The exercise is simply to open and close the jaw: gently, slowly, and smoothly. While you explore the gentle, slow, and smooth movement of the jaw joint, here are some things you might cultivate awareness of: Can you allow the breath to arrive and depart on its own? Does the breath want to synchronize with […]
Allow the jaw to release into gravity. Place your finger tips on the jaw to ensure that it remains calm and open during this tongue exercise. Gently reach the body of the tongue toward an /i/ (EE) shape, then release the tongue back toward neutral. Explore this movement several times, aiming for slow, smooth, and […]
Lightly anchor the tip of the tongue behind the bottom teeth. Maintaining this contact, gently, slowly, and smoothly roll the body of the tongue forward. Allow the tongue to gently stretch. As you release the tongue body forward, can you release any excess effort you may be feeling in the jaw or throat? Can you […]
Use all ten fingers to explore the muscles of the jaw, neck, and scalp. Allow your breath to arrive and depart without holding. Follow your pleasure. What feels good today? When you’re finished, take your work with you into the next thing you do.
Clench the teeth lightly a time or two to locate the temporalis muscle on the side of the skull above the ears. Using fingers, knuckles, or the heels of your hands, gently massage this muscle, allowing the jaw to release into gravity and the breath to expand and deepen. Remember to bring the hands up […]
Clench the teeth lightly a time or two to locate the masseter muscle, feeling it’s activation. Using fingers or knuckles, gently massage this muscle, allowing the jaw to release into gravity and the breath to expand and deepen. Remember to bring the hands up to the jaw, rather than shortening the neck to bring the […]
As you initiate a yawn, allow the tongue to release forward in the mouth rather than moving back. Feel for a gentle, spacious stretch between the opening throat gesture of the yawn and the forward release of the tongue. When you’re finished, try to take your work with you into the next thing you do.
Extend the tongue forward past the lips, moving slowly, smoothly, and gently. Once your tongue is extended, bring your attention to your breath and any excess effort you may be feeling in the tongue or throat. Can you allow this excess effort to fall away? Try this exercise a few times in a row, aiming […]
Use your tongue to massage the inside of your lips in slow, smooth circles. Allow your breath to continue, unmanaged. As you work, imagine that you are creating more space or a gentler contact between the lips and the teeth. Allow the lips to feel soft and mobile. When you’re finished, try to take your […]
Place the fingers on the side of the face with the thumbs resting behind the ears. Slowly, smoothly, and gently melt the hands downward. Simultaneously, think about floating the head upward through the hands. When the thumb reaches the angle of the jaw, the hands can change direction, following the jawline. Allow the light contact […]