When you think about yoga, you likely picture people on exercise mats performing various poses. While that is the basis of the practice, it has expanded quite a bit in recent years.

Yoga today isn’t just for the body; it can also improve your facial appearance. In this article, we’ll discuss face yoga and what it can do for you.

What is Face Yoga?

Before we look at specific exercises, let’s discuss what face yoga entails. It’s important to understand that this method differs from classic yoga, as you do not usually use an exercise mat and perform full-body poses. Instead, the exercises mainly focus on the facial muscles. They’re unique and may even feel a bit strange at first, but by doing them consistently, you can take advantage of the benefits [1] that face yoga offers.

How Face Yoga Works

One of the key points about face yoga exercises is that they develop the muscles on your face exclusively, unlike a typical exercise routine. A regular exercise program usually focuses on building your core, biceps, triceps, and other major muscle groups. However, face yoga skips these steps and has you work out the facial muscles only. It’s a great choice for those who want help preventing premature aging or reducing existing fine lines and wrinkles.

The Benefits of Face Yoga

We’ve discussed the basics of face yoga exercises, and now we’ll consider the specific advantages they offer so you can decide if you want to add them to your existing workout routine. These are the primary benefits of face yoga:

  • Increases Circulation: Blood flow plays an important role in your facial appearance, as it transports oxygen and nutrients to your skin. By improving circulation, Face yoga boosts skin health and makes your complexion more radiant and glowing.
  • Strengthens and Tones Facial Muscles: This type of yoga helps to tone and strengthen the facial muscles [2], which can improve your face contour and appearance.
  • Smoothes Wrinkles and Fine Lines: Apart from offering effective face slimming exercises, this type of yoga also has anti-aging benefits. With a couple of weeks of daily practice, your fine lines and wrinkles should become less visible.
  • Reduces Puffiness: As you age, you may notice some facial puffiness developing, but if you do face yoga consistently it should become less noticeable.

  • Fades Under-Eye Circles: Another common issue that can occur with age or fatigue is under-eye circles, and if you do your face yoga regularly they may fade.

  • Lifts and Tightens the Skin: Sagging skin is a major problem for many people as they age. Skin elasticity declines over time, which can give your face an older appearance and increase the depth and visibility of wrinkles and fine lines. Face yoga is a great way to improve skin elasticity.
  • Improves Mental Health: Face yoga has positive psychological benefits, and mental health has a significant impact on our ability to take proper care of ourselves. By improving your mental health, you may be more confident and inspired to take better care of your skin. Studies indicate that facial exercise may reduce chronic stress [3].
  • Relieves Musculoskeletal Pain: If you struggle with musculoskeletal pain, you’ll likely notice a decrease in discomfort with regular face yoga exercises. While the relief may not be immediate, over time it should offer significant pain reduction.

To further enhance the skin health benefits of face yoga, it’s important to take proper care of your complexion by following a regular skincare routine using quality products. We recommend Stemuderm anti-aging cream to speed up your results when it comes to tightening the complexion and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

When to Start Face Yoga

Many people aren’t sure when they should begin doing facial exercises for jowls or anti-aging benefits. The earlier you start your facial yoga program, the better, as even in young people it helps prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and poor elasticity. A good entry point is at 25, and if you’re older, right now is a great time to start face yoga.

7 Face Yoga Exercises to Try at Home

There are several face yoga exercises that you can try, but it’s important to note that some of them may be more effective than others. Let’s take a look at seven of the best:

1. The Cheek Lifter

The cheek lifter is a simple exercise that helps tone the muscles in your cheeks and improve circulation. Start with your hands in front of your nose in a prayer position, with your fingertips touching above the nose. Run your fingertips down your nose, then along your cheekbones, and move upwards to your temples.

2. Happy Cheeks Sculpting

The happy cheeks sculpting exercise helps to tighten and tone the skin on your cheeks. Smile with your lips pursed together, and as you are doing so push your cheekbone muscles upward. Then place your fingers on each corner of your mouth and push them to the top of your cheeks, holding for about 20 seconds.

3. Jaw and Neck Firmer

This exercise is great for framing and toning your jaw. Begin by looking upwards, then move your jaw forward and hold the position for a few seconds. The exercise works on the muscles at each side of your neck.

4. Temple Developer

This is another great anti-aging face yoga exercise. Press your fingers into your temple, close your mouth, clench your teeth, and move your chin upward. While you move your chin, try to visualize the area where your fingers are placed on your temple.

5. Upper Eyelid Firmer

Eye exercises like this one help firm the eyelids and improve the functioning of the muscles in the area. Start by placing a finger on the bone just below each of your eyebrows. Close your eyes while keeping your fingers in place, then hold the position for a couple of seconds.

6. Eye Opener

For the eye-opener face yoga exercise, use your fingers to create 2 circles that start at your eyebrows and go around your cheeks, as if you are wearing binoculars. Move the circles upwards to lift your eyebrows. Once in position squint for about five seconds, and then release.

Eyebrow Lifter

7. The Eyebrow Lifter

To do the eyebrow lifter, place a couple of fingers under each of your eyebrows and push to lift your eyes. Smile and apply very subtle pressure while trying to move your eyebrows down. This exercises your eyebrow muscles.

How Long Does It Take Face Yoga to Work?

There are a few things to consider to assess how long it will take to see results with face yoga. If you already have common signs of aging like wrinkles, it may take time for a visible reduction and a more youthful appearance.

However, most people who do yoga exercises regularly see noticeable results in about three to four weeks. When you ask, “Does face yoga work?” it’s important to consider how consistently you carry out the exercises. You can’t do one session a week and expect to see amazing benefits, but if you’re persistent and carry out the exercises daily, you should get optimal results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do face yoga daily?

Yes, you can do face yoga daily, and you should if you want to get the most benefit out of the exercises.

What is the best age to start face yoga?

While some people choose to do face yoga only when they notice fine lines and wrinkles, it’s a good idea to start these exercises much earlier. The ideal age to begin practicing face yoga is about 25.

Can face yoga reduce a double chin?

Face yoga can help reduce your double chin, however, you’ll also have to do general exercises to decrease the fat in the area.

Takeaway

While people often practice yoga to tone and condition the body, some exercises also target the face. While it may sound strange at first, after a few sessions, you’ll likely start to enjoy the benefits of facial yoga. However, persistence and consistency are both key factors that play a role in how effectively the exercises work. If you practice them regularly, you can look forward to a nicely toned, contoured face.