I know this isn’t quite the same as ‘normal’ yoga… but what is normal anyway? I’ve been trying face yoga exercises for about three months now, mainly focusing on forehead smoothing and jawline sculpting movements, and honestly, I’m starting to notice my face feels more toned and relaxed.
The thing is, I can’t tell if it’s actually lifting anything or if I’m just more aware of my facial muscles and holding less tension throughout the day. Has anyone else struggled to figure out if the results are from the actual exercises or just from being more mindful about not scrunching up your face all the time?
Any other face yogis up for sharing their experience?
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Me! I’m actually a big fan, and I do really think it works.
Actually started incorporating facial massage techniques into my bedtime routine after learning some moves from a massage therapist friend years ago, and now at family gatherings, my younger cousins keep asking what skincare I’m using when really it’s just 8 minutes of dedicated face work each night!
The key seems to be consistency. 100%, if I skip even a few days, I definitely notice my face feels less lifted and toned, kind of like how your hamstrings feel tight when you skip your regular practice.
I tried face yoga, but I have to say, it didn’t do much for my uneven skin tone. While it did help with muscle tension, I found that addressing pigmentation needed a completely different approach, like skincare routines with vitamin C and sunscreen.
I don’t see why not… it’s basically the same idea? A lot of the stuff online looks a bit scammy so I probably wouldn’t buy any of it but the basic idea of ‘use yoga practice for your face’? I don’t see the problem.
It works everywhere else 
It’s funny how the changes sneak up on you; one day you catch your reflection and think ‘wait, when did that happen?’ just like watching a plant grow you don’t see it happening, but suddenly there’s a flower.
I think you need to find the right practices that resonate with your unique facial structure and needs. It might not be the same thing for everyone.
Since you mentioned your forehead, I’ve been drawn to Fumiko’s approach, which shares some lovely forehead-focused sequences on YouTube and cheek flattening was transformational for me.
Well, here’s my two cents I’ve been doing face yoga since my early 30s, and in my humble opinion, starting early has really helped maintain muscle tone as I age. My mom started in her 50s and, if you ask me, she noticed improvements too, but from what I can tell, she says the changes were more subtle compared to what I experienced. Just my personal take on it, of course.
Living in a tropical climate, I’ve noticed face yoga helps with puffiness caused by humidity (it’s amazing how much the heat can make your face swell up). I also like using cooling facial rollers alongside my exercises…
It does work to an extent…
Yoga truly can support our wellbeing in meaningful ways, though it’s important to have realistic expectations. The mindful attention to alignment, combined with gentle facial movements and restorative stretches, can genuinely help release tension and promote natural vitality.
What I find interesting is how yoga teaches us that our facial muscles respond to mindful movement just as other muscles do. Through consistent practice, whether it’s specific facial poses or full-body flows that improve circulation, we can nurture subtle yet noticeable changes. It’s the same principle behind strengthening any part of our body through dedicated practice.
The beauty lies not in expecting miraculous transformations, but in honoring the gentle improvements that come with patient, loving attention to our practice.
Have you noticed any negative effects from overdoing certain movements, or is there a way to tell if you’re doing them incorrectly?
I started practicing face yoga a few months back when I noticed my facial muscles had really weakened and everything was starting to droop. It reminded me of how my meditation teacher always says, ‘what we don’t use, we lose,’ and it’s so true for our facial muscles too!
My morning routine now includes both my spiritual practice and face yoga; they complement each other beautifully. I’ve come to believe that a naturally toned face with some character lines tells a much more authentic story than a slack face without any expression lines. As my instructor says about the body: strength and vitality matter more than trying to erase every sign of living.
Oddly enough, I notice people tend to dismiss face yoga whenever I bring it up in discussions. I’m not quite sure why there’s resistance to it!
I’d love to see some genuine transformation photos from consistent yoga practice!
It would be so helpful to see someone’s journey over, let’s say, 6 months of dedicated practice (because that’s when real changes start to show) with details about which poses and sequences they focused on 2 to 3 times per week. An authentic before and after comparison would be really inspiring for the community.
Yes!! Face yoga totally works but here’s the thing? You’ve got to commit to those quick 10-second exercises throughout your day! Every single day! I’m talking multiple times! I started setting little timers on my watch to remind me. Once it becomes a habit it gets MUCH easier.
Results? You’ll start seeing them around the two-month mark! Now, I’ll be honest those before/after photos floating around? Not super convincing! (Different lighting! New angles! Maybe some makeup??) But the actual practice itself? Amazing!
If you’re doing specific movements that target each facial area, then you’re training those muscles just like any other yoga practice. Intentional movement AND the mindfulness it brings are both part of the results. If I treat your face muscles like I treat my hamstrings or core in regular yoga, the ‘is it working?’ question becomes less important than simply enjoying the practice itself.
I think this threat 100% belongs here. Face yoga is literally just like regular yoga, but for your facial muscles. It’s all about stretching, massaging, and exercising those tiny facial muscles we forget we even have! I think it works and our class uses it as part of our warming up sometimes.
