Gurumayi Chidvilasananda named the Yawny Breath Exercise and designed its instructions. This exercise brings about ease in the body and allows the breath to flow freely.
The “Preparation for Sweet Surprisee” webcast includes Gurumayi’s instructions on how to practice the Yawny Breath Exercise while sitting on the floor or in a chair.
You can also practice the Yawny Breath Exercise while lying down. Practicing while lying down helps you to drop your jaw without tilting your head back.
Here are instructions for how to practice the yawny breath while lying down:
Lie down on the floor in shavasana, corpse pose, (diagram A) or with your legs up
on a chair (diagram B).
- In both of these positions, the back of the head rests on the floor. Your chin is not tucked down; it is in a neutral position. You can place a small, rolled blanket or towel under your neck for more support if you wish.
- If you are practicing with your legs up on a chair, be sure your upper legs, your lower legs, and torso are at 90-degree angles to each other, as indicated in the diagram.
- You may need to experiment with different chairs to find one that supports proper alignment.
- If your knees are higher than your lower legs and ankles, you can place a blanket or cushion under your calves so that your lower legs and upper legs are at a 90-degree angle.
Once you have established your posture, you can begin practicing the yawny breath. For further details and instructions, participate in the “Preparation for Sweet Surprise” webcast.