Why do we yawn during yoga?

[Lollypoppet]

Well, I'm new and just started doing Yoga. I love it, and even though the poses are very simple, I always find myself yawning a lot at the end and after, during the breathing part, where we just lay and meditate for a while. Why?

Is it a release? I like to think it is :) Only because in other experiences, a sigh or a yawn can be a sign of release. But honestly why do we? x

[jusmail]

The process of cleansing has begun I guess

[annabelle239]

It's because it's either very very relaxing for you or because your are releasing resistance. I had heard before and experienced myself that people yawn a lot during EFT and that it's a sign it's working. It means you are releasing the resistance you are tapping on. So,I tend to think yawning can happen during other times of releasing resistance as well.

[LadyMay]

It could also mean that you need more oxygen in your body as you adjust to the new routine.

[blackraven]

Originally Posted by Lollypoppet

Well, I'm new and just started doing Yoga. I love it, and even though the poses are very simple, I always find myself yawning a lot at the end and after, during the breathing part, where we just lay and meditate for a while. Why?

Is it a release? I like to think it is :) Only because in other experiences, a sigh or a yawn can be a sign of release. But honestly why do we? x

Lollypoppet - I yawn when I'm in an air-conditioned car and the air is being forced toward my face. I also yawn in front of a fan. I yawn in the freezer section of the grocery store. And I yawn when first starting a meditation session. What do they all have in common? A deeper breath due to increased oxygen flow? That's what I thought until I read the article below. I do know that many if not most forms of meditation are about the breath...breathing in deeper, more fully and exhaling out the stagnant air inside the lungs.

http://www.hngn.com/articles/30856/2...onditioner.htm

Blackraven

[blackraven]

Lollypoppet - I came back to this thread and realized I said 'meditation' instead of yoga. Yoga is a form of exercise and below is an interesting article related to yawning during exercise.

http://yourlifetube.com/7-reasons-wh...ring-exercise/

Blackraven

[Tail11]

When I was in kid in band class, my musical instructor told us that when we yawn, we intake more oxygen than a regular breath. Perhaps it's your body asking for more oxygen.

[The Back Seat]

Yawning is a stretch. I like to accompany my yawns with a full body stretch. Similar to waking up in the morning and doing a full body stretch with a yawn to awaken your entire body. Some people only yawn from the mouth and are restricting the benefits. Next time you yawn, yawn into your whole body allowing your spine to stretch as well. If you understand the idea of chi, connect your head to the heavens and you feet to the earth and let the energy flow

[JoeVallee]

In Yoga you learn how to breath during every pose if you don’t breath correctly like in kundalini yoga you breath in on the right side of the exercise and breath out on the left. Like for example with neck turns. If you are not breathing correctly your system tries to get more oxygen that’s why you yawn. That’s at least what I think is happening.
Joe

[Tanemon]

There's been at least one other discussion about the yawning topic on SpiritualForums, in relation to spiritual practices:

http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/sh...ad.php?t=83866