Need some relief from tension in your jaw? Jaw clenching and teeth grinding can be exasperating habits since you often feel powerless to fix it. Since most clenching occurs unconsciously, it is much harder to make the change. The tension is particularly problematic when it leads to migraines or injuries to your teeth from grinding. Luckily, we have yoga!
We have an energetic connection between our jaw and a major muscle in our body, the psoas. The psoas muscle runs from the front of the lower vertebrae (the deepest part of your abdominal cavity), through your pelvis and attaches to your upper, inner thigh. (For more information about the psoas, you can read a previous post here.)
Another interesting aspect of the psoas is it is located in our fear center, the gut. If you have ever felt your stomach seize when you feel fear, that is your psoas you are feeling (along with your stomach doing loop-di-loops!). The connection between the jaw and the psoas means that when you grip the psoas, the jaw grips as well. The psoas often retains its tension unless you purposefully release it so the jaw also remains tense. Doing psoas relaxation exercises can improve the tension in your jaw.
Here is a series I did for a workshop I teach. I have suggested this recording to several students recently who have received significant benefits. One even said she is sleeping much better! At the very worst, you will be more relaxed so it is worth at try! Enjoy!
