by Vanamala Mayr-Reisch
Welcome to the world of face yoga.
You might have always wondered about so-called “smoker lines” or be familiar with this expression. Let’s look at what they are, but more importantly, what you can do to remove them naturally.
Last week, Erica M., a woman in her early fifties, came for a one-on-one face yoga consultation. When I asked her what she wanted to get out of this session, she replied, “I am happy that my face still looks very youthful and my skin is smooth, but I can see all these lines popping up around my mouth. I really don’t know what to do.”
Those pesky wrinkles that form around the mouth are called “Smoker Lines”. Very often, they are vertical and can become more pronounced over time, giving the appearance of prematurely aged skin and making you look much older than you are. It almost seems like the mouth is receding.
Why do you have smoker lines if you don’t smoke?
If you’ve never smoked a day in your life but still find yourself battling smoker lines, you’re not alone. While smoking is a common cause because you repeat the same movement of puckering the lips again and again combined with the toxic tobacco smoke, non-smokers can also develop these lines. Smoker lines also appear through muscle tension around the mouth, bad posture, dehydration, and unwanted habits like pressing the lips together.
Let’s look at the factors that cause you to develop lines around the mouth and what you can do.
Dehydration plays a big role in removing smoker lines. If you are dehydrated, the wrinkles around the mouth deepen, and your cheeks appear hollow and dull. Hydration is one of the most important factors to achieve a toned, radiant complexion. When I forget to drink water, I notice my cheeks get hollow, and I look tired. If I then drink a large amount of water, I can see the cheeks slowly plumbing up within 15-20 minutes.
Water is not only essential for your skin but also for all your vital functions in the body. Drink about 30 ml per kilo body weight.
How does bad posture affect the face?
Curling your shoulders and looking down weakens the chin, mouth, and neck muscles. Slouching affects facial muscles and makes the skin laxer. One of the face yoga exercises that counteracts this process is lifting your breast bone. This face yoga exercise aligns your spine and neck and lifts your chin, mouth, and entire face. (see below)
How do you relax mouth tension?
Stress and anxiety are often the primary factors in developing tension around the mouth. Usually, we don’t notice how much tension we carry around the mouth over long periods. The first sign could be that you feel invisible because no one looks at you. You might believe that it has to do with aging, and because of it, you start feeling insecure.
The truth is that when you look in the mirror, you might find that the corners of your mouth are pulled down or your lips are pressed together. That gives the impression that you want to be left alone.
Many clients are surprised that when they remove tension around the mouth and bring awareness to their unconscious, unwanted habit, they experience a major shift in how people react to them.
Pam K. “My colleagues have been much more friendly towards me since I started to face yoga.”
The first step to remove tension is to catch yourself when you tighten your mouth. Find out when you do it. Is it when you concentrate? Is it when you are in deep thought?
Catch yourself repeatedly, and replace the tension with a gentle smile. 
How does sunlight affect collagen?
The formation of smoker lines can be accelerated by prolonged periods of sun exposure. UV rays can break down collagen and elastin, the two proteins that keep skin firm and smooth. Always protect yourself against the sun with sunscreen and a brimmed hat.
If you want to stimulate your natural production of Vitamin D, then expose yourself to the sun around sunrise and sunset when the sun is not so intense.
The key to youthful, radiant skin lies not in invasive procedures or expensive creams but in the power of smoothing out wrinkles and lifting the face with natural techniques.
How to get rid of smoker lines naturally?
Let’s explore some top tips and exercises to naturally combat and prevent these wrinkles using the power of face yoga:
Cheek Lift
Curl your upper and lower lip over the teeth and press the upper lip against your teeth. Hold this pose for ten seconds and repeat three times.
Facial Massage
Apply moisturizer around your mouth and lips. Using your fingertips, gently massage the area around your mouth in circular motions to stimulate blood flow and promote collagen production. Focus on applying gentle pressure to the most prominent smoker lines.
Big-O
Sit straight, drop your jaw, and create an O-shape with your mouth. Hold for ten seconds and repeat three times.
Breastbone Lift
Sit upright. Place your fingers on your breastbone. Activate the muscles between your shoulder blades and lift your breastbone up. Repeat ten times
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out.
Check out the article “Can You Reverse Aging By Drinking Water?”
Conclusion: While smoker lines may be common, they don’t have to be a permanent fixture on your face. You don’t need fillers or Botox to smoothen your skin. Instead, you can achieve the same effect by incorporating simple yet effective face yoga exercises into your daily routine, staying hydrated, and removing unwanted habits.
Rejuvenate your skin and reclaim a youthful complexion naturally.
Come and join the Power of Smile workshop to learn how to remove smoker lines and find the perfect smile for you. https://faceyogaaustralia.com/the-power-of-a-smile-workshop/