Horizontal neck lines are formed from excess skin around your neck. The build up of fat in the form of a double chin or just the lack of firmness from getting older is the culprit. The good news is by firming the muscles you firm the skin around the neck and minimize those unsightly lines running horizontally across your neck.
Neck Firming Exercise
Saggy neck muscles contribute to lines around your neck and make you look older. Firming your neck muscles and the muscles around the neck will increase circulation and stretch the skin. Jack Lalanne’s firming neck exercise works the muscles just under the chin at the top your neck. You can do this exercise sitting in your chair or standing. Keep your back straight, lean your head back and look at the ceiling. Move your mouth and jaw muscles as if you are chewing something. Continue chewing for 15 seconds. Stop and lower your chin to your chest. Keeping your chin close your body, rotate your head to the right, back to center and then to the left. Keep rotating your chin for 15 seconds. Repeat both parts of this exercise three times.
Throat Exercise
Yoga tones and firms muscles using stretching and tension exercise. The neck muscles, like all the other muscles of the body, respond to toning from yoga facial exercise. You can perform this exercise sitting in your office chair. Sit with your back straight and head aligned with your spine. Stick your tongue out as far as you can and hold it there for 60 seconds, or as long as possible. Your eyes may start to water this is a normal reaction. Repeat this exercise three times once or twice daily.
Kiss the Sky
Kiss the ceiling is another yoga exercise that is easily done with your morning routine. Yoga Guru, Annelise Hagen, recommends this exercise to firm the jaw, throat and neck muscles. Sit or stand and tilt your head back, look up at the ceiling, pucker up and try to kiss the ceiling. Stretch your lips as much as possible. As you stretch you will feel the muscles in your neck stretching also. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat three times. You can perform this exercise anytime with the added benefit of giving your neck muscles a boost in circulation.
Neck Press
The trapezius muscles run along the back of the neck and on top of the shoulders. These muscles work with the sternocleidomastoid muscles, the long muscle from behind your ear along the side of the neck to the front of your chest. Firming these muscles will tone and lift your neck. Lie on the floor on your back. Place your palms at the side of your neck and lift your head off the floor using the front muscles of your neck. You should feel the muscles at the side of your neck tightening. Slowly lift and lower your head 30 times. Return to the starting position except this time place your arms along the side of your body. Lift your head upwards toward the ceiling just a small amount, about a quarter-inch, working the muscles at the front of your neck. Turn your head to the right and then to the left. Repeat for 30 repetitions. You will feel the warmth from the increased circulation.
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Writer Bio
Caroline Thompson is a professional photojournalist who has been working for print and online publications since 1999. Her work has appeared in the "Sacramento Bee," "People Magazine," "Newsweek" and other publications. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in photojournalism from California State University at Hayward and a personal trainer certification from the university's Health and Fitness Institute.