An alternative to Botox which involves exercising the facial muscles has started to gain in popularity.

The practice called face yoga has women across the country looking into mirrors pulling all manner of facial expressions to banish wrinkles and create a more youthful appearance.

Diane Davies is teaching the Danielle Collins face yoga method at her home in High Wycombe, since qualifying in September.

She was previously in accounts but after developing repetitive strain injury from sitting at a computer and whiplash following a car accident, she decided it was time to make some changes, which is when she discovered face yoga.

According to research studies we lose about 1 per cent of collagen per year from the age of 18.

Diane said: “I think it is great to have an alternative to Botox and that sort of thing. I think young people are just starting to see the effects on the older generation that did this.

“Everybody likes to look and feel as best as they can. I think this is a marvellous alternative. People can try it and see. If it works for them – fantastic.”

Face yoga is a mixture of face exercises, massage, acupressure and relaxation.

I tried a lesson with Diane and if nothing else, I felt incredibly relaxed afterwards. She tailors the exercises to each person and if her complexion is anything to go by, it certainly works. She also makes you feel very comfortable.

You do need to keep it up though and practice it ten to 20 minutes a day for six days a week. Here are three exercises to try from the Danielle Collins Face Yoga Method.

For more information about face yoga and to book a lesson go to www.holisticfaceyoga.co.uk, email diane@holisticfaceyoga.co.uk or call 07855 809181

Try these exercises:

Place the middle fingers together between your eyebrows and apply pressure to the outer corners of your eyes with your index fingers. Look up and make a strong squint with your lower lids only. Hold for three seconds, relax and repeat six times. To finish, squeeze your eyes shut for ten seconds then release and relax.

- This exercises the Orbicularis Oris muscle and reduces bags under the eyes and firms and tightens the muscles around the eye area.

Make a very small ‘O’ shape with your mouth, hiding your teeth with your lips, then keeping your lips as tense as possible, smile as wide as you can. Repeat this changing action six times. Then, hold the wide smile shape and place your index finger on your chin and start to move your jaw up and down, jutting out your lower gum as though you are scooping something up with it - as you do this, slowly tilt your head back and forth. Relax and repeat twice more.

-This exercises the Masseter muscle and many of the lower face muscles which reduces fine lines around the mouth, between the nose and mouth corners and also lifts and firms the cheek area.

Looking straight ahead place your fingertips on the top of your neck and gently smooth the skin sown as you tilt your head back. Bring your head back and repeat twice. Then jut your lower lip out as far as possible, pulling the corners of your mouth down. Hold here for four deep breaths.

- This exercises the Platysma muscle at the front of the neck helping to smooth out lines and wrinkles in the neck area. It also lifts and tones the lower jaw that helps to firm the jaw area and reduce sagging skin.