How many times have you opened your mouth to yawn and automatically others also do it? Very often we see people doing these instinctive movements, like the gesture of opening the mouth spontaneously. Yawning is inherent to the human being. Greeks and Maya considered this sigh as an attempt of the soul to escape from the body, and eventually there were about social norms about it.
It starts to yawn in the womb, and will continue being it so throughout the life. Not only humans do it, some animals also tend to do this at bedtime or when they are very boring.
Numerous studies have proved that this event is a mechanism that helps to relieve tension of the day, but has been suppressing or blocking. This event goes beyond the issue of opening the mouth, this action causes a neuronal activity in brain’s areas that are involved directly in creating social awareness and feelings of empathy, that’s why it is contagious.
Today’s society has determined that yawn in public is rude and impolite, for this reason many take a body posture in which avoid being exposed.
Dr. Andrew Newberg of the Pennsylvania’s University (USA), commented on the benefits of yawning, indicating that “this action is not only relaxing, but quickly involves us into a heightened state of cognitive awareness. This action relieves tension and results in an alertness faster than any other meditation technique”.
It is important to know that there are some relaxation techniques where the use of yawning is very advantageous to release stress, helps to remove negative energies and relieves tensions.
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow commented about the importance of yawns and shared tips for optimizing, noting: “is the main way that has the body to release and stretch the muscles of the jaw and neck, after a long day at work and conversation it is the best mechanism for driving out tensions “. The famous actress revealed these exercises:
“Tilt your head back a little toward a comfortable position and let your mouth wide open, contract the back of the throat as if you were to take breath” ujjayi “(it is a technique that is normally done through the nose with the mouth closed), take a deep breath through your mouth so you can feel the air hits the back of the throat. Meanwhile, inhale and exhale, let the shoulders relax while doing so; when the yawning comes, let the jaw muscles to stretch, relax and expand the yawn. ”
It does not inhibit yawning, do it many times a day you can, with a lot of freedom, and you’ll feel free of tensions.
This therapy is also very effective to reduce stress levels and improve the sleeping time over night. Beside, once we start to yawn it is a cycle effect, they are non stoppable.