jaw tension, tone cheeks and increase firmness under your eyelids. Photos by Bruce Asato The Honolulu Advertiser

Even so, Judy Vierck of Makiki swears by facial yoga. "It's actually fabulous," she said, expressing enthusiasm with her whole face, from chin to forehead and cheek to cheek. "I'm kind of blown away by it, to tell you the truth. When I finished the class, friends asked me 'What did you do?' 'Have you lost weight?' 'Did you cut your hair?' "

"It" is facial yoga, Vierck's latest addition to her arsenal against aging. It's certainly less invasive (not to mention less expensive) than Botox injections, expensive creams or a face-lift.

Facial yoga is a series of classes being taught by Sabrina Stevens this month (see below for details) at Kapi'olani Women's Center. It involves facial exercises that comprises yoga breathing, facial massage and resistance toning — from the neck up.

Vierck has been practicing yoga for 15 years, even studying with a yogi in India, so facial yoga seemed a natural extension for her. The breathing came easily, but the muscle control and manipulation took a little longer. After several sessions of facial yoga, Vierck said she had released the (considerable) tension in her jaw.

Pamela Parker of Waikiki, who has been taking Bikram yoga classes for a year and a half, said "The thought of doing yoga for your face makes all the sense in the world. I'm noticing my lips are lifting up now rather than gravity taking them down. I don't use makeup anymore."

The "camel walk" helps sculpt and shape to refine the sides of the chin and the pouches at the sides of the mouth. It can also heighten and contour the cheek.

The "jaw point exerssage" is a form of acupressure pulsing to relax the jaw and stimulate the complexion.

Vierck said the "pouch sculpt exerssage" helps her firm and tone her jowls and get in touch with her yoga breathing techniques.

These phrases were overheard as she taught Class No. 3:

• "The practice of facial yoga will help you get in touch with your outer smile."
• "Tissue breath is oxygenation for the tissues."
• "Dynamic tension can iron out your crooked smile."
• "Lift, flutter, pulse squeeze. Make your face do a Tahitian dance shimmy."
• "Tell your brain to tell your mind to tell your muscles what to do."
• "Your fingers are like one of those French push-up bras — they lift you up and out."
• "Find the head of your mandible and love it."
• "I know at first it feels like trying to turn a huge truck without power steering."
• "Remember your whole body is mirrored in your face and you are energizing all your organs."

Stevens said most of her students choose facial yoga for one or more of the following reasons:

• They have a facial asymmetry they want to correct, such as drooping eyelids or a crooked smile.
• They have sedentary jobs, resulting in stress and tension around the jaw, face and neck.
• They want to avoid or postpone a face-lift.
• They want to tone their facial muscles in preparation for a face-lift so recovery will be faster.
• They suffer from TMJ (temporomandibular joint) or extreme jaw tension.
• They want to reduce or avoid wrinkles because of sagging muscles.

A life-changing attack

Stevens first became interested in facial toning when, in 1978, an unknown assailant stabbed her in the face several times. During the nine-month recovery period after plastic surgery and massive dental work, a dentist gave her a book published in 1917 that dealt with facial exercises to regain muscle function.

Stevens has worked in massage therapy for 14 years, apprenticing with two kupuna (elders), Mornah Simeona and Nana Veary, who practice lomilomi, Hawaiian massage. She has also been a yoga practitioner for many years.

"I believe jaw tension is the biggest cause of aging," Stevens said. With facial yoga, she and her students attack that problem head- on, massaging, exercising, breathing and even meditating it into submission.

To supplement the classes and continue the practice of facial yoga, Stevens has developed a series of audio and videotapes. They can be purchased online (see below) or during the classes.

Vierck works with the tapes at home. The result? "Now I can find those pesky muscles. I can't always move them in the way I would like to develop, but at least I can find them. It's body awareness and there are so many layers to my body. I'll keep up with it because I do want to achieve the same level of awareness in my face as in my body," Vierck explained.

Besides, she likes all the compliments she's getting from friends and family.

Facial Yoga Class Series

$90 for series

Information and registration: 973-3044 or "Call a Nurse" at 535-7000

Class 1

• 10:15 -11:05 a.m. Saturday
• Exercise and learn exercises to reduce lip lines, firm cheeks, tone under eyelids, balance a crooked smile, create fuller lips and define lips.

Class 2

• 11:15 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Saturday
• Tone skin and muscle on front of neck, release back of neck tension, refine chin and jaw line, firm cheek muscles and reduce sinus congestion.

Class 3

• 10:15-11:05 a.m. Nov. 15
• Release tension in jaw and back of neck, firm cheeks, tighten skin on sides of front of neck.

Class 4

• 11:15 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Nov. 15
• Reshape upper and lower eyelids, reduce jaw tension.

Class 5

• 10:15-11:05 a.m. Nov. 22
• Tone upper eyelids and reduce frown lines, tone loose skin on front of neck.

Class 6

• 11:15 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Nov. 22
• Heighten cheek contours, reduce jowls and relax forehead lines.