Open-mouth Breathing - the "haaaaa" sound
Relieves tight facial muscles and neck and shoulder tension
· Hold your hand a few inches in front of your mouth.
· Open your mouth and exhale for as long as you can, making a hushed “haaaa” sound as if you were trying to fog up a
cold window.
· Feel the weight of your jaw as you exhale.
· Just like any other area of your body, your jaw has weight.
· Try to become aware of that weight when you open your mouth, but don’t force it.
· At the end of the exhalation, slowly bring your lips together (don’t clench your teeth) and notice if there is any change
in your breathing.
· You may have the same reactions as you did during the “S” exercise.
· Repeat this breath work for 5 to 7 minutes.
· Do you feel your breath filling the back and sides of the rib cage, abdominal area, chest, or shoulders?
· You may notice some discomfort in your back muscles or feel the need to move your body.
· This is because the oxygen is beginning to move muscles that have been clenched; until it gets into areas fully, you
may feel a need to relieve that discomfort by stretching – like you do when you wake up in the morning.
Hyperventilation, Dizziness & Lightheadedness
Some common reactions to making the “S” sound and doing open-mouth breathing, as mentioned, are eye tearing, feeling
the need to stretch, runny nose, yawning, etc. (If you have a strong urge to stretch, do any one of the whole Body Moves).
One less common reaction is light-headedness. Although the feeling is uncomfortable, it is a positive sign.
As a result of your expelling more breath, you are now taking in more oxygen – probably much more than you are used to. Your muscles need to absorb that oxygen.
This exercise helps redirect the oxygen to your muscles, thus alleviating your light-headedness.
Exercise
· Hold your hand a few inches in front of your mouth.
· Open your mouth and exhale for as long as you can, making a hushed “haaaa” sound as if you were trying to fog up a
cold window.
· Feel the weight of your jaw as you exhale.
· Just like any other area of your body, your jaw has weight.
· Try to become aware of that weight when you open your mouth, but don’t force it.
· At the end of the exhalation, slowly bring your lips together (don’t clench your teeth) and notice if there is any change
in your breathing.
· You may have the same reactions as you did during the “S” exercise.
· Repeat this breath work for 5 to 7 minutes.
· Do you feel your breath filling the back and sides of the rib cage, abdominal area, chest, or shoulders?
· You may notice some discomfort in your back muscles or feel the need to move your body.
· This is because the oxygen is beginning to move muscles that have been clenched; until it gets into areas fully, you
may feel a need to relieve that discomfort by stretching – like you do when you wake up in the morning.
Hyperventilation, Dizziness & Lightheadedness
Some common reactions to making the “S” sound and doing open-mouth breathing, as mentioned, are eye tearing, feeling
the need to stretch, runny nose, yawning, etc. (If you have a strong urge to stretch, do any one of the whole Body Moves).
One less common reaction is light-headedness. Although the feeling is uncomfortable, it is a positive sign.
As a result of your expelling more breath, you are now taking in more oxygen – probably much more than you are used to. Your muscles need to absorb that oxygen.
This exercise helps redirect the oxygen to your muscles, thus alleviating your light-headedness.
Exercise
- Make fists with both hands and bring them into your chest. So your fists are touching each other at chest level with your elbows extended out in line with your fists and chest.
- Straighten your arms, keeping your fists closed still parallel with your chest.
- Repeat the movement several times.