Eva Fraser - Eva Frasers Facial Workout

Born in England in 1928, Eva Fraser grew up to be keenly interested in sport, and her first job was working as a tennis and squash instructor. She then went to work for one of Londons top photographers, soon becoming involved in the more technical side of photographic printing.

She travelled widely, establishing a career in tapestry restoration until a chance meeting in 1978 with Eva Hoffman. Madame Hoffman, then 76 years old, trained Eva in her facial exercise techniques, which she had devised with a doctor colleague in the 1930s. On her retirement Madame Hoffman encouraged Eva to take over her work.

This method is taught in London in private one-to-one sessions. Through books and DVDs it is now available to a wider audience.

www.evafraser.com

My special thanks to my friends and colleagues for their help and support: my partner Marion; my solicitor, Anne Harrison, of Harbottle and Lewis, for all her expert advice; Christine Pearce, a PA supreme; Gary Williams, for his excellent photographs; and Kathryn Marsden for her invaluable advice on vitamins and minerals.

• A trench coat is the most slimming of styles.
• If you are pear-shaped, wearing shoulder pads can improve your outline.
• To counteract wide hips, wear darker shades from the waist down. Light coloured tops are fine.
• Close-fitted tops, tightly belted, are rarely flattering to a large bust. A V neckline is better than a round-necked top.
• V necklines make your face and neck look longer.
• Horizontal stripes will make you look wider vertical lines are better.
• Single-breasted garments are far more slimming than double-breasted ones.
• Double vents at the back of jackets add width.
• Longish jackets which cover your hips may suit you better than shorter ones, particularly with trousers.
• Experiment with skirt lengths your ideal length for a straight skirt may differ from that for a fuller style.
• Smooth materials are usually more flattering than fluffy ones, which can seem to add inches to your measurements.
• Shoulders generally look better padded but not too wide.
• Dont wear tight underwear this can produce bulges under your clothes.
• Full skirts with a smooth yoke over the hips are more slimming than those in which the fullness comes from the waistband.
• Avoid clinging jersey fabrics.
• Trousers with straight, long lines are best harem styles are not so flattering.

Choose a hairstylist either by recommendation or through a magazine article. Before you make an appointment:

• Have a brief consultation with the person who would be cutting your hair and discuss what ideas he or she suggests for you.
• Remember, it is you that has to live with your new haircut and for quite a while if it is too short so dont be afraid to say what you like and, importantly, what you dislike.
• Saying not too short is not enough you must specify the length that you want. However, dont be inflexible but listen to any new ideas they could be marvellous for you.
• If you lead a busy life you will want an easy-to-manage style. Discuss these aspects.
• Find out the total cost.

If you feel confident in the whole idea, make an appointment. If you dont, try somewhere else.

Colour can make an enormous difference to anyones appearance. If you have an outfit you feel particularly good in, and others say how well you look in it, it is probably not only the shape but also the colour that is working to your advantage.

A simple way to test yourself for colour is first to hold up a black garment in front of you and then try a brown one. Whichever one suits you best determines your basic dark colour. Then do the same with white and cream.

In general terms, if the brown and cream suit you best, you should go more for the autumn shades, with undertones of yellow. For example:

• choose peach (which has a yellow undertone) rather than brighter pinks;
• choose the more yellowy greens, rather than the bluer ones;
• olive should be another suitable choice;
• mustard colours might suit you too.

If the black and white suit you best, choose clearer, more vibrant colours blues and colours with a bluish undertone. For example:

• choose fuchsia or shocking pink, both of which have a bluish tone, not the yellower peach colours;
• choose greens that have a bluish tone, too;
• reds which also have some blue tones should suit you, but certainly nothing too orange, which has added yellow.

These suggestions are, of course, very general and just give you the basic idea. There are many colour consultants around if you want more detailed personal advice.

• For bags under the eyes, in addition to the under-eye exercise , lie on the floor and place two cold used tea-bags partly squeezed out over your closed eyes. Relax like this for ten to twenty minutes.
• When relaxing, take yourself in your mind to a peaceful place you would enjoy the beach, the mountains, the countryside anywhere that gives you pleasure.
• Dont put moisturizer on the area surrounding your eyes.
• For a longer neck and a better jaw line, sit up straight. Imagine you are being lifted up by the hair on the crown of your head.

The aim of this book is to improve the facial contour naturally. There is an enormous amount you can do for yourself to delay the inevitable ageing process. Exercise is undoubtedly one of the chief factors in staying more youthful and confident at whatever age, and the good news is that its never too late to start!

Of course, the earlier you start to look after yourself the better, but I have known people at seventy and eighty who have found a great improvement in their well-being and appearance following the Facial Workout programme.

A question I am sometimes asked is, Isnt this all rather vain? I would feel guilty spending so much time on myself. But how can exercising and keeping fit be vain? Looking after yourself means that, as you get older, you are more likely to stay strong and fit and able to help others. Also, the time spent on this programme is minimal. At first you will obviously have to learn the exercises, and this takes a certain amount of concentration and time. But over the weeks the exercises will become easier, and ten minutes a day is then enough to keep your face toned and fit.

Your Facial Workout exercises are in the first part of this book. They are divided into five Workout programmes, starting with a simple Basic routine and progressing gradually to the Advanced and final stage.

At the start of each programme you will find a Programme Planner. Read this carefully, to make your progress more efficient and less time-consuming.

You may feel tempted to rush through the exercises, feeling that the more you do, the quicker will be the results. In fact the reverse is true a regular, steady pace will give you the best results by far.

Before you start the first Workout programme, though, read the background information on the next couple of pages, so that you approach the exercises as well-prepared as possible.