The Basic Set Positions: The Soft Face

Most of the beginning exercises start with a basic facial position called the soft face. This face is completely relaxed. It’s blank. If you’ve ever had a passport photo taken, this is probably the face that was captured on film. Does it sound easy? It’s not. Most adults carry some amount of tension in their facial muscles most of the time, even in sleep.

Did you ever watch children sleep and notice how unusually angelic their faces appeared? That’s because a child’s face is truly relaxed in sleep. A good way to get ready for the beginning level exercises is to practice releasing one facial muscle at a time.

Relax your forehead. Think of cool water from a tropical fountain beating down on it, washing it smooth in all directions.

Relax your eyes. Think of having a glazed look, staring ahead without effort.

Relax your mouth. If your jaw is clenched, let it fall slack. Your lips should be closed, your teeth slightly apart. Let your cheeks melt along with your mouth into complete smoothness.

The Basic Set Positions: The Hard Face

All of the advanced exercises in The Eigard Method use elements of the hard face. The hard face is designed to tense each and every muscle in the face simultaneously without wrinkling the skin. While you work on the beginning exercises, take some time to practice the hard face all by itself. You’ll find that it’s tough to put all of the separate elements together, but by the time you’re ready to move on to the advanced exercises, you should be able to perform all of the different components of the hard face simultaneously.

Assume the Correct Position

Tighten all the muscles of your face without wrinkling the skin.

Flatten your lips against your teeth, keeping them full and pressed together.

Slightly extend your jaw, while pressing upward with the corners of your lips. First your teeth should meet, then your lower teeth should extend slightly forward, still covered by your full, flat lips.

Extend your lower lip outward in a slight pout by pressing upward with your chin. Can you feel it in your neck?

Push upward with your lower eyelid muscles. Keep your upper eyelids open and your forehead smooth.

Stretch your tongue toward the top of your mouth. Curl it back so that the bottom of your tongue touches the roof of your mouth, and keep it back toward your throat.

Flare your nostrils.

Hold this position for ten seconds. Pat all over your face with your fingertips. It should feel hard all over if you’re doing the position correctly.

Release. Shake out your muscles.

Repeat.

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