Are you promoting yawning in your mediations? If not, you may want to rethink that

Yawning can affect the way we interact with each other. Read what neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Newberg has to say about that mouth-opened-wide action. From "Yawn: It’s one of the best things you can do for your brain" (Penn Gazette):

Several recent brain-scan studies have shown that yawning evokes a unique neural activity in the areas of the brain that are directly involved in generating social awareness and creating feelings of empathy. One of those areas is the precuneus, a tiny structure hidden within the folds of the parietal lobe. According to researchers at the Institute of Neurology in London, the precuneus appears to play a central role in consciousness, self-reflection, and memory retrieval. The precuneus is also stimulated by yogic breathing, which helps explain why different forms of meditation contribute to an increased sense of self-awareness. It is also one of the areas hardest hit by age-related diseases and attention deficit problems, so it’s possible that deliberate yawning may actually strengthen this important part of the brain.

For these reasons I believe that yawning should be integrated into exercise and stress reduction programs, cognitive and memory enhancement training, psychotherapy, and contemplative spiritual practice. And, because the precuneus has recently been associated with the mirror-neuron system in the brain (which allows us to resonate to the feelings and behaviors of others), yawning may even help us to enhance social awareness, compassion, and effective communication with others.

Now are you going to invite yawns to your next conflict resolution event?

Comments

[Nick Heap]

Very interesting. In re-evaluation counselling theory and practice www.rc.org yawning is one of the natural ways of discharging painful emotion (that include laughing, sweating, shaking ,crying, storming and talking). I have often found I yawn a lot when I am being listened to profoundly and this helps me think more clearly. Your post suggests how this might work. Thanks.

[StephanieWestAllen]

Thanks very much, Nick. I will take a look at re-evaluation counseling therapy. Sounds interesting.

[Amanda Bucklow, London]

I already do encourage yawning (or at the very least make a positive comment when someone yawns and looks embarrassed) for exactly this reason. I also try to pepper the 'waiting' moments with interesting snippets about how the brain works. It is amazing how many times people will then feed those back to me during difficult sessions which is a rewarding indicator of an increased sense of awareness of their own needs and of others.

I always enjoy your posts Stephanie. Thanks for the constant stream of great thoughts and insights.