8 New Year, Fresh Start Health, Fitness & Wellbeing


Skin deep I


confess. I’ve dipped my toe in the Botox pool, and I’ll admit, the results were impressive. But after three months the


effects had worn off and I was staring down the barrel at my bank account — could I justify it? I wanted to explore holistic alternatives. “I wouldn’t judge anyone


who enjoys Botox,” says Ksenija Selivanova, a facial massage specialist and content creator based in London. “Face massage, just like Botox, requires commitment and consistency, but face massage is free and can enhance your life. I don’t think aesthetic treatments have that power.” Te promise of health benefits from


facial massage caught my attention. Tere appears to be a growing demand for holistic beauty — people want to feel well, not just look it. “Te lifted, sculpted look is


secondary to the deep tension release you can achieve with facial massage,” says Ksenija. “It can relieve headaches, sinuses congestion and help with fluid retention and puffiness, as well as improve migraines.” Te art of massage dates back


thousands of years and, like many other holistic practices, has roots in


Promotional Content • Saturday 13th January 2024


Among the various ‘natural’ beauty therapies cropping up on social media, facial massage is one that’s got everybody talking — and for good reason. Words: Beth Finney


ancient China. While only recently popularised in the West, gua sha facial massage has also been around for centuries. Facial massage as we know it now combines numerous techniques, making use of the body’s lymphatic system, which works tirelessly to remove toxins. While Botox causes temporary


muscle paralysis, facial massage promotes muscle usage and movement. We tend to associate physical health with regular exercise, but the same doesn’t extend above the neckline. “Facial fitness is something that


doesn’t occur to many people in the way that physical fitness does,” says Inge Teron, founder of FaceGym. “I believe a majority of people are simply unaware of the tension that can build up in the facial muscles. At FaceGym, we use signature exercise moves like knuckling, pinching, hooks and whipping to train your facial muscles, condition and strengthen them as if you were going to the physical gym. Tese techniques, together with our skincare and tools, help to encourage collagen production, stimulate blood circulation, boost the lymphatic system, release tension and increase


Face Gym


cell renewal to improve overall skin and muscle health.” My curiosity piqued, I booked in for


a FaceGym Signature Sculpt workout. Miles away from your typically low-lit spa cave, the studio is bright and glossy, with stations set up like you’d expect in a hair salon. Te experience is justified in being


called a workout rather than a facial. Aliika, my specialist, manipulated my face using her hands, a mini yoga


The Moments Studio London


ball, a stainless steel gua sha multi- tool and the FaceGym Pro, which uses electrical muscle stimulation to work the deeper muscles of the face. It was a bizarre sensation — like a tired eye twitch that had spread to the whole face — and the results were instantaneous. Te lines in my face were softer, my cheekbones stronger and my brow lifted. Te visual effect can last up to five days, but the long- term benefits are even more alluring.


Your dream career starts here


Putting up with a job you don’t love is so 2023 — make this the year you put your passions first and launch a fitness career that you’ll be genuinely excited about


similar interests all while helping others achieve their fitness goals and supporting societal wellbeing — sounds like the ultimate dream, right? But how do you even get started in a career as a fitness professional? Luckily, that dream may be closer


S


to reality than you realise. Here’s a simple roadmap to help you start your dream career in just a matter of weeks.


1. Choose your area of expertise Fitness isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing and deciding on an area of expertise can be a tough choice to make. As a beginner, personal training and gym instructing are super versatile within the industry, and yoga and Pilates are great options if you prefer more holistic forms of exercise.


2. Get the right qualifications Leading fitness education provider YMCAfit offers a range of courses to match your interests and goals: personal training, gym instructing, yoga, Pilates, exercise to music and even sports massage if you like the recovery side of fitness. Courses are flexible and several are available part-time, full-time, in-person, online or hybrid.


cheduling your own hours,


getting paid to exercise and hanging around others with


3. Start teaching or working with some clients It’s time to dive in and gain some experience. You could work full-time at a gym, teach classes on a freelance basis or start working with clients one-on-one. Whichever option you choose, it’ll help you get your foot in the door of the industry.


4. Network and market yourself Now that you’re fully qualified and have some experience, it’s time to spread the word. Go to exercise classes, visit new gyms and attend fitness events where you’ll meet others who share your passion. Tis may open opportunities to work with new gyms or find clients who will benefit from your services.


Te exciting thing about facial


massage is that you don’t need to fork out for a full bells-and-whistles treatment to get started. All that beginners need to kick off their facial massage practice is a pair of clean hands, some facial oil and access to YouTube, where there are hundreds of videos to guide you — Ksenija’s channel, TeMoments, features more than 500 videos, all aimed at making self-care more accessible.


Ready to get started?


Speak with a YMCAfit course advisor on 020 3944 2533


Scan the QR code or visit the URL to claim 10% off YMCAfit courses until 31 January 2024


ymcafit.org.uk/gd10


Let’s get social IG: @ymca.fit FB: @ymcafit X: @ymcafit


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