When you think about yoga, there’s a good chance you picture a group of women bending and contorting in a wide variety of poses at some boutique gym. But there’s a new trend that’s sweeping the country that has very little to do with total body fitness — face yoga.

Here’s everything you need to know about face yoga and how it could make you look younger:

What is Face Yoga?

In simple terms, face yoga is exactly what it sounds like: special exercises designed to tone the muscles in your face. Most regimens include special movements that workout up to 57 different areas including the face, neck, and scalp.

For example, one common exercise involves opening your mouth wide, folding your upper lip over your front teeth, and smiling broadly. This is just a sampling of the various types of facial movements included in face yoga.

Does Face Yoga Work?

Although there are plenty of skeptics, preliminary studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that face yoga is actually beneficial to one’s appearance. In most cases, those who remain committed to the program will see some sort of positive change within the first couple of months.

The reason for this is as old as time—the movement of the body will always cause a lifting and firming sensation. What makes this program unique is that most people mentally believe that exercise is only for areas of the body you would traditionally train at the gym, such as abs or quads. But in this case, it’s the finer muscles in the face that are being worked out.

What Can Face Yoga Help Improve?

One of the first things face yoga participants generally notice is a brighter complexion, due to an increase in blood circulation. Something else many people experience is fuller cheeks. The reason for this is simple — after continuously working the muscle, it grows in size similarly to how your bicep would after doing weeks of curls in the gym. In turn, this counteracts some drooping and sliding of the skin for a more youthful appearance.

Furthermore, it is important to note that face yoga is actually used in a medical setting. Patients recovering from injuries and even neurological or stroke episodes have used various forms of facial movements in the same manner for years. However, it is typically referred to as a form of physical therapy and not for beauty purposes.

The Downside to Face Yoga

According to most experts, the only real downside to trying out this new trend is time. Just like working out your body, this isn’t something that you can see results in just a session or two. The average amount of time spent doing face yoga is around thirty minutes daily for a minimum for eight weeks. For most busy women, this is far more of a time commitment than their busy schedules allow.

Of course, activities like face yoga are always better when paired with a positive skin care routine. We offer our own line of beauty products designed to help your skin look and feel amazing!

Some people might scoff at the idea of yoga for your face, but there’s really not much to lose other than time. Partaking in special exercises to help improve your overall look and muscle tone is never a bad idea. And it’s completely non-toxic, free to try, and can be done on your own schedule. What’s not to love about any of that?