Facial Fitness
Lisa Gotto
July 3, 2020
Try Empress Wu’s Routine
Empress Wu practiced each of these exercises twice daily and did 5 repetitions each.
If you can include a session of gentle facial massage after this practice, all the better.
Ooh, La La…
In 1710, one of the first books ever published on the subject of facial exercise and rejuvenation through various means was written by a woman named Jeanne Sauval, who was a ladies maid to the famous French courtesan, Ninon de L’Enclos. L’Enclos, an influential woman of her time and French author, was known for her beauty and produced many of her own writings on this subject and others.
​
In particular, the work of Sauval contained several simple methods for the prevention of wrinkles and a practice to strengthen the muscles of the throat that L’Enclos swore by.
Lisa Gotto
July 3, 2020
Try Empress Wu’s Routine
Empress Wu practiced each of these exercises twice daily and did 5 repetitions each.
If you can include a session of gentle facial massage after this practice, all the better.
Ooh, La La…
In 1710, one of the first books ever published on the subject of facial exercise and rejuvenation through various means was written by a woman named Jeanne Sauval, who was a ladies maid to the famous French courtesan, Ninon de L’Enclos. L’Enclos, an influential woman of her time and French author, was known for her beauty and produced many of her own writings on this subject and others.
​
In particular, the work of Sauval contained several simple methods for the prevention of wrinkles and a practice to strengthen the muscles of the throat that L’Enclos swore by.
1.
Raise your eyebrows as high as you can and hold for a few seconds. This will create a scrunching of the forehead. Then relax the muscles and repeat 4 more times.
2.
Using the muscles of your upper lip, move your nose from side to side. Repeat 4 times.
3.
Inflate your cheeks with air as fully as you are able. Release with a thorough exhale. Repeat 4 times.
4.
Open your mouth as wide as you can to create a vertical oval. Follow by sticking out your tongue a far as it can go. Hold the position for 5 seconds, release and then repeat process 4 more times.
1.
Raise your eyebrows as high as you can and hold for a few seconds. This will create a scrunching of the forehead. Then relax the muscles and repeat 4 more times.
2.
Using the muscles of your upper lip, move your nose from side to side. Repeat 4 times.
3.
Inflate your cheeks with air as fully as you are able. Release with a thorough exhale. Repeat 4 times.
4.
Open your mouth as wide as you can to create a vertical oval. Follow by sticking out your tongue a far as it can go. Hold the position for 5 seconds, release and then repeat process 4 more times.