Emily: Annelise, for those who are new to the concept, how does face yoga actually work to tone and sculpt the lower face, chin, and neck? And did you personally develop these techniques?
Annelise: It’s so much more than just making faces in the mirror! Facial yoga works by addressing the root causes of sagging and puffiness. The exercises release tight fascia, flush out stagnant toxins and bloating, and send freshly oxygenated blood to the skin to promote natural regeneration. By strengthening the actual muscles of the face and neck, you bring back a tone and firmness that serums just can't reach.
While there was a pre-existing body of work that inspired me — like the research of Reinhold Benz and Juliette Kando — I spent years refining, adapting, and practicing these movements on myself and my early students. I eventually developed my own specialized set of exercises, which became the foundation for my book. My approach today is a revitalizing 12-minute daily routine that blends 20 years of yoga expertise with deep anatomical knowledge.
Emily: After someone has completed their journey through these lessons, what is the core shift or transformation you hope they walk away with?
Annelise: My biggest hope is that people walk away feeling empowered and deeply connected to their own reflection. I want participants to realize that they aren't at the mercy of genetics or aging, and they don't need toxic beauty products or surgery to feel confident.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a forever toolkit — a revitalizing 12-minute routine that includes posture correction, lymphatic drainage, and facial toning. But beyond the physical results, I want you to feel lighter and more rejuvenated. I want this to be a rewarding experience where you move from feeling frustrated by puffiness to falling back in love with the face you see in the mirror every morning.
Emily: One thing that surprised me in your course is how much you emphasize posture. How does our posture show up on our faces?
Annelise: Your posture influences how your face looks almost more than anything else. Think of your head as a 10-pound bowling ball sitting on building blocks. If you pitch that ball forward — what we now call tech-neck — you collapse the area under the chin and throat inward.
Over time, this habit creates the dreaded double chin and puffy neck syndrome because you’ve flattened the natural curve of your cervical spine. You are essentially dumping a massive load of weight onto the front of your face and neck. This course isn't just about the face; it’s about restoring that natural alignment and correcting your posture so your head sits correctly on your neck, relieving that undue load on your chin.
Emily: For someone who is busy, what kind of time commitment are we looking at? How quickly can someone expect to see a more sculpted jawline or a glow when they start practicing?
Annelise: The beauty of this method is that it only takes 12 minutes a day. You’ll see an instant effect in terms of improved circulation and decreased bloat right away. I’ve had students take before and after shots within a single day and see a visible difference, but with steady practice over a month, the results can be radical.
The chin and jawline actually respond very quickly because most of us have never exercised those specific muscles before. Once you give them that targeted attention, the face looks rosier, leaner, and more contoured. If you continue the exercises just a few times a week, you’ll see long-term improvement that can make people ask if you’ve had work done.
Emily: Your course also introduces tools like gua sha and lymphatic massage. How do these complement the facial exercises to give that natural facelift effect?
Annelise: While the yoga exercises strengthen the muscles, lymphatic massage and gua sha focus on the depuffing aspect by moving stagnant waste out of the tissues. This holistic blend helps eliminate dark circles, bags under the eyes, and jowls without needing fillers or toxic beauty products. It’s a self-care ritual that supports both your physical appearance and your mental clarity.
