What is face yoga?
“Face yoga is a series of exercises that can be performed to tone and stretch the facial muscles,” says Adrienne Zielinski, lead esthetician at Drift Spa in Lancaster. “It’s a holistic approach to facial sculpting.”
What are some of the benefits of face yoga?
“[Face yoga] helps to stimulate muscles, which then increases circulation. It can help reduce tension in muscles in the face, which would help smooth fine lines in the skin,” Zielinski says. “There are a lot of results that help with TMJ and different tight muscles, but the main draw to it is to have that sculpted look—lifted cheekbones, smoothing fine lines … With consistent time—I’d say every day for about eight weeks … even just doing it for a few minutes—you’ll be able to feel the difference. … Once you try the exercises, you start to feel muscles that you didn’t even know were there.”
How can you get started with face yoga at home?
Zielinski suggests searching social media for practitioners or teachers who resonate with you, saying that social media can be “a really great resource for people who are just starting.”
How can a face yoga practice benefit you long term?
“One thing that [face yoga] helps with is awareness of your face, of your muscles,” Zielinski says. “A lot of people aren’t very aware of the expressions that they’re giving, which can create wrinkles over time. If you’re constantly furrowing your brow or frowning—different facial expressions do affect your muscles. The awareness of the connection to your body’s muscles really helps bring awareness throughout the day, not just when you’re doing the exercises.” Long term, this increased bodily awareness can help prevent fine lines, wrinkling, and tension in the face, according to Zielinski.
Is there anything to be cautious about when getting started?
Zielinski recommends taking a new practice slowly and listening to your body. “I relate it to exercise for your body. If you’re feeling good from squats, and then you decide to do 200 squats, you’ll be really sore,” she advises. “So I would just take it slow and low. Don’t rush into it. If you’re feeling results, that doesn’t mean more is better. It’s more about consistency.”
