There are more than 50 muscles in the face and neck. Two of them, the temporalis at the temples and the frontalis on the forehead, are easy to find and often hold more tension than we realise. Getting to know them is a good first step in face fitness.
The temporalis
This fan-shaped muscle sits at your temples and helps close the jaw. If you clench your teeth or chew a lot, it can feel tight. To check in with it, rest the heels of your hands on your temples and press gently inward and slightly upward. Many people notice how much this area holds, and how relaxing it feels to release it.
A gentle way to work with the temples is the Cat Eye movement in the Face Yoga App, which focuses on this area with light pressure.
The frontalis
This broad muscle across the forehead raises your eyebrows. If you lift your brows often when you concentrate, it can get tired and tense. Try resting your fingertips across the forehead and feeling it move as you raise and lower the brows slowly.
The Forehead Lift exercise trains this muscle with light resistance.
Why it matters
Learning where you hold tension helps you train with awareness and relax habits you did not know you had. Research on visible changes from facial exercise is limited, so we frame this as a mindful practice rather than a promise.
Go deeper with the Facial Muscle Dictionary, explore face yoga exercises by area or try the Face Yoga App. If you have a jaw, nerve or skin condition, check with a doctor first.
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