When I witness injustice, my jaw aches.
Do you ever have jaw tension? A few years ago I learned this jaw release technique, and it helped me so much I want to share it with you.
Do you feel resentment about the onslaught of oppression and dehumanization right now? When I feel stressed or angry, my jaw is where my tension and rage goes. Unsurprisingly, my TMJ has been acting up.
If you find yourself clenching, or just want a relaxing 10 minutes of restorative yoga, I made you a video:
It's a good one to do in bed if you can, or before bed, or when you first wake up. Try it if you're having trouble sleeping.
Micro movements of your jaw and tongue can affect not only your jaw, but on a deeper level your vagus nerve, and thus release tension more globally throughout your autonomic nervous system.
Restorative Yoga to Tame Your Jaw Tension and Tone Your Vagus Nerve
If you're wondering how to calm your overactive sympathetic nervous system, and learn a simple vagus nerve reset, this restorative yoga pose with mindful micro-movements will help.
Subtle movements of your jaw and tongue not only help reduce pain in your temporomandibular joints, or TMJ, they also soothe your vagus nerve, especially the ventral vagal branches connected to your face, mouth, and tongue.
You don't have to put your legs up if you don't want to, and there's really not much to watch. Just lie on your back, press play and CHILL. The jaw movements begin at 4.5 minutes into the video.
Micro movements of the jaw and tongue can affect not only your jaw and neck, but on a deeper level your vagus nerve, and thus release tension more globally.
This is a subtle practice, done almost entirely in the restorative yoga posture 'legs up the wall', or viparita karani. Allow this gentle inversion to reverse blood flow and nourish you as you mindfully focus on the subtle movements of your tongue and jaw.
I hope you try the jaw tension tamer YouTube video. Please like and subscribe!
The jaw movements begin at 4.5 minutes into the video. If it's bedtime or nap time, you can use the gentle restorative yoga practice to help you go to sleep.
When we're well-rested, we will be much more effective at building a more inclusive world. As we do this empowering work together, we will embody self compassion, bringing our families and communities together in deeper truth and healing.
If you breathe, you belong here.
Remember, this is NOT medical advice!
Stop Walking On Eggshells!
Gentle yoga to release your stress and shift your mindset about struggle.
If you get your buttons pushed often by other people's issues, you may be hypervigilant. You might feel it in your body as clenching, tension, or chronic pain.
You'll become more grounded in awareness of your body.
