Happy is the real pretty. This is a little added bonus for you. So I’m going to take this pencil and I’m going to put it here and hold it. When I first tried this, I couldn’t do it. Just like the first time I tried to curl 20 pounds, I couldn’t do it.

Just like from the neck down, we have all of these muscles. We have all of these different ways to exercise them. Pilates, weightlifting, cardiovascular training, to build strength, to get circulation moving and pumping through our body.

And we see what it does. It makes us look younger and fitter and feel better. Well guess what? From here up, you are no different. Just like your bicep has a beginning and an end and it can contract in the middle, so do all the little muscles in your face.

And just like if you didn’t think about it and you were driving a car and typing, your shoulders might end up like this at the end of the day. I’m exaggerating to make my point, but you consciously, after driving and typing, go like this.

I like my shoulders better down. So just as much as we’re learning to tone and strengthen certain parts of our face, we’re also learning how to consciously relax the muscles that don’t need to be contracting.

For example, your forehead. Unless the sun is beaming in your eyes, there is really no reason to go like this. It happens when you’re angry. It happens when you’re upset. It happens when you’re sad. Those facial muscles have a purpose for expression, but when you’re just going through your everyday life, walking up the stairs in an elevator, sitting in the car, there’s really no reason for that unnecessary tension.

But you have to teach yourself how to let it go. So here’s a little added bonus with the pencil. Wish me luck on this because I just now gained the strength to do it. I know it’s not that exciting, but you might be really good at it.

It might be challenging, but it is just a fun way to practice giving yourself a little test. And remember, take your time. Always come back and look at the videos if you need to, but know that you don’t have to have the video playing to get involved with bringing that vitality back into your face.