It seemed to me that in order for the jaw muscles not to “stagnate”, because a person opens his mouth completely only when brushing his teeth, and while breathing or eating, we work the jaw by a maximum of a third :))

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I read in some scientific journal (which one, unfortunately, I don’t remember) that yawning served as a signal for higher primates to collectively go to sleep, which is why it is “contagious.”
It probably looks like this. Initially, yawning was an “unconditioned reflex act” of fish and reptiles under conditions of oxygen starvation. For example, a fish in warm water, usually not rich in oxygen, floats to the surface and swallows air. In all “evolutionary descendants” of fish, this “unconditioned reflex act” was preserved. In higher animals, for example, in primates, it manifests itself during fatigue and when the body is preparing for sleep, apparently then the supply of oxygen to the brain is reduced, if only due to a decrease in the general activity of the body. Well, since this behavior was regular when going to bed, and the simultaneous going to sleep of higher primates gave them some kind of evolutionary advantage, then as a result of natural selection, “yawning” was fixed as “a contagious! unconditioned reflex act.” It remains only to find out what kind of evolutionary advantages the signal of “simultaneous going to sleep” has for higher primates. For example, this assumption: at night, primates still cannot be active, but during the day, if all members of the herd have slept equally well, then, if necessary, they can all show maximum activity at the same time, i.e. there are no tired or sleep-deprived people. In addition, since the animals were active at the same time, in such populations there was a higher level of communication between individuals, and therefore their ability for more advanced and successful social behavior in a hostile natural environment (and for higher primates this is especially important) , which naturally had a positive effect on natural selection for such populations.
It would be interesting to hear the opinions of experts on this matter.

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But how can I explain the following facts that I have the opportunity to observe in my body?
1. during educational courses lasting 3 hours, often during the second half of classes, the mouth simply cannot close from yawning - and there is no way to overcome it, although there is absolutely no desire to sleep! The strangest thing is that as soon as classes are over, the yawning disappears.
2. the same thing happens during physical activity (active!) - the last hour of fitness is spent fighting yawning, and this continues exclusively until the minute the workout ends.

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“3 hours, often during the second half of classes, the mouth simply cannot close from yawning - and there is no way to overcome it, although there is absolutely no desire to sleep!” Here. And on the sixth pair you will yawn.

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Yes, and I also wonder why we are drawn to yawn when we are talking to a person with whom we are not interested?
Sometimes I can barely restrain a yawn. But as soon as we stop talking, I’m so cheerful again, and I don’t feel like yawning at all. :)

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Or maybe yawning is an assessment of the surrounding situation, that is, whether it is favorable or not for relaxation? After all, as soon as one begins to yawn, others also begin to evaluate the situation around them, and then if they agree that they can rest, then they also begin to yawn.

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It seems to me that yawning is the same as stretching, only for the respiratory system. Animals often do both things at the same time. But a person is embarrassed to stretch in public, but can yawn by covering his mouth with his hand. Therefore, in humans these actions are sometimes performed separately.

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Yawning is “contagious” because in the nerve centers that carry out the act of yawning, there is a summation of subthreshold excitation from the receptors of the lungs with external afferentation coming from sensory systems that record the yawning of another person. Latent excitation in the nerve centers, which has not reached the threshold capable of causing a yawning reflex, thus becomes threshold and is realized in the act of yawning.
Perhaps this really once served as a collective signal for going to bed, I don’t know. Its emergence, in principle, may be secondary - that is, ritualization of this pattern has occurred. But the mechanism itself is like this - a summation of excitations.

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I agree that you really want to yawn just at the thought of yawning and when discussing this topic, and that very often you have to yawn when the brain is clearly overloaded with information, moreover, read in the monotonous voice of a lecturer... how is all this connected with the need to straighten the lungs!?

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You are all right and say everything correctly, but you do not say the most important thing. The fact is that this phenomenon cannot be explained only from the point of view of a materialistic understanding of the world. It's all about complex energy potential. Carry out one simple experiment. Bring your palm to your mouth and simply exhale, remember the sensations in your palm. When you yawn, remember your experience and bring your palm up again, and you will be surprised how much more energy is released when yawning than just when you exhale. The palm simply gets burned, and not just heat is released, but biological (astral-mental) energy. Yawning is a way of equalizing the energy levels of the body and brain. The brain, making up 2% of a person's mass, consumes 20% of all energy. The whole body works for the brain! That is, in the evening, when a person is tired, the energy potential of his body is very low, at this time, when his brain is still working at full capacity and is “overheated,” yawning removes a huge amount of “unnecessary” energy from the brain into the surrounding space, this the brain is “cooled”, the energy potential of the whole body is leveled, before falling asleep. The most important thing is that this energy is not only thermal. During a lecture, when a person sits for a long time without moving, the energy potential of the body decreases again, the brain becomes “hot” in relation to the body and a protective reaction of the body occurs - yawning - release, removal of energy from the brain, equalization of the energy potentials of the brain and body occurs again. When the body freezes, yawning is also observed - cooling of the brain. In the morning, when you first wake up, your brain starts working much faster than your body. The body has more mass, is more energetic, lazier, warms up slowly, and again an energy imbalance is quickly created between the “processor” and the “hardware” and our “cooler” immediately turns on - yawning. Try to do exercises in the morning, and your energies will quickly equalize, there will be no yawning. Yawning is a way to protect the brain from overheating, and this is typical not only for people, but also for animals, birds, fish - everyone who has a more or less developed brain. The most interesting thing happens after yawning. A clot of energy withdrawn from the brain and suspended in space forms a kind of intelligent energy creation (a kind of intelligent manure), which is urgently needed in the astral world as not only an energy supply, but also an independent energy entity. And this essence begins to quickly lose its energy, radiating it into space or being pulled away by energy vampires of the astral world. There is nothing wrong with this, it is like ordinary biological waste, which is home and food for bacteria and worms. Possessing partial intelligence, this entity is afraid of death, and does not want to be pulled to pieces, it begins to actively pump out energy from the surrounding biological entities - you and me, in the form of collective yawns, prolonging its existence as far as possible. That's all, everything else: reflexes, oxygen, lungs - is secondary and cannot explain the main thing.

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Vov, very interesting and original interpretation. I have never seen such an explanation anywhere.. please write where you read about it.

I agree with everything except: “A clot of energy withdrawn from the brain and hovering in space forms a kind of intelligent energy creation... urgently needed in the astral world as not only an energy supply, but also an independent energy entity.” “Possessing partial intelligence, this entity is afraid of death, and does not want to be pulled to pieces, it begins to actively pump out energy from the surrounding biological entities - you and me, in the form of collective yawns, prolonging its existence as far as possible.”

about the “clump of energy”... in theory, in order to avoid temperature and energy imbalance between the brain and the body (the person from whom this entity takes it), the body should not give up the energy accumulated during the day...
but everything else surprisingly accurately explains this phenomenon..=)

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Good afternoon
The body does not accumulate energy during the day; it rather expends it and
transforms. A person receives energy either from food or from vampirism.
The brain is the main organ of a person; all other organs are created for it.
service.
Like a car that has been driven all day and cools down in the evening,
parked, so a person “cools down” in the evening, in the morning
"starts up". And like a car, the engine is the hottest in
in relation to other parts, so is the brain of a person tired during the day
is warm and hot. The exhaust clicks as the car cools down
pipe, gurgles with antifreeze, etc. - “yawns”, this is how a person cools down his brain
yawning, leveling the balance of energy between a hot brain and a tired one
body. It's not a waste of energy, it's just a form of fast
putting yourself in order. You can cover the car with a blanket, but it will
“moan” all night and won’t calm down until the morning, so will a person, if he doesn’t
yawn, will not fall asleep and will not rest if he does not lose excess energy
excitement. Maybe with a car it’s not a very good example.
But if a car has just thermal energy, then the brain produces
in addition to thermal energy, there is also a special subtle energy (astral, semi-intelligent energy).
This energy is structured by the brain into a special cell, a matrix, which has
if I may say so? elements of the mind, since it is produced by the brain.
It's like an animal's warmth, snuggle up to a cat or a dog and you will feel
that the heat they generate is different from the heat of an electric heating pad or battery
heating. But this intelligent energy, not having a material “capacity”
for existence in space quickly comes to naught, melts.
Life lives by living. A person even eating plants, seeds,
absorbs other lives and energies to replenish its own.
There are different energies. Thermal, chemical, biological and energy
"reasonableness". There is nothing scary or creepy about this. This is for everyone
the law of conservation and transformation of energy known in the material world.
With this very energy of radiation of the mind, not only of a person, but also
any object, including the Earth, and the most interesting things happen
phenomena. This energy serves as the basis of life in the astral world - the World of subtle
entities. They are created by our energy, thoughts, emotions. They simply
process it like bacteria in the material world process
waste products of our biological life, making it possible for us to exist in
this world.
A peculiar pillar of the astral, subtle
intelligent energy, which spins a kind of vortex above us, a spin,
a torsion funnel of energy, peculiarly structured (like water,
flowing out of the bath swirls into a vortex). Ancient circle dances,
round dances around dolmens and trees swirled the general whirlwind of the astral
flow around a stone, tree, other place of power, which was modulated
thoughts and desires of the mystery participants. And this prayer is through the astral world
changed the course of events in the material world. This is what they still serve for today.
church services and the tall domes of our churches, on the bulbs of which
These torsion fields are twisted. A person is intuitive or influenced
I selected the shape of the bulbs from the outside to make it easier to twist on their surface
donut whirlwind, and increase the effectiveness of your prayers. And the direction
The rotation of the field is determined by the so-called mentality of earthlings. These torsos
then they live independently, merging into one huge one hanging over
every city and fueled by our energies. And yawning is, well,
a small thing, like cleaning the firebox from burning tons of coal in the boiler room.
But I got carried away and this is a completely different topic...
Where did I read this? I don’t remember, there’s a drop of information everywhere, from which
a picture of the world was being built. Or maybe this is the result of reflection or
clarifications, the result of intuitive knowledge of the world.
If interested, write, let's talk...

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“The palm simply gets burned, and not just heat is released, but biological (astral-mental) energy.” Firstly, there is NO specific biological, much less astral-mental energy. And secondly, just when you yawn, covering your mouth with your hand, she feels NOTHING AT ALL. A simple exhalation feels like a stream of hot air.

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“In the morning, when you just wake up, the brain begins to work much faster than the body. The body has more mass, is more energetic, lazier, warms up slowly, and again an energy imbalance is quickly created between the “processor” and the “hardware” and ours immediately turns on “ cooler" - yawning. "On the contrary, the body needs 50 milliseconds, while half-asleep of the brain lasts for about six to one and a half hours. And you’re not taking a dictation, where there’s no point in writing correctly. It's the other way around here.

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You are trying to explain the fact that yawning is contagious from the point of view of the theory of evolution. I will not say that this remains an unproven theory, but nevertheless everyone believes in it. Well, God be with him.
And how come the predators didn’t think of hunting like this - they ran into the cave, yawned, everyone around them started snoring - chew, I don’t want to.
Or here is another smart guy with astral egregors, talking about other nonsense here.

And yet, why is it contagious?

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I also gaped while reading the comments. Moreover, my pictures were turned off; I only saw the text. Those. The very concept of yawning triggers the yawning reflex. But, let’s say, if a cat or a dog is yawning at home, I don’t want to yawn at all.
Here they expressed an interesting opinion that yawning serves to bring the body into working condition, and not vice versa. Somehow it didn’t occur to me, but it’s true - if we’re bored and sleepy, but for various reasons we don’t go to bed yet - we yawn, the body gets a jolt from a sharp influx of oxygen when we inhale and the removal of carbon dioxide when we exhale. And some of the muscles come into tension, just like when stretching.
There are just a few things that are unclear. Why does the mouth open so wide? After all, this is not necessary for a deep breath. It happens to me that the hyoid muscle cramps. The version to stretch the jaw joints is somehow not suitable for activating the body’s work. Personally, only one option comes to my mind - this is how a facial massage is done, because pay attention when we yawn, not only does our mouth open, but many muscles on the face tense. In physical education classes we were told ways to tone ourselves up, one of them was to rub our face with the palms of our hands (by the way, I tested it and it really helps).
The next incomprehensible point is the reason for the “contagiousness” of yawning. All the versions voiced here sound somehow unconvincing. Agree, when a person yawns, a person experiences pleasure; there is even an expression “yawn sweetly.” And all such reactions in the body are caused by their importance for its life (sneezing, eating, scratching, stretching, relieving itself, etc.). Therefore, I do not agree that the reason why yawning is contagious is social. The reasons must be physiological. But which ones exactly?
I liked the version that was posted a little higher about energy cleansing. There is something in it, but I still don’t agree with much. I don't understand how the brain cools down when yawning. And the hottest organ is still the liver. Perhaps you meant something slightly different, not thermal cooling? And again, it is not clear why when we ring, we wince and open our mouths if the released energy is of an astral nature?

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Another holiday has passed. Again, many of us got comfortable and sat watching TV until late. Not wanting to interrupt watching holiday performances, concerts, films. And still, after two hours, you started yawning. Occasionally at first. And then, if nothing special is done, we do it more and more often, from time to time falling into a doze. To the point where we fall asleep in the most interesting place.

So, what kind of obsession is yawning? Sometimes it appears in the most inopportune place, at the most inopportune time. So let's say, the author of these lines watched the film “Repentance” by Tengiz Abuladze twice, and for the first time during the years of its release. And both times I steadily began to doze off by the end of the first episode. Yes, and the whole second one. Although “The Tree of Desire” by the same author, also in Georgian, I watched with the greatest interest back in the seventies.

First, let's look at what others say about yawning. For example, the following note was published back in 2001 in “Arguments and Facts”, in the “Health” supplement, No. 22:

“Yawning is said to have many health benefits. When yawning, a person’s airways expand as much as possible, the muscles relax, then a brief, but very pleasant for the body, loss of consciousness occurs. Yawning helps the body relieve fatigue, mental stress, “shake off” stress, and renew the air in the lungs. Therefore, do not be offended by those who accidentally yawn next to you. This is not due to disrespect or lack of interest in you, it’s just that in this way the person shows that he is relaxed, resting, and feels good next to you.”

And here is another, later message on this topic, which appeared on the Internet a little over a year ago with coordinates: http://www.ria.ua/viev.php?id=20509

“Scientists believe that yawning is not an indicator of lack of sleep, but a physiological action that stimulates brain function. So it turns out that yawning in class is even useful!

Yawning is a reflex act that appears when tired, staying in a stuffy or smoky room, deterioration of the heart and blood vessels, lack of muscle activity, and also in a drowsy state, says physiologist Valentin Zaserdny.

The best way to combat yawning is to ventilate the room. Gymnastic exercises with the window open also help get rid of yawning. A person yawns because his brain is in a state of inhibition, and yawning “stimulates” the activity of brain cells and improves cerebral circulation. And if neither fresh air nor exercises help in the fight against yawning, if it is persistent and prolonged, you must definitely consult a doctor.

It has long been known that yawning occurs most often from fatigue or boredom. But there is a lot of controversy surrounding the physiological process itself. Physiologist Valentin Zaserdny believes that nerve cells in the brain react to fatigue in this way and send a signal to the facial muscles. In most cases, yawning acts as a warning about the transition from wakefulness to sleep.”

In general, the second message is more accurate. In general, others are no different from these two, for example, this one called “Yawn for cheerfulness,” http://intermed.w3.comset.net/news.php?id=295&limit=672. There are also materials that add information about the contagiousness of yawning and the like. But, nevertheless, they are characterized by some one-sidedness in consideration and in approaches.

Are people already yawning or are they still relaxed?!

But, before clarifying the above interpretations, we will give our point of view on the essence of yawning and its usefulness. In general, while agreeing with the description of the physiology of the yawning process, we note that there are not entirely correct interpretations of whether yawning is good or not, for whom and in what cases.

Researchers involved in the study of a wide variety of processes in the human body, including reflexive ones, have probably noticed the following long ago. That, just as yawning belongs more to the sphere of the mental, its analogue for the muscles and body - stretching - belongs more to the sphere of somatics, the physical. Both in adults and children. Yes, even among animals. The same dogs or cats.

If you look closely at the times and situations when this happens, you will notice the following.

Firstly, both yawning and stretching are involuntary acts, that is, not initiated by consciousness (we are not talking about their imitation). And they are launched at the subconscious level. The subconscious, at the level of which, figuratively speaking, constant monitoring and tracking of both the current state of the body and psyche, as well as conditional views of their condition in the future, takes place. In addition, it is at the subconscious level that most of the life-supporting processes of the body and psyche are controlled and regulated. That is, they are controlled not by consciousness, not by the cortical structures of the brain.

Secondly, it can be noted that stretching and, especially, yawning, as a rule, are involuntarily provoked at the border between states of the body and psyche, characterized as sleep-wakefulness and wakefulness-sleep. And their first manifestation can be called, so to speak, a trigger switching of the state, respectively, of the psyche and body. Without dwelling here on depressive and related states, let’s say that the behavior of the psyche when yawning, and the behavior of the body and organs when stretching, depending on which side (sleep-wakefulness in the morning, or, for example, from wakefulness to sleep in the evening ) approaches its own, as if antipode, state of the individual - will be significantly different.

After normal sleep, both yawning and stretching occur against the background of partially or completely restored adaptive capabilities. But they have not yet been adequately included in solving current, updated problems. And, in this case, their manifestations have a kind of jolting function, leading the psyche and the body out of such a borderline state, “stupor”. These are good yawns and stretches. Although attention and concentration are not yet at their full potential, they are approaching the optimum. Just shake the bonds of sleep a little more. Through an involuntary “afterburner”, triggered in one case by yawning, and in another by stretching.

Yawning and stretching usually occur after a long time of wakefulness, when a relatively long period of perception, almost at the level of “afterburner”, that is, the same overstrain - a difficult situation, process (lesson, lecture, performance, report, situation on the road, etc. .) depletes the optimal current adaptive capabilities for concentration, attention, and capturing subtle but significant changes - they are, as it were, a signal that further engagement with the current activity, process, will no longer be productive. And the perception of the thread or essence of the process, conversation, communication begins to get lost, going beyond the scope of conscious perception. That is, at the subconscious level the attention trigger is reset. Which is equivalent to the fact that under the current circumstances, the deep structures of consciousness (consider the subconscious) are no longer able to adequately perceive information in the same way in the future.

In particular, yawning is provoked by the subconscious and when a tense situation is no longer perceived as dangerous. That is, a conscious analysis of the situation with the silent consent of the subconscious says that the essentially dangerous part of what caused, required attention, tension, composure has already been passed, it has “resolved” or been overcome. That it is not relevant.

who should be upset by others' yawning?

In the second case (involuntary withdrawal from maintaining tension of attention or the skeleton and muscles), the situation begins to slip out of control, since the psyche or body and muscles, in the case of involuntary stretching, are at the limit of their current adaptive capabilities. For some because of monotony, and for others because of unperceived complexity. And without adequate replenishment of adaptation capabilities (or, more simply, rest, recuperation), there will be no adequate response (attention, control of thought, driving a car while driving, actual subtle, calibrated actions, etc.). The monotony of the perception of the situation, the current decrease in the relevance of motivation due to fatigue, helpfully prompt the tired attention that “everything is fine, relax, you’re tired.” Therefore, the monotony of pumping and perception will quickly lead to the situation quickly getting out of control. And the first bell, the signal of this, is precisely involuntary yawning.

This is something that both teachers and teachers especially need to remember. And to all those who want to interest their potential partners in business negotiations. Because at the level of consciousness, your interlocutor, listener, partner can and still wants to treat you favorably. But, at the level of their subconscious, the idea is already being formed that you are already “loading” them. Hidden rejection and irritation grow.

In general, if your potential partners are not tired, but during communication with you they begin to yawn involuntarily, take note that your proposals do not seem to them worthy of their attention. Or they are presented in an unclear and complex manner. Therefore, if circumstances allow, it is better to correctly wind down and round off communication, preparing for the next time in more detail.

This does not mean that you need to express your thoughts in a complicated way. Simpler and more intelligible. But in such a way as to catch the hook of interest. And then, the situation...

Yawning is an unconditioned reflex, manifested in the form of a special respiratory act that occurs involuntarily. It all starts with a long deep breath, during which all possible obstacles to the penetration of air are eliminated, namely, the mouth and glottis open wide. Immediately after inhalation there is a quick exhalation, accompanied by a characteristic sound.

It should be noted that not only people yawn, but also almost all living inhabitants of our planet - mammals, birds, amphibians and even fish. We ourselves begin to yawn in the womb.

The exact causes of yawning have not yet been fully established; at the same time, there are several hypotheses regarding the occurrence of this reflex.

Fatigue and lack of sleep

Very often people begin to yawn when they are tired and have not had enough sleep. At such moments, inhibition processes begin to predominate in the brain, as a result of which the activity of nerve cells decreases. The processes of inhibition of brain neurons affect many functions of the human body, including breathing, which becomes less deep and rare. As a result, oxidized metabolic products begin to accumulate in the blood. They irritate specific receptors and provoke yawning.

This version gives yawning a certain physiological meaning. During yawning, the blood is enriched with oxygen and accumulated carbon dioxide is eliminated. In addition, blood flow in the vessels of the brain increases. This happens because when yawning, the muscles of the face, neck and mouth tense. Together with the blood, more nutrients and oxygen begin to flow into the brain, and metabolic products, on the contrary, are intensively excreted. As a result, brain activity stops for some time.

Most likely, nature has provided such a mechanism in order to postpone rest for some time if for some reason it cannot take place. However, you should understand that this cannot continue for long, and if you have already begun to yawn, then perhaps it is time to rest and recuperate.

Brain overheating

This version explains situations when yawning appears in a completely alert person, and its appearance cannot be explained by fatigue or lack of sleep. This can happen due to anxiety, psychological stress, or being in a hot and stuffy room.

In this case, according to scientists, the cause of yawning is overheating of the brain, which requires maintaining a constant temperature, and even a slight increase in it leads to disruption of its activity. Yawning is necessary to regulate brain temperature. During the initial deep breath, a fair amount of cold air enters the body. In the lungs, this air heats up, cooling the blood, and is quickly expelled. Cooled blood enters the vessels of the brain and takes away excess heat. If the problem persists, yawning may recur.

The benefits of yawning

According to doctors, yawning is beneficial: it relaxes the muscles and expands the airways. Thanks to yawning, fatigue and nervous tension are relieved, and brain function is activated. This normalizes blood pressure and improves mood, which reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Yawning as a symptom

You should be wary if yawning does not stop and repeats for no apparent reason. Uncontrollable yawning may indicate the presence of a number of pathological conditions that require specialist intervention.

If repeated yawning is accompanied by drowsiness, malaise, and weakness, then this may indicate diseases of the nervous and endocrine systems, burnout syndrome and chronic fatigue.

Attacks of uncontrollable yawning can occur with vegetative-vascular dystonia, cerebrovascular accidents, migraines, and multiple sclerosis. Such yawning should not go unnoticed and you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Many people notice that when visiting church, standing at a church service, or reading a prayer at home, a person begins to yawn. And the more he does it, the easier it becomes. Why does this happen? There is an opinion that there is a demon in a person, and that is why this happens. Is it true?

In fact, yawning can occur due to relaxation. While visiting a temple or reading prayers, a person relaxes. At this moment, demons can tempt our flesh, but we should not think that yawning is a sign of demon possession.

Yawning during prayer

If while reading spells or prayers you begin to yawn, and the yawning does not let you go, pay attention to the room in which you are praying. If this happens only in a certain place, then it is quite possible that the room is stuffy and there is nothing to breathe; so due to lack of oxygen you start yawning.

It is also worth paying attention to the time of day and your condition. If this happens early in the morning, in the evening after a hard day at work, or when you are very tired, then perhaps you just want to sleep, and yawning is a completely natural process.

If you start yawning regardless of the time of day or the room you are in, then there is a possibility that you are influenced by dark forces. As you know, evil spirits very often interfere with a person reading prayers, sending him sneezing, yawning, scabies, etc. To get rid of bad influences, do the following.

During the waning moon, light a blue candle every day in the evening, place it in an uncut glass filled with salt and read the plot 3 times:

“In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I expel from myself, from those around me, furry devils, black demons, evil devils and all the evil spirits of the underworld. I conjure you, unclean ones, not to come near me from now on, not to ruin my prayer. Amen"

While reading, try not to yawn.

Yawning as a sign of the evil eye

There is also an opinion that yawning during prayer is a sign of the evil eye, which must be gotten rid of. You can do this as follows.

Take a mild knife, and lightly pressing it on the skin, draw a cross 33 times in the area of the heart, while reading the spell:

“I remove the evil eye, release it into the clouds, and continue to live without the evil eye. I kill with a knife, I pierce with a knife, I fasten with a cross. Amen.

Why does a person yawn?

The reasons for yawning are varied. Let's look at them in more detail:

Imbalance of carbon dioxide and oxygen. When a lot of carbon dioxide accumulates in our blood, our body reacts to this by causing a yawn, during which a person receives a large portion of oxygen, which helps maintain balance.
Yawning is like an energy drink. In the morning, yawning helps our body become more active. For the same purpose, a person begins to yawn, feeling signs of fatigue. There is a connection between yawning and stretching. If these two processes are carried out simultaneously, then we will not only saturate the blood with oxygen, but also improve blood circulation. After such actions, attention increases, and the person feels more alert.
Yawning is a sedative. Before exciting events, many people begin to yawn, which allows them to activate energy and cheer up. It has been observed that yawning “attacks” students before an exam, athletes before a competition, patients before an examination, and artists before a performance. This process tones the body and helps cope with anxiety.
Yawning is good for your nose and ears. During it, the canals leading to the Eustachian tubes and maxillary sinuses open and straighten, this helps get rid of “congestion” in the ears.
Relaxation by yawning. Yawning not only invigorates, but can also relax you. Voluntary yawning is used in some relaxation techniques. You need to lie down, relax as much as possible and open your mouth - very soon the process of yawning will begin, after which you will feel calm and peaceful.
Yawning before bed. In the evening, our body prepares for sleep, our heartbeat returns to normal, and a feeling of peace appears. Yawning helps us relax after a busy day. This is why people yawn before going to bed.
Yawning to nourish the brain. Scientists say that a person in a state of passivity slows down breathing, and nerve cells begin to work worse. When yawning, the lack of oxygen is replenished and blood circulation improves. The brain receives the required nutrition, and we are invigorated - both mentally and physically. This is why people yawn when they are bored.
Yawning helps reduce mental stress. This is probably the reason we yawn when we watch a boring movie or listen to an uninteresting lecture.
Yawning is like mini-gymnastics for the face. By yawning, we improve blood supply to brain cells. This occurs because the muscles in the face, neck, and mouth become tense during this process. Such gymnastics activates the brain.
Regulating brain temperature. Some scientists argue that yawning acts as a temperature regulator for the brain. When a person is hot, he yawns more often, thus receiving a portion of cool and fresh air, thanks to which the brain “cools down” and begins to function normally.

Yawning: interesting facts

a person yawns on average for about 6 seconds;
Autistic children usually do not yawn in response;
the frequency of yawning is the same in men and women;
men cover their mouths less often when yawning;
People who yawn too often should see a doctor, as it may be a sign of certain medical conditions.

You've probably noticed that yawning is contagious. If you watch a person yawn, you will soon start yawning yourself. Scientists say that this happens because we subconsciously empathize with other people, and that's why it happens.

Why does a person yawn, the meaning of yawning and signs

A person yawns in the womb and after birth this process accompanies his entire life. At this time, the chin and lower jaw drop, the head tilts back, and the eyes close. In addition, the actions are accompanied by stretching of the muscles. Scientists still cannot explain in detail the mechanism and significance of these movements. It is difficult to say why, when a person nearby yawns, it is so difficult to resist yawning in response.

Physiological reasons

Yawning does not always signal that the body wants to sleep. There is an opinion among scientists that it indicates a deficiency of oxygen in the body, but yawning is not associated with breathing. It has already been proven that a fit of yawning can strike people both in moments of boredom and during energetic activities.

Scientists are trying to explain this process for various reasons, including psychological and physiological. From a physiological point of view, yawning is provoked by the following factors:

Yawning is necessary to maintain a normal ratio of carbon dioxide and oxygen. As a result of this act, a strong inhalation occurs with an open mouth and a sharp exhalation, which enriches the tissues and organs with the oxygen necessary for normal functioning.
Yawning is a sedative for the nervous system, helping to overcome stress, which is why it can overcome exciting communication.
Acts as a stimulus to trigger the energy reserve that occurs as a result of oxygen enrichment after yawning. Brain activity is activated, albeit for a short time.

During the study, scientists noticed that during a boring lesson, students or schoolchildren can yawn more than 20 times within an hour in order to somehow invigorate the body and set it up for work.

The reason yawning occurs before bed is to help the body relax and prepare for sleep.
This process is triggered when the ear feels full as a result of a pressure imbalance.
It is believed that in this way the brain temperature is regulated. That is why the desire to yawn arises during stuffiness and heat in the room. During this movement, a deep breath is taken, which means more oxygen penetrates the body.
There is a theory that myocardial infarction or existing tumors can irritate the vagus nerve, which runs from the head to the abdomen, which provokes many reactions, including frequent yawning.
The reasons may be hidden behind neurological conditions; for example, it has been noted that patients diagnosed with epilepsy often yawn, which is again associated with a lack of oxygen to the brain.
Yawning is a consequence of the onset of a period of inhibition following excitation. Some functions are inhibited at this time, the amount of metabolic products in the blood increases, which provokes this process.
An empty stomach can also cause yawning.
If you didn’t manage to get enough sleep, you will definitely have a desire to yawn.

The listed versions of yawning once again confirm that constant yawning can be not only a symptom of lethargy, boredom, drowsiness, but also some diseases in the body.

If, while yawning, an adult experiences a feeling of incomplete inhalation or lack of air, then you should see a doctor and have your lungs checked. For representatives of the fair sex, such sensations may be a symptom of breast cancer.

From a psychological point of view

Psychologists explain the reasons for this process from their point of view. The cause of constant yawning may be prolonged stress or nervous overload. Such an act can provoke an attack of fear or anxiety, because at this moment the body's need for oxygen increases.

Depression is also often characterized by a strong desire to yawn. During such situations, the human body is in dire need of hyperventilation, which provokes yawning.

Features of the child's body

If a child yawns often, this does not mean that he mirrors the movements of his parents. Young children do not yet have such feelings as empathy, so the “mirror” act is unusual for them.

If parents notice that their child is constantly yawning, then the following problems can be suspected:

disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system;
stress;
fear;
anxiety;
nervous overstrain.

If you suspect psychological or neurological problems, you should visit a specialist. But most often the reason is quite banal - oxygen deficiency. In such situations, there can be only one recommendation - to walk more with your baby in the fresh air.

Function

Even scientists are not yet ready to give an exact answer to this question. There are many opinions and versions, and among them the following can be considered the most reliable:

Yawning serves to improve the supply of oxygen to tissues.
This act helps restore brain function, so it can attack while doing monotonous or boring work. As a result, blood circulation is activated, the mind is enlightened and performance increases.
Psychologists claim that yawning is intended to relieve stress, tension and psychological fatigue.
Yawning is intended to relax tense and tired muscles of the neck and the whole body, because it is not without reason that during this process we try to stretch.

Yawning is an important and, as it turns out, necessary reflex for the body.

Why is yawning contagious?

Each of us has noticed that as soon as the person next to you yawns, such a desire is immediately transmitted to the interlocutor. What is the phenomenon of contagiousness? Scientists are trying to explain this for two reasons:

"Nonverbal reflex"

According to this theory, the act of yawning is passed on from one person to another due to “primitive memory.” Ancient people did not know how to speak; they communicated with each other using facial expressions and gestures. When it was time to go to bed, the yawning of the tribe leader meant that it was time to sleep. Everyone else had to respond with support. This is a clear demonstration of group behavior, the actions of one person starting a chain reaction. Yawning is contagious, as is laughter.

The tendency to empathize explains the contagiousness of yawning.

Numerous studies by foreign experts confirm that not everyone begins to yawn in response, but only those who have the most developed part of the brain responsible for the ability to empathize.

Surprisingly, it is almost impossible to control the process; if someone nearby yawns, the desire to yawn also inevitably arises.

Some scientists believe that yawning is more contagious than laughter because it is beyond our control. One act of yawning lasts about 6 seconds and in half an hour you can yawn up to 75 times. Here's some more interesting information about it:

The frequency of yawning in men and women is the same, but the fair sex prefers to cover their mouth with their hand at this moment.
If, when the desire to yawn appears, you look at a person, then this process is unlikely to succeed.
It is not possible to control yawning with consciousness; if it starts, it can be repeated once every 60 seconds.

But humans are not the only ones who have the ability to yawn.

In the animal world

Those who have pets can confirm that they also don’t mind yawning. There are plenty of such individuals in the animal world:

Baboons, sitting on a branch, yawn to show their relatives and enemies their terrifying fangs.
Just after being born, little hedgehogs already know how to yawn.
Looking at pelicans, it is sometimes difficult to recognize whether the bird is yawning or has simply opened its mouth to dry its mouth pockets.
Hippos open their mouths the widest. If he tries to breathe in this way, the child will be able to fit into his mouth.
Baby dogs and cats are simply adorable when they yawn.
Koalas in eucalyptus trees are notoriously slow and lazy, so it's not surprising that they yawn constantly.
The ostrich opens its beak quite wide after waking up.
One might assume that the turtle is opening its mouth to scare away the enemy, but closed eyelids confirm that the animal is yawning after all.
Squirrels even delicately cover their mouths with their paws when yawning.
Even fish are capable of performing the act of yawning, but for them it most often serves as a demonstration of readiness to attack the victim.

These are our smaller brothers, they don’t even want to give in to us in this.

What causes yawning during prayer?

Many people wonder why it is difficult to overcome yawning during prayer. If you talk to the priest, then, as a rule, he will assure you of the presence of damage or the evil eye. But scientists, as always, have logical explanations for this phenomenon:

It has been noted that most often the act of yawning is observed in the morning or evening hours, and it is at this time that church services are taking place. The body either has not yet fully woken up or is in a tired state. In both cases, there is a lack of oxygen for the brain, which provokes yawning.
While reading a prayer out loud, one may experience normal anxiety in front of a large number of people.

Believers also claim that if a person begins to yawn during prayer, then the body is cleansed of all negativity.

Interesting information from esotericists: if yawning constantly begins while reading affirmations, then this means that the person has some obstacles to the implementation of his plans. You need to undergo cleansing and remove negativity from yourself.

The protruding tears during a yawn are easily explained by purely physiological reasons. When yawning, the eyes are closed, which puts pressure on the tear sacs. As a result, tear fluid is released, but does not always have time to drain into the nasopharynx.

Control measures

If yawning appears sometimes, for reasons known to you, then you should not specifically get rid of it. This is a natural physiological reaction of the body. But, if frequent yawning is observed, regardless of the condition and time of day, then treatment may be required. There are several methods to get rid of this act.

Exercises

The method is called “Deep Breaths”. The idea is to regularly take a few deep, slow breaths every 60 minutes. If you feel that an inappropriate yawn is approaching, then you need to inhale deeply through your mouth and exhale through your nose.

You can do without sighing and use regular cold water to moisten your upper lip and then your lower lip.

Healthy sleep

Considering that constant daytime yawning is often caused by lack of sleep, it is advisable to devote enough time to rest at night. In this case, you need to know how much sleep the body needs to recover.

You can lie down for 20-30 minutes during the daytime. This time is enough to relax and recuperate, but not enough to fully immerse yourself in a sound sleep.

Watch your back and lead a healthy lifestyle

Even the ancients said: “A person is only as healthy as his spine.” This truth is still true today, perhaps even more so than before. Constantly sitting in front of a computer monitor does not have the best effect on your posture. In addition, sitting in a half-bent position puts pressure on the diaphragm, which can lead to the desire to yawn.

If we take into account the lack of oxygen as the cause of yawning, then playing sports and an active lifestyle will help. After physical activity, blood circulation accelerates, the brain is supplied with sufficient oxygen and there is no desire to yawn.

Walks in the fresh air in any weather, and if you also give up smoking and other bad habits, your body will only thank you.

Reconsidering nutrition

Food from our table affects the functioning of the body and its condition. To prevent and combat yawning, the following recommendations will help:

The diet should be varied and complete.
There should be fresh vegetables and fruits on the table all year round.
Provide healthy nutrition.
Eliminate sweets and fast foods.
Try to drink about 1.5-2 liters of water a day, but reduce the amount of coffee before bed.

Food should supply the body with the necessary substances for normal functioning and health, and not clog it with toxins, carcinogens and useless carbohydrates.

Medicines for pathologies

If it turns out that the provocateur of frequent yawning is a disease, then you can get rid of it only after treatment of the underlying pathology.

Yawning due to disturbances in night rest is eliminated by normalizing sleep. To do this, you need to consult a doctor and undergo a course of medication that eliminates the problem. Sometimes involuntary yawning movements are observed during therapy with certain drugs, for example, SSRIs, then you can discuss with your doctor the question of reducing the dosage.

Yawning occurs for various reasons, including physiological, psychological and emotional. During a conversation with a friend who suddenly yawns, it is not surprising if the interlocutor repeats the action. But we must remember that if yawning constantly accompanies you for no apparent reason, then it is advisable to see a doctor so as not to miss the onset of the development of a serious pathology.

Each of us has personal experience with yawning. But few people understand what this process is, what function it performs in the body, and whether yawning is as safe as many believe. In the article we will take a closer look at why people yawn, and also consider many other questions regarding such a common and familiar phenomenon.

What is yawning

First of all, you need to understand what yawning actually is. Many people believe that they can control this process. In fact, this is a reflex breathing act, which is characterized by a deep, long inhalation and short exhalation, often accompanied by a characteristic sound.

At first glance, it seems that there is nothing special about yawning, and the problem is not worth considering. However, in 2010, the International Medical Congress was held in France, the theme of which was yawning. The luminaries of medical science from many countries shared their opinions on why a person constantly yawns, why this process is necessary for the body, and when this reflex act becomes a symptom of a disease.

To date, there are no exact, verified and confirmed answers to the questions posed, but there are still certain assumptions. We will talk about them in detail below.

When do people yawn and why is it necessary?

There are several hypotheses about why people yawn and how this process affects the health of the body. Let's take a closer look at them.

The most common opinion in medical circles about why people yawn is the problem of lack of oxygen in the brain tissue. It is reliably known that during a deep breath, a greatly increased volume of oxygen enters the bloodstream, unlike normal breathing. In addition, during a yawn, the respiratory passages open wide: the pharynx, glottis, and the volume of the nasopharynx and pharynx increases. As you know, when the body is saturated with oxygen, blood flow and metabolism accelerate. This, in turn, leads to an improvement in a person’s well-being and tone. Therefore, in various situations, when the oxygen balance is disturbed, stagnation of blood flow occurs, a person experiences yawning. So, after sleep or long monotonous work, a person yawns. This breathing act helps to cheer up and tone the body.
Another version of the cause of yawning is the body’s need to cool the brain. This hypothesis is closely related to the previous one, since its essence lies in the same saturation of the brain with a large volume of oxygen.
Why does a person yawn often during a flight? This is how the body regulates pressure in the middle ear. This happens due to the fact that the canals that connect the pharynx and the Eustachian tubes straighten.
Yawning is also necessary to relieve muscle tightness. Often the act of breathing is accompanied by stretching of the body. This way the body is invigorated and tuned to productive activity. The fair sex will be interested to know the fact that during yawning, facial muscles are massaged, tightening them and improving skin turgor.
Why does a person yawn often? The cause may be a serious illness. Let's take a closer look at this issue and offer a list of health problems that can cause frequent yawning below.
Among other things, such a reflexive breathing act has the ability to calm and relax the body. This is why people yawn before going to bed or during an exciting event, such as an exam, competition or important meeting.

Why do children yawn?

Yawning in children is considered an indicator of normal lung development. It is a reliable fact that children yawn even before they are born. Such a respiratory act can be observed using ultrasound in the fetus at 11-12 weeks of pregnancy. But, if yawning often helps an adult to cheer up, then such a process is extremely calming for a child and becomes a harbinger of sleep.

If parents notice that the baby yawns too often, they need to pay attention to this. Perhaps the baby does not have enough oxygen and there is a need to increase the duration of walks in the fresh air. Frequent yawning in children may also indicate problems with the nervous system. In this case, an examination by a neurologist will be required.

Why do people yawn in church?

You came to church for the sake of spiritual peace, when suddenly you begin to yawn. You become uncomfortable in front of others and have to leave the temple. Why does a person yawn in church? We hasten to reassure you - this situation happens quite often and does not depend on the age or health status of the parishioner. It is not difficult to explain this phenomenon, knowing the mechanism of yawning. In church, there are several reasons why such a breathing process occurs simultaneously: a stuffy room, dim light, monotonous prayer. All these factors contribute to the inhibition of various body processes, including blood flow. Therefore, there is a lack of oxygen, which contributes to an involuntary reflex act.

Why do people yawn while talking?

Are you talking to a person and suddenly he starts yawning? Do not rush to blame your interlocutor for ingratitude and indifference, and yourself for the lack of oratory abilities and emotionality. The situation is exactly the opposite. Yawning overcame the listener precisely because of increased brain activity. The opponent listened carefully to your story, so his oxygen metabolism was disrupted, and in order to replenish his strength and continue the active work of the brain, the body was saturated with oxygen with the help of a yawn. Now you can safely continue your story.

In the same way, we can explain why a person yawns when talking - overexertion helps reduce the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, and yawning, as a protective mechanism, replenishes spent energy.

Is yawning contagious?

It has been noticed that yawning is “contagious” - as soon as one person yawns, those around them also begin to reflexively repeat it. Why do people yawn even when they just watch a video of a person yawning or read an article about yawning? The answer lies in the cerebral cortex. Are you yawning now? This is how your mirror neurons work, which are located in the cerebral cortex. They are responsible for empathy and are the cause of contagious yawning on an emotional level. It has been noted that categories of people who have less developed parts of the brain responsible for feelings are not prone to contagious yawning. Such people include children under 5 years of age (although there are exceptions), autistic people and those suffering from schizophrenia.

Signs and superstitions

People have the following beliefs about yawning:

Cover your mouth with your hand while yawning so that the devil does not enter your soul.
Residents of Turkey believe that if you do not have time to cover your mouth while yawning, the soul may fly out of a person.
Indians believe that yawning is a call of death or the devil and that in order to scare away the evil one, you need to snap your fingers.
In our open spaces, folk healers claim that in the process of yawning the evil eye comes out. And if a person yawns while talking to another, the soul is protected from unfavorable energy.

When yawning becomes a dangerous symptom

Why does a person yawn very often? Frequent yawning is a signal from the body that it lacks oxygen. In this case, ventilate the room, or better yet, organize a walk in the fresh air.

Frequent yawning may indicate fatigue. Set aside time for rest and proper sleep, alternate active activity with breaks for relaxation. We have found out why a person yawns, but how to deal with such a process when it takes us by surprise at the most inopportune moment, for example, during a business meeting or a date with a loved one? How to cope with a reflexive act and, as they say, not lose face in front of others? There are some effective tips:

Fresh air will saturate the body with oxygen, and the body's need for yawning will disappear.
Daily morning jogging or other active sports will help minimize the possibility of yawning throughout the day.
Don't forget about proper rest and sleep.
While working at the computer, sit upright - this way the diaphragm is not compressed, and air saturated with oxygen is supplied in the required volume.
Learn proper deep breathing.
A cold drink or food will eliminate yawning.
An express method for suppressing the reflex - as soon as you feel the urge to yawn, lick your lips.
Taking a deep breath through your nose and exhaling briefly through your mouth also helps suppress a yawn.

So, we found out why a person yawns. It turns out that such a simple process has important functions in the functioning of the whole organism. Therefore, you should not take it lightly. If you yawn for a long time and frequently, be sure to undergo a heart and blood vessel examination under the supervision of a doctor.