Face Yoga fundamentals
Original Body Care resourceWritten and reviewed by Mallika Some, instructor at Body Care by Mallika. Open her profile.What is Face Yoga?
Face Yoga is a practice of moving, relaxing and massaging the muscles of the face and neck with intention. At Body Care it is taught live, usually for 15–20 minutes inside a wider fitness or yoga class, so the face is trained with the same care as the body. It is not a medical treatment, a substitute for dermatology, or a guaranteed facelift.
Written and reviewed by Mallika Some. Last reviewed 2026-09-08. All FAQs.
How Body Care teaches it
Mallika Some came to Face Yoga after years of teaching fitness and yoga in Burdwan. Students were losing weight and gaining strength, yet their faces often looked tired — less glow, more puffiness under the eyes, a slackness around the mouth. The body was being trained; the face was not. That observation, not a marketing trend, is why Face Yoga is now a regular part of her classes.
The face is seen before the body. Their body weight will decrease anyway — but the importance of doing Face Yoga is something I learned by watching my students.
A typical Body Care Face Yoga block is short on purpose: 15 to 20 minutes, not an hour of grimacing. It includes muscle toning, relaxation, and massage aimed at stagnant fluid in the face. Beginners are walked through the basics rather than left to copy a video at speed.
What it can and cannot reasonably do
- Can: improve awareness of jaw clenching, forehead holding and a tight neck.
- Can: support circulation and a fresher look when practised regularly.
- Can: help some women with puffiness related to poor lymphatic movement in the face.
- Cannot: freeze wrinkles the way an injection does, or promise a specific number of years 'off'.
- Cannot: treat thyroid disease, sinus infection, or sudden facial droop — those need a doctor.
Questions students actually ask
Is Face Yoga the same as making faces in the mirror?
No. Making expressions without guidance often overuses already-tight muscles. Body Care classes pair muscle work with relaxation and, where it helps, lymphatic massage, so the face is not only clenched.
Do I need equipment?
No. Clean hands, a quiet seat, and a screen or a place in the studio are enough. Oil or cream is optional and never required to start.
Can Face Yoga replace skincare or a clinical procedure?
No. It can support circulation, muscle tone and awareness. It cannot inject volume, remove sun damage, or treat disease. See a qualified clinician for medical or surgical questions.
Related Body Care resources
- Does Face Yoga work?
What research says about facial exercise, and what Mallika Some has observed in 25 years of teaching women in Burdwan and online.
- How often should I practise Face Yoga?
Mallika Some's classroom rule: a short Face Yoga block, regularly, beats an occasional long session. How often to practise if you are starting out.
- Face Yoga vs facial massage
Face Yoga trains facial muscles; facial massage mainly moves fluid and softens tension. Body Care uses both, for different jobs.
- Realistic expectations for Face Yoga
What Face Yoga can change, what it cannot, and how Mallika Some talks about timelines with students — without overselling.
Want this checked live?
If you want Mallika to check your technique live, sit in on a demo class. It is the same teaching, without a commitment.