Yawning For Relaxation

Have you ever noticed that dogs yawn when they're nervous? There is a good reason - yawning triggers relaxation. Dogs yawn to help calm themselves down in stressful situations. A yawn forces you to take a deep breath, slow down the breathing, and to exhale fully. This counteracts the fast shallow breathing experienced as a symptom of anxiety. Stretching is effective in lengthening the muscles - the opposite of short, tensed muscles. This technique can be practiced anytime, anywhere.

Transcript

Today's relaxation technique is one that you can do anywhere,

Anytime.

Have you ever noticed that dogs yawn when they're nervous?

There's a good reason.

Yawning triggers relaxation.

Have you ever noticed that yawning is contagious?

Dogs yawn to help calm themselves down in stressful situations.

We yawn to increase oxygen inside our body.

A yawn focuses you to take a deep breath,

Slow down your breathing and to exhale fully.

This counteracts the fast,

Shallow breathing you can experience if you're in a high stress situation.

Stretching as well is really effective in lengthening the muscles,

The opposite of short,

Tensed muscles.

So do you know how to yawn?

I reckon you do.

So let's have a little practice.

Try it.

Open your mouth wide.

Yawn loudly.

With a big sigh.

And stretch your arms above your head and out to the sides.

Make sure to stretch out the back of your neck and your shoulder muscles.

The key place is where tension builds up.

So now with us having had a little practice of yawning,

You can do this standing up or sitting down.

It's really up to you.

So get ready in your position,

Either standing or sitting.

Rotate your shoulders.

Then you may want to jiggle your arms and just get any little bits of tension out.

This will help to loosen up the tight muscles.

Now open your mouth and start to breathe in.

Open it wider,

Wider.

Try and feel the back of your throat open up.

Your ears may even pop.

Allow a yawn to arrive as you inhale.

And then complete the yawn by breathing out loudly with a sigh.

Take a few slow deep breaths.

Breathe in and out.

In and out.

Now yawn again.

And as you inhale with your mouth open wide,

Stretch your arms out and up.

Stretch your muscles as you yawn,

Allow your arms to drop back down to your sides as you breathe out with a sigh.

That is a very simple guide to a yawning relaxation technique.

Enjoy!

Reviews

Really good today just relax before getting ready for bed

💛💛💛

That was so relaxing. I yawned so much and just sank into my bed. Thank you!

I like the instructions. Namaste. 🌸🌺

Just amazing. I am going to sleep now. 😍❤️

Fun and perfect!

I smiled every second I wasn’t yawning. So helpful and happy. I can imagine recommending this to everyone I know and I might even do it with my toddler. He will think it is fun and it will calm him down. Thank you!

Quite enjoyable. I did this as a stand-alone practice, but I can easily see it fitting nicely in between two other short "wake up" practices I currently do in sequence. Thanks for sharing this light, yet powerfully effective, practice with us here. I see you and the light within you. Be well. 🤲🏻❤️🤲🏻

So simple & felt so good. Brilliant!