God has blessed each one of us with natural beauty. Just like our bodies stay in good health with regular exercise, our faces also retain their charm with some attention.
Yogic traditions have acknowledged the face as a mirror of our emotions, thoughts, and internal health. Yoga practitioners have observed how facial tension, worry lines, and dullness reflected disturbances in the mind. Some yogic practices are designed to stimulate facial muscles, glands, and nerves. These practices improve blood flow, reduce strain, and bring a natural glow to the face.
What is Face Yoga?
Face Yoga is a series of facial exercises and massage techniques that activate and relax different muscles of the face, neck, and head. Just as yoga tones the body, Face Yoga tones the 57 facial muscles that often go neglected. It involves stretching, holding, and releasing expressions while maintaining awareness and gentle breathing.
It is not about making funny faces but about restoring balance and vitality to facial tissues. Regular practice helps release tension from the jaw, reduce puffiness, and stimulate lymphatic drainage, leading to a naturally refreshed look.
How to Practice Face Yoga
Among other practices, there are Yogendra Aananam and Kapala Randhra Dhouti kriya that is followed at The Yoga Institute.
Kapala Randhra Dhouti
This releases the deep-rooted impurities of body and mind. ‘Kapala’ is the forehead, ‘randhra’ means holes or passages, and ‘dhouti’ is cleansing. This is an extraordinary kriya in which the face and the head are internally cleansed through an external practice.
Method of practice
Yogendra Aananam
These exercises reduce wrinkles and are anti-ageing if you practice them regularly.
Variation 1
Close your mouth and run the tip of your tongues all over the inside of your mouth as described below.
Phase 1
1. Begin with the back of the upper lip.
2. Slowly begin moving the tongue left to right to left (pendulum movement) inside of the upper lip and then repeat the same in the lower lip.
3. Practice this 5 times slowly for each side.
Phase 2
1. Begin by taking the tip of the tongue to the right cheek and then gently move it in a clockwise and anticlockwise on the inside of the right cheek.
2. Repeat the same on the left side.
3. Practice this 3 times slowly, on each side.
Phase 3
1. Begin with moving the tongue in a complete circular movement touching the insides of the cheeks/oral cavity (up to right to down to left and repeat in the same direction 2-3 times).
a. The tongue runs along the outer teeth, massaging the cheeks and outer gums.
2. Practice the same in anticlockwise direction also.
3. Practice this 3 times slowly.
Phase 4
1. Begin with moving the tongue in a complete circular movement ensuring to run the tip of your tongue on the inner walls of the teeth, massaging the inner gums.
2. Practice this in clockwise and anticlockwise direction few times.
Phase 5
1. Begin with moving the tongue in a complete circular movement ensuring to run the tip of your tongue on the walls of the upper teeth, touching the outer gums and returning back touching the inner gums.
2. Practice this in clockwise and anticlockwise direction a few times.
3. Repeat the same for the lower jaw.
Variation 2
1. Pout the lips and take them to the right.
2. Hold the position for a count of six. Return to the centre.
3. Repeat on the other side.
Variation 3
Pout the lips and quickly move from side to side four to five times.
Variation 4
1. Keep the lips closed and jut out the chin and lower jaw and move them in and out slowly.
2. Practice this for 4-5 times.
Variation 5
Keep the lips closed and move the lower jaw side to side slowly about four to five times.
Variation 6
Open the mouth as wide as possible and move the lower jaw in and out for four to five times.
Variation 7
1. Look upwards to the ceiling, with mouth closed, jut out the chin followed by jutting in.
2. Practice this movement of jutting out and jutting in for about 10 times.
3. Keep the head straight, and relax while releasing bring the chin down (parallel to the ground).
Variation 8
1. Look upwards to the ceiling, with mouth closed and then turn the head to the right. Jut out the chin and then jut it in, repeatedly 5 times.
2. Repeat on the left side.
Variation 9
Open your mouth as wide as possible and move the lower jaw from one side to the other slowly for four to five times.
Variation 10
Move the eyebrows up and down four to five times, rolling the eyeballs to look up.
Variation 11
1. Close the mouth and tighten the lips and smile fully, simultaneously widening the eyes.
2. Repeat the practice five times.
Variation 12
1. Pout the lips and then widen them, with a broad smile. Releasing the position, open the mouth fully.
2. Repeat the above 3 steps four to five times.
Variation 13
1. Open the mouth wide and stick the tongue out and move it from side to side.
2. Practice this for four to five times.
When the face is given some attention like this every day, it reduces stress and prevents premature ageing and wrinkles. A glowing face is not just the result of makeup. It is the result of calmness and daily care. Begin today. Not because of fear of aging, but because you deserve to feel your best every day.
May your face reflect the light within. And may that light never fade.