What is face yoga? 5 Exercises to try at home

If there’s one word that comes to mind when thinking of wellness, it’s “yoga”. Yoga is the body-soul workout that we love to love.

Don’t forget to breathe

If there’s one word that comes to mind when thinking of wellness, it’s “yoga”. Yoga is the body-soul workout that we love to love, because it really does it all – strengthens muscles and boosts flexibility, reduces stress and boosts your mood. You couldn’t ask for a more perfect “me-time moment”!

Now there’s a new form of yoga practice you may not have heard of before, and we recommend you add it to your “me-time” list: Face Yoga. Sounds interesting? Read on!

Face Yoga: What is it?

Face yoga brings all the benefits of yoga to your face. It consists of facial exercises focusing on different areas where tension typically builds and lines often appear, like the eyes, jawline, forehead and chin. Each exercise is designed to firm and tone the muscles in that area and at the same time, release tension and promote relaxation, for a smoother, tauter appearance. In fact, some experts are calling it a natural alternative to Botox, with regular practice helping to reduce signs of aging.

Like any wellness practice, the key to face yoga is consistency. Practice face yoga 20 minutes a day, every day, and after a few weeks, you may start seeing a beautifully youthful new you.

1. Improve facial contours

This simple exercise is great for warming up. It helps smooth the contours of the cheeks, reducing puffiness and creating a slimmer impression.
How to do it: Breath in and fill your mouth with air. Purse your lips. Move the air around inside your mouth as if using mouthwash. Make sure to move from one cheek to the other. Repeat 5 times.

2. Smooth laugh lines

This exercise works on the lines between your cheeks and lips that deepen when you smile. Regular practice may help reduce the appearance of laugh lines.
How to do it: Keeping your lips closed together, run your tongue on the inside of your mouth along the base of your nose, outwards around the cheeks. Move your tongue in circular motions five times, stretching the skin outwards where smile lines usually form. Repeat 5 times.

3. Tone skin around the eyes

We love this exercise because it is so easy yet really effective! With regular practice, you can work on toning the skin around the eyes to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet.
How to do it: Open your eyes as wide as you can and lift your eyebrows as high as possible. Keep gazing straight ahead. Hold this position for several seconds then release. Repeat 5 times.

4. Sculpt the face

This is the perfect exercise to strengthen your cheeks while stretching the chin and neck, helping to sculpt and tone the facial contours.
How to do it: Make a ‘fish face’ by deeply sucking in your cheeks until your lips squeeze in the center. While in this position, try to smile. Hold for a few seconds then release. Repeat 5 times.

5. Goodbye double chin

No one wants a double chin, so this is an important exercise if you’re noticing chin creep! Just a few minutes a day can make a difference.
How to do it: Turn your face towards the ceiling. Breathe in and blow the air slowly out of your mouth. You should feel a deep stretch in your neck beneath the chin. Repeat 5 times.

Anywhere, anytime

Face yoga doesn’t require any special equipment or gear. You can do it anywhere, while sitting on the bus, lying in bed, soaking in the bath, even while preparing dinner. And remember, the more you practice, the more you’ll get results, so why not start today?