As a child, the only poultry neck I’d seen was the one my grandmother put in her simmering chicken soup. Her broth was delicious — especially when the questionable organs were replaced with homemade noodles.
It wasn’t until I was in my 50s and read Nora Ephron’s I Feel Bad About My Neck, that I realized why my friends wore scarves.
One day you wake up, look in the mirror and see your mother’s or grandmother’s sagging jawline. Gravity takes over as we get older. Neck muscles can also weaken because of genetics, smoking, sun damage or unhealthy diets.
“Turkey neck occurs when your neck muscles begin weakening, and your skin loses its elasticity or ability to stretch and stay tight,” Erica Cirino writes in Healthline’s “Can You Treat Turkey Neck?”
Fifty-seven muscles in the face and neck need to be regularly exercised, according to Danielle Collins, founder of the Danielle Collins Face Yoga Method. She has created an exercise program that increases circulation while removing toxins, resulting in healthier, more youthful skin. Her goal is to "look and feel the very best you can at whatever age you are."
Collins is an international yoga, relaxation and Pilates teacher, nutritionist and wellbeing coach who does not advocate fillers or surgery. “The earlier you start the exercises, the less likely you are to see signs of aging and tension in the face,” she claims.
She also recommends these exercises during times of stress to reduce telltale signs that can show up on your face. Unlike surgery or Botox, it’s natural and non-invasive.
Face Yoga is ideally practiced for 20 minutes a day, but any consistent routine, no matter how long, can help. “Go at your own pace,” Collins advises. “It’s never too late to start to strengthen muscles and release tension.”
All you need is a quiet place where you can sit with your feet flat on the floor, lie down or even stand. Drink a glass of water to aid hydration. Clean your hands and apply a facial moisturizer. Face Yoga exercises should be done with a lighter touch than traditional body massage to give your skin better circulation, a smoother and firmer look and a reduction of tension.
Correct posture is important — especially because many of us sit in front of computers in a slouched position. Start by taking in a breath for four counts, then exhaling for six. Bring your shoulders up to your ears, then drop them down several times while breathing out. Lengthen your spine, imagining a line or a string from the body’s center to the top of your head and moving upwards, releasing any tension in your shoulders.