The Science Behind Face Yoga
It's one thing for me, as a certified face yoga teacher, to tell you how relaxing, supportive, gentle and uplifting face yoga is, how it aligns with my values, fits my lifestyle, and saves me money.
But, if you're anything like me, you also want to know if face yoga actually works and, if so, how?
So in this article, I'm going to pull back the curtain and share some of the fascinating science that explains why facial exercises, massage, acupressure, and relaxation can create such remarkable changes in a person's appearance over time.
Face yoga isn't just a feel-good practice. It's grounded in solid anatomical and physiological principles.
Let's break down what's happening when you practice:
🍃 You're toning muscles you may not even know existed There are 57 muscles in your face, head, and neck—many of which we rarely consciously engage. Just like the muscles in your body, your facial muscles can become weak or imbalanced over time. Face yoga targets these muscles with specific exercises, creating greater symmetry and more tone and definition in areas like your cheeks, jawline, and neck.
🍃 You're building facial "bulk" (in a good way!) One of the most visible signs of aging is the loss of volume in our cheeks. As we age, we lose fat pads that give our face that youthful fullness, contributing to the sagging and drooping was can get as we get older. Face yoga exercises actually help build up the muscle underneath the skin of the mid-face, creating natural "scaffolding" that supports your skin and gives your cheeks a fuller, more lifted appearance. Think of it as nature's 'filler'!
🍃 You're stimulating collagen and elastin production These two proteins are essential for skin elasticity and firmness. Research suggests that the increased circulation from facial exercises helps stimulate fibroblasts—the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. As we age, our natural production decreases (about 1% a year after age 20 - I don't even want to do the math on that!), but facial exercises may help slow this decline.
🍃 You're improving circulation and lymphatic drainage That healthy glow you experience after a face yoga session? It's not your imagination! Facial exercise, massage, and acupressure increase blood flow to your skin, delivering more oxygen and nutrients while also helping to flush away toxins through improved lymphatic drainage. This is particularly effective for reducing morning puffiness and under-eye bags.
🍃 You're releasing chronic tension As we've discussed, many of us hold tension in our faces without realizing it—clenching our jaw, furrowing our brow, or squinting our eyes (anyone else chronically misplace their reading glasses??). Over time, these tension patterns can create lines and wrinkles. If we don't become aware of these patterns and release them through a practice like face yoga, those lines can just get deeper.
🍃 You're breaking habitual expression patterns We all have facial expressions we make hundreds of times a day, often unconsciously. Over time, these create what dermatologists call "dynamic wrinkles." Face yoga helps you recognize these patterns and gives you tools to create new, more balanced facial habits.
Of course, many Asian cultures have known about these benefits for hundreds of years. But what I find most exciting is that the Western scientific community is finally beginning to take notice. A 2018 study published in JAMA Dermatology (the Journal of the American Medical Association's dermatology publication) found that a 30-minute daily facial exercise program resulted in participants looking an average of 3 years younger after 20 weeks, as rated by dermatologists who didn't know which photos were "before" and which were "after."
In particular, researchers noted "significant improvement" in upper and lower cheek fullness. The study participants themselves also reported being highly satisfied with the results, noting significant improvement in 18 of 20 facial features.
What makes face yoga so powerful is that it addresses aging from multiple angles simultaneously:
It works from the inside out (unlike topical products that can only reach the surface)
It addresses the structural changes that occur with age (muscle atrophy, collagen depletion, and fat pad loss)
It improves the quality of the skin itself through increased circulation
It creates awareness of harmful tension and habitual expression patterns
This holistic approach is why so many women (myself included) notice changes not just in specific "problem areas," but in their overall facial appearance and even how they feel in their skin.
Of course, like any exercise program, consistency is key.
Just as you wouldn't expect a transformed body from a single workout at the gym, face yoga delivers its most impressive results when practiced regularly over time.
The beauty of this approach is that once you learn the techniques, they're yours forever—no expensive products or procedures needed to keep those beautiful results!