How to do Cow Face Yoga Poses

Gomukhasana, or cow face yoga asana, is one of the popular yoga poses. It can effectively stretch the muscles of the shoulders, chest, buttocks and legs, promote facelift and improve problems such as facial asymmetry.

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What is Cow Face Yoga Pose?

Gomukhasana means cow face pose in Sanskrit (go - cow, mukha - face, asana - pose). In this pose, the legs are folded up like the shape of a cow's mouth; the elbows form the shape of a cow's ears. That is why it is called cow face yoga.

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This pose allows you many opportunities to explore the symmetry of your body. As you cross one knee over the other, notice how different it feels to have your right knee crossed over your left knee versus your left knee crossed over your right knee. Similarly, the position of your arms will immediately tell you if one shoulder is tighter than the other.

Is the cow face pose effective for a facelift?

Cow Face Yoga promotes blood circulation throughout the body, allowing more blood and oxygen to flow to the face. Combined with facial yoga exercises, it can effectively promote detoxification and will have a significant effect on lifting the face.

Prolonged desk work often makes the shoulder and neck muscles tight and the poor blood circulation. The cow face pose can stretch these muscles and relieve the aches and pains, thus reducing the tension and pressure on the face, improving the facial asymmetry and helping to reduce the production of facial wrinkles.

Facial sagging is mainly the result of improper body posture and unhealthy lifestyles. Practicing the cow face pose can enhance your overall posture, correct your standing posture, and further prevent facial sagging.

When to do it?

Early morning is the prime time to do yoga. If morning is unavailable, try it at night or 4 hours after every meal.

How to practice the cow face pose correctly?

Start in a Seated Position:

Sit with your legs extended straight out in front of you.

Cross Your Legs:

Bend your knees and stack your right knee directly on top of your left knee.
Your feet should be close to your hips, with your right foot to the left of your left hip and your left foot to the right of your right hip.

Adjust Your Seat:

Sit evenly on your sitting bones. If your hips are tight, you can sit on a folded blanket to make the pose more comfortable.

Arm Positioning:

Raise your right arm towards the ceiling, then bend your elbow and let your hand drop down your back.
Bring your left arm out to the side and bend your elbow, reaching your left hand up your back to clasp your right hand.
If your hands don't reach each other, use a yoga strap or a towel to bridge the gap.

Lengthen Your Spine:

Sit up tall and lengthen your spine. Try to keep your head and neck aligned with your spine.

Hold the Pose:

Hold the pose for several breaths, feeling the stretch in your shoulders, chest, and hips.

Release and Switch Sides:

Release the pose and switch the crossing of your legs and the position of your arms, repeating the steps on the opposite side.

It is easier to do the pose with the aid of tools like an elastic band at the beginning. If as a novice you are unable to do any of the poses, do not force your hands to stretch forward or backward. Yoga requires patience to practice for a long time, stretch your muscles slowly and gradually you will be able to do the standard poses.

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Combining Face Yoga

To further enhance the effects of a facelift, you can combine it with some facial yoga exercises:

Facial lifting exercises:

Do some simple face lifting exercises, such as smiling, lifting the eyebrows, squinting, etc. These exercises can help strengthen the facial muscles and enhance the facial lines.

Neck Stretch:

In the cow face pose, you can combine some neck stretches to further enhance the firming effect of the face.

Facial Massage:

After practicing the Bull Face Pose, you can perform some facial massage to promote blood circulation and enhance the firmness of the face.

Precautions

Stop practicing the cow face pose and any face yoga course if you have

Torn muscles, ligaments or tendons
Bleeding hemorrhoids
Arthritis or spondylitis
Frozen shoulder or any pain in the shoulder
Any knee problems

Benefits of Cow Face Pose

Straightens the spine and improves overall body posture.
Stretches intercostal muscles and increases lung capacity.
Improves breathing capacity of the abdomen and diaphragm.
Improves flexibility of stiff shoulders.
Strengthens the muscles of the chest, hips, thighs, triceps, shoulders, ankles and spine.

Takeaways

Although the cow face poses primarily targets the rest of the body, it indirectly benefits the facelift by improving circulation, relieving tension, lifting the posture and promoting lymphatic drainage. Combined with a face yoga practice, you can further enhance the effects of facial lifting and firming to have a youthful, toned appearance.