How Yoshiko Makes a Living with the Face Yoga Method

A few weeks ago I received a very interesting question from a Face Yoga practitioner in Japan, a question regarding something I haven’t thought of in a while. She wanted to know the number one teaching lesson I’ve learned after so many years of making a living with the Face Yoga Method, i.e., certifying Face Yoga teachers.

The reason why I paused at this question for a second is because in general people never ask me about the act of “teaching”, they just want to learn more face exercises, and understandably so.

To best answer this question I decided to give you some background information to help put events in context.

One way or another teaching has always been a part of my life. Before creating the Face Yoga Method as you know it today, I already had 7 years of experience in teaching high-school and college classes in Tokyo, the U.S. and Canada. As you may know, after my car accident I began creating face exercises strictly for myself, I wanted to make my face more symmetrical and was convinced exercising the muscles in my face was the solution. A couple of months had passed and the results were increasingly more visible, it wasn’t just that my face looked better, but I was feeling the change on the inside, I had more confidence in myself and it showed.

It seemed as if everything happened overnight; TV shows, interviews, events, workshops, book deals. And let me tell you right now… it gets EXHAUSTING. I loved every second of it but realized later on that spending 5 days a week in hotels was not the kind of life I could keep up if I wanted to start a family. So I did what I felt in my heart was the right decision and retired from the limelight.

Fast forward to 2010, here I am, living in the US with my husband Henry and daughter Nina when I started receiving multiple messages from a Face Yoga enthusiast who wanted to get certified so she could teach Face Yoga on his own.

Right off the bat, I said no. I was already settled in the US with no intentions of returning to Japan to continue teaching Face Yoga.

You need to understand that teaching Face Yoga is one thing, but certifying people so that they can teach others Face Yoga is an entirely different scenario. These people would be teaching in my name. So I had to ensure everything was done right. Otherwise, I wouldn’t take the risk.

Yoshiko was one of the first four Face Yoga teachers I certified.

I didn’t know it then, but getting certified in Face Yoga became a significant tipping point for Yoshiko. Because of her experience with practicing and teaching Tango, being consistent with Face Yoga came naturally. Over time, friends and family started seeing changes in her face. 

One thing led to another, and Yoshiko started teaching her tango students face exercises. She already had the studio available. What harm could it do? At the very least, she would get to share this new practice with her students.

Seeing her students gain confidence motivated Yoshiko even more, and that’s when I asked her if she was willing to take on some of my current projects. Even though I was living in the US, I was constantly receiving offers to hold events, give classes, make appearances on TV shows, and write articles for magazines in Japan.

Yoshiko gladly took up my offer, and needless to say, she truly blossomed. She has published ten books and sold half a million copies in just a few years. In addition, she holds events all over Japan, genuinely making a change in people’s lives.

I asked Yoshiko what the best part about becoming a certified Face Yoga teacher was, and she said: “You’re helping others change their faces, their lives, and on top of that, you’re getting paid. It’s an amazing job! Seeing your students’ faces and lives starting to change motivates you to keep going. It’s the best job ever.”

The reason why I wanted to share Yoshiko’s story is because of how it all began.

Remember when she first came to my Face Yoga Teacher Certification Course?

Her goal wasn’t even to teach. She didn’t start with the explicit purpose of making a living with the Face Yoga. She was merely looking to tone her face and improve her skin condition. But, over time, she put one foot in front of the other and got to where she is today. I’m amazed at how far she’s come, her dedication, her willingness to change, and how she took ownership of the practice. 

Yes, it is the Face Yoga Method, as I taught her, but she was never afraid to make it her own. She now designs the classes the way she sees fit. She has adapted to her students and their needs. Watching her evolve has been one of my proudest moments as a teacher.

So… can you guess what the number one thing I’ve learned from many years of teaching Face Yoga is?

I realized that you only really know your craft once you can teach others in such a way that they can become teachers in their own right and pass on your knowledge.

That was my first experience certifying Face Yoga teachers, six years have passed since then, and I’ve certified approximately 200 other teachers. All of whom are part of a very supportive community. They participate in events, create their own, and make a living doing what they love – Face Yoga! It is truly mind-boggling when I start thinking about it. Sometimes I think about taking on new students because I’ve learned much as a teacher. But, one day, when the time is right, I will.