Author’s Note: While doing research on my article on yoga asanas to reduce belly fat, I uncovered information about certain asanas that are great for slimming the face. After a month of doing them religiously, I have a taut, thin face now. Do give them a try. Here is the link to the asanas to reduce belly fat article I wrote, in case you would like to give them a try.

If your face has been perennially chubby, rounded and cherubic, all you want to do is move over the innocent look and transform it into a sleek and sultry one. There are a plethora of face slimming exercises to help you achieve that, and here are 12 of them listed for you.

Face-slimming Yoga Exercises

Yoga is not as quick as the other slimming practices that you can resort to, but it is natural, painless and long-lasting. Try some of these mentioned below for at least three months to see positive results.

1. Simha Mudra (Lion Pose)

Benefits: Simha Mudra stimulates and tones all your facial muscles. It is one of the best asanas for the face and the thyroid glands in the neck area.

Procedure: Kneel down and place your hands on your thighs. Drop your jaw and open your mouth wide. Stick your tongue out downwards, towards the chin, forcefully. While breathing through the mouth, make a sound from down your throat that replicates the roar of a lion. Repeat the exercise a couple of times.

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2. Jivha Bandha (Locked Tongue Pose)

Benefits: Jivha Bandha chisels your face and shapes your jaw line. Along with it, it also tones your facial muscles.

Procedure: Sit in the lotus position. If Lotus posture is not comfortable due to tight hips or knee stress, a cross seated posture is good enough. Place your hands comfortably on your lap. Place the tip of your tongue against the upper wall of your mouth like you are trying to swallow it into the mouth. Keeping your tongue that way, open your mouth slowly and completely till you feel a stretch in your throat and neck. Repeat a couple of times. Breathe normally through your nose.

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3. Jalandhar Bandha (Chin Lock)

Benefits: Jalandhar Bandha shapes your face and tones your facial and jaw line muscles. It is a boon for people with double chins as the exercise is very effective in getting rid of them.

Procedure: Sit down in the Lotus position or a variation of a lotus position. Breathe deeply. Place your hands on the knees, lift your sternum towards your chin, and once the sternum locks onto the chin, get the head to bend a bit forward/downward direction.. Hold this position.

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4. Fish Face

Benefits: Fish face tones and stretches your cheek muscles. It makes your cheeks less flabby and your face sleek.

Procedure: Suck your cheeks and lips inwards and try to replicate a fish face. Holding that face, attempt to smile. You will feel a burn in your cheeks and jaw. Relax and repeat the exercise.

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5. Mouthwash Technique

Benefits: Mouthwash technique tones your cheeks and keeps double chin at bay.

Procedure: Fill your mouth with air. Transfer the air in your mouth from one corner to the other similar to cleansing your mouth with mouthwash. Continue the procedure for a few minutes, relax and repeat a couple of times.

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6. Cheek Uplift

Benefits: Cheek Uplifts are perfect for your cheekbones, reducing the fat in them and toning your face to make it look younger.

Procedure: Sit comfortably and smile as wide as you can. Now place the index and middle finger of both your hands on both the cheeks. With the help of your fingers, lift your cheeks towards your eyes. Hold it there for a few seconds and relax. Repeat the exercise a couple of times.

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7. Chin Lift

Benefits: Chin lift will get rid of your double chin and stretches your jaw, throat, and neck.

Procedure: Sit or stand comfortably. Now, tilt your head upwards towards the ceiling and your eyes following the same. Tighten your lips and protrude them forward as if trying to kiss the ceiling. Hold on to that for a couple of seconds and release. Repeat the same a few times.

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8. Neck Roll

Benefits: Rolling your neck is the most effective way to get rid of a double chin. It tones your chin, jawline and neck muscles. It tightens the skin of your neck and reduces sagging of the skin and wrinkles.

Procedure: Sit comfortably and keep your head facing forward. Now, bend your head towards one side in line with your chin and turn your head in a circular motion. Keep your spine straight and shoulders down while doing so. Make the circular motions in both clockwise and anticlockwise direction for a few minutes, making sure that the shoulders and scapulars do not move up towards the ears.

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9. Lip Pull

Benefits: Lip Pull tones your facial muscles and gives you high cheekbones and a prominent jawline. It makes you look younger.

Procedure: Sit or stand comfortably, keeping your head facing forward and straight. Lift your lower lip as much as you can by pushing your lower jaw out. You must feel a stretch in your chin muscles and jaw line while doing so. Remain in that posture for a few seconds, relax and repeat.

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10. Jaw Release

Benefits: Jaw release gives sharp and attractive cheekbones, a prominent jaw line and reduces your double chin. It stretches the muscles around your lips, jaws, and cheeks.

Procedure: Seat yourself comfortably and move your jaw as if you are eating with your mouth closed. Breathe well while doing this. After that, open your mouth as wide as possible with your tongue placed on your lower teeth. Hold it for a few seconds and repeat it a couple of times at a stretch.

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11. Eye Focus

Benefits: Makes your eyebrows smooth.

Procedure: Open your eyes wide. Make sure your eyebrows are not wrinkled. Stay this way and and focus at a point in the distance. Maintain the position for about 10 seconds, and relax. Repeat four times.

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12. Blowing Air

Benefits: Works the facial and neck muscles. Help reduce double chin and gives you a natural face lift and a leaner appearance to your face.

Procedure: Keep your spine erect and tilt your head backward. Ensure your eyes are directed towards the ceiling and you can see it. Pull out your lips and blow air. Keep doing this for 10 seconds and then relax. Repeat 10 times.

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Start doing these exercises in yoga for slimming face, and see your face get better sooner than you can imagine.

Have you ever tried Yoga for the slim face? Tell us how has it helped you? Do comment in the box given below.

Expert’s Answers for Readers’ Questions

Can I do face yoga more than once a day?

Yoga experts do not recommend doing face yoga for more than once a day, as it doesn’t do anything extra for toning the face. Like they say, any form of exercise should be done regularly and in moderation to get the desired results. Overdoing face yoga might tense the face muscles and cause pain. A 10 ­ 15 minutes daily regime for upper and lower face each is good enough to get a supple, healthy, and glowing face. It also works on your complexion and relaxes your face muscles, bringing them to the perfect shape. Face yoga usually shows positive results in a week’s time.

How does face yoga affect my skin?

Face yoga affects your skin in many positive ways. The structured face movement during yoga works the hypodermis, dermis, and epidermis, which is nothing but the lower, middle, and the upper layers of skin. If done as recommended, it increases the blood flow, thereby nourishing facial cells and giving them the required amount of oxygen. With regular face yoga sessions, the toxins in your pores are removed. It makes your facial skin moist and radiant. Yoga also stimulates the production of elastin and collagen that helps to tone your face. Face yoga is easy, harmless, and effective.

How long will it take to see results from the face yoga method?

If done regularly for 10­-15 minutes on upper and lower face each, face yoga starts showing initial results in a week’s time. You will feel your facial muscles relax after every session, followed by the visible results. As you continue with facial yoga for a couple of weeks, signs of healthy skin and toned muscles are evident not just on your face but also on the neck. The fine lines and blemishes start disappearing if you keep up your regime for four months. Many have shared their experiences of looking and feeling years younger after continuing face yoga for more than a year.

I have had cosmetic/plastic surgery, can I still do face yoga?

Yes! Face yoga can be done even after a cosmetic or plastic surgery. It is harmless and will, in fact, recover the skin damages brought about by the surgery. While it is advisable to take your doctor’s opinion before starting the face yoga regime, no complaints have ever been reported till date. Face yoga will bring back the natural glow of your skin, making it healthy and supple. Doing this regularly will keep the need for future cosmetic surgeries at bay. Sometimes, cosmetic surgeons themselves recommend some kind of facial exercise after the surgery. And what could be a better option than face yoga?

Are there any safety aspects I need to consider?

Yoga, in any form, is absolutely safe as long as it is done the right way. What’s important is you follow the instructions carefully and do only what is recommended. The core of yoga lies in perfecting breathing techniques. Thus a personal yoga trainer is always a better option than learning yoga online or from an untrained person. It is extremely important to inform your yoga instructor about your skin issues, joint pains, and other health problems in advance. If you are facing severe health problems or skin issues, consulting your doctor before taking up the face yoga session is advisable.

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