Chapter 1: The Art of Relaxation

What occurs when you allow yourself to unwind completely? The layers of stress dissipate, revealing a sense of tranquility that emerges from the depths of your being.

It has been a challenging few weeks, possibly even months. I seem to have lost track of time. Life feels particularly tough lately, and I’m not alone in this sentiment. I see similar expressions on my friends’ social media and hear it in casual conversations; it appears to be a common experience.

Recently, as I settled onto my mat for my daily yoga session, I could feel the built-up tension in my neck, shoulders, and even my face. I was eager for relaxation.

While maintaining a difficult balancing pose, my muscles strained to hold steady. I decided to visualize myself as incredibly sleepy, encouraging my muscles to surrender to the mat’s comfort.

With a large yawn, I whispered to myself, “So sleepy,” allowing my muscles to soften, just as they would when I collapse onto my bed, while still keeping the pose intact.

As yawns overwhelmed me, tears began to well in my eyes, and my muscles began to loosen with relief. The pose transformed into something manageable. I reassured myself that a nap awaited me after yoga, and my body responded by further relaxing into the posture.

In Supine Twist, with my left leg draped over to the right, arms stretched in a T position, and head turned left, I felt like a sleepy fairy resting on a delicate vine. I surrendered to the moment, enjoying the soothing music playing through my AirPods. With each breath, I found myself yawning more deeply, accompanied by those satisfying pops in my spine reminiscent of a chiropractor’s adjustments.

Breathe in

Breathe out

[pop]

Breathe in

Breathe out

[pop]

Breathe in

Breathe out

[pop]

Another. Big. Yawwwnnnnn.

[pop]

This gentle experiment has remarkably enhanced my yoga practice, enabling me to release accumulated tension, similar to when I collapse on my bed after a long day.

Letting Go of Burdens

I’ve been reflecting on those expansive yawns—how fantastic they feel, how tears come unbidden, and how liberated I am after a lengthy session of yawning. I feel rejuvenated, as if a heavy load has been lifted from my shoulders.

Try it now: A big yaaawwwwwn. Doesn’t that feel delightful?

The seemingly simple act of yawning has numerous benefits:

• It may increase the oxygen levels in your blood.
• It helps remove impurities from the lungs.
• Yawning can enhance hearing by massaging the ears and loosening wax.
• It relaxes and tones the large jaw muscles, allowing the neck and throat to unwind.
• Yawning also stimulates vital points in the face and lymphatic system.

Cooling Down

Over the years, various theories have emerged regarding the purpose of yawning. A study featured in National Geographic suggested that yawning serves as a means to cool the brain. The walls of the maxillary sinus, found in our cheekbones, expand and contract with each yawn, akin to a bellows.

The brain is sensitive to temperature and must remain cool for optimal functioning, much like a computer that requires cooling to operate efficiently. Thus, yawning may serve as a cooling mechanism.

From a performance perspective, yawning appears to enhance our capabilities. Singers use yawning to fully relax their throat and facial muscles before performing. Similarly, public speakers often yawn prior to delivering a speech. Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno claims that yawning aids his performance, saying it “brings in the oxygen and releases the nerves.” Even paratroopers are known to yawn right before jumping from planes.

Who knew yawning could be a secret to peak performance? Here are several reasons to incorporate yawning into your routine:

• It stimulates alertness and concentration.
• It optimizes brain activity.
• It enhances cognitive function.
• It improves memory recall.
• It deepens introspection and consciousness.

Taking a Mindful Break

Engaging in a mindful yawning session may help reset your entire system, allowing for improved productivity throughout the day. Stand up and begin yawning, wide and freely. If natural yawns don’t come, fake a few with a pronounced “ahhh” as you exhale. They will eventually come.

Continue to yawn 10 to 12 times, paying attention to sensations around your mouth, throat, and face. When finished, notice how you feel throughout your body. Refreshed? Relaxed? You’re welcome.

If you find yourself feeling excessively fatigued after this exercise, you may indeed need more sleep. If you’ve been experiencing stress or anxiety lately, you might notice continued yawning, as I have. My body craves to release all that pent-up tension.

In any case, embrace those yawns, knowing that you’re providing your body with a special gift.

Releasing Stored Energy

What fascinates me most about yawning is its potential to release stored trauma. Trauma can become lodged in the body, and yawning may facilitate the release of that energy. This release can manifest in various forms: crying, laughing, shaking, yawning, shivering, or even hyperventilating.

Just the other day, while practicing yoga, I experienced a profound emotional release during Savasana (Corpse Pose). My body quaked with an overwhelming sadness, yet afterward, I felt lighter, and the world appeared brighter.

Yawning, too, is thought to expel negative energy from the body, replacing it with a sense of positivity. I firmly believe in letting go of any burdens, no matter their nature, and allowing them to dissipate.

The Contagious Nature of Yawning

I find it delightful that yawns are contagious. You are six times more likely to yawn after witnessing someone else do so. This phenomenon likely stems from social mirroring, where individuals (and other animals) mimic the actions of those around them.

Mirror neurons in the brain strive to align our feelings with our movements. When we observe someone yawn, we instinctively want to experience that sensation ourselves.

This may also relate to social bonding; when someone smiles at you, you often smile back without even realizing it. This form of unspoken communication is common, and individuals who are more empathetic tend to mirror these actions, yawning when they see others do the same.

In Conclusion

When you feel a yawn coming on, allow it to take over. This powerful urge is beneficial—boosting creativity, enhancing productivity, improving emotional wellness, and benefiting brain function.

Take a moment for some deep, expansive yawns that linger. Let the tears flow, and let your jaw relax. You’ll be releasing stagnant energy and welcoming in an influx of positive, healthy energy.

What a remarkable gift it is to replace the tension built up over challenging weeks and months with rejuvenating energy.

Chapter 2: The Science of Yawning

Discover how the vagus nerve reset can help release trauma stored in the body and understand the significance of polyvagal exercises.

Learn how to effectively release trauma from your body and reset your vagus nerve for improved well-being.