Yawn, Yawn, Yawn By Shelley Stockwell-Nicholas, PhD - International Hypnosis Federation President, Author, Artist and More
Your mouth opens wide, your jaw and eardrums stretch with an amazing inspiration. Your eyes close tight as you inhale with all your might. Then you let it out and take it easy. Perhaps just the thought of a YAWN makes YOU YAWN! Well, why not? Your yawn is a natural way you relax.
Scientist. are perplexed by this natural reflex and what we know now is certainly not a bore.
Your yawn recalibrated your vagal nerve and biochemistry. It speeds up your heartbeat and moves oxygen and spinal fluid more rapidly through your body and as it increases your cerebral blood flow, it cools your brain with a “thermoregulatory effect” that literally defuses a “hot head.”
As added benefit, yawning is contagious! When you yawn around others, their mirror neurons respond with empathetic cooperation. You, and other lovely animals, naturally yawn to awaken or calm. Many infants begin yawning in the womb!
Atmospheric changes also may evoke a yawn.
A cultural anthropologist (my brother) told me that; “Our early ancestors yawned to communicate emotions… or boredom.” Sound familiar?
DO THIS and CHILL:
Pay attention to how and what you think and feel in this moment. On a scale from zero to ten how stressed are you (ten is most up-tight)? Now, close your eyes and take in a slow full mindful yawn all the way to your stomach. Pause and notice how you feel now.
Three MINDFUL yawns calm even more. A similar thing happens when you slowly breathe-in through your nose and exhale through your mouth with a nice AHH sound. Now, recall a time you were successful and savor your sense of satisfaction and yawn a few more times
TAKE IT EASY TOUCH: For an extra jolly, yawn and slowly stretch. Slow movements of your fingers and hands lightly caressing each other, nurture you as you release oxytocin, pleasurable bio-chemicals associated with love. Now, gently and slowly move your fingers over your arms, face, and body and smile.
DO THIS if ILL If you feel ill, it’s a good idea to yawn slowly 5-10 times an hour because yawning boosts your immune response.
DO THIS to STOP AN OUCH A full mindful yawn decreases physical pain! So, if you feel a tinge of pain, pause and take a few mindful yawns and notice the relief!
I heart you and yawn you. Shelley
Local Personality, Shelley Stockwell-Nicholas, PhD is a hypnotherapist, mindfulness and NLP trainer, artist and the author of 25 books. She certifies practitioners through the International Hypnosis Federation. You can call her at 310 541-4844.
