Face Yoga for Jaw Tension

Did you know that your jaw muscles are the strongest in your body for their size? These small but mighty muscles have the ability to chomp a human finger clean off.

The jaw muscles are comprised of four major muscles: the masseter, the temporalis, and the lateral & medial pterygoid.

A recent Chicago Dental Society survey reported that 1 out of every 4 Americans tense their jaw muscles excessively. This number was an all-time high and believed to be the result of increased stress in our daily lives.

If you're like 25% of the population, including me, you might find yourself tightening your jaw muscles without even noticing. Often when we are faced with a difficult task we tense -- whether it occurs at home or in the office, or even in our yoga practice during a particularly long hold or challenging pose. Excessive jaw clenching and tooth grinding can also cause headaches and tension in other areas of the body.

So let's put a stop to this, shall we?

It begins now, with our own awareness. It continues the rest of the day, and tomorrow, and the day after that. It is a constant reminder to care for yourself and remain aware of what's happening inside of your body.

5 Minute Face Yoga for Jaw Tension 

• Begin with 5 round of Lion's Breath (Inhale through the nose; Open the mouth & eyes wide as you stick your tongue out as far as it goes and exhale out the mouth, somewhat resembling the roar of a lion)
• Remove the tongue from the roof of the mouth
• Relax the very base of the tongue
• Keep the lips together, but slowly begin to separate the teeth
• Imagining that the chin has a pencil tip in the center, begin to draw figure-8's with your lower jaw. Do this for about a minute, reversing directions halfway through
• Keep the teeth separated, now curl the lips over the teeth and open the mouth as wide as possible, extending outward into the cheeks. Try not to let any other facial muscles tense. Hold for 5 breaths, then release
• From a tall supported spine, begin to circle your head clockwise with a loose neck 5 times, then 5 times in the opposite direction
• Come to stillness with a tall spine through the crown of the head
• Silently (or loudly) mouth your vowels (AEIOU) ten times
• Take 5 more rounds of Lion's Breath and relax the face

Repeat this sequence as many times as necessary to feel relief.

Another effective stretch is allowing the head to fall backward and the mouth to open as wide as possible. I like to use Supported Fish Pose for this stretch. Be careful not to place any discomfort on the neck or crunch the cervical spine with this one.

Tension is who think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. (Chinese proverb)