|
Lips Together, Teeth Apart
I find wisdom in the strangest places--like on the package of a mouth guard I bought  months ago to help me stop clenching my jaws in my sleep. (Feel free to analyze...)
There in the instructions for how best to use it were these four words: lips together, teeth apart. Short and sweet; simple yet powerful--as I would soon discover.
Try it Yourself
Right now while you continue reading, check out how you're holding your mouth. Have you ever given much thought to differentiating teeth from lips when considering whether your mouth is open or shut? I know for me it was at once obvious and new to consider independent. Doing one and not the other was a little bit like patting my head while rubbing my tummy. A bit disorienting; a refreshing challenge.
And--surprisingly--deeply relaxing. It's as if I'm about to yawn or say "Ahhh;" like holding a dollop of whip cream in my mouth, or savoring the flavors of a good red wine.
Tension Release
It's well known that many of us hold tension in our mouths. We clench our jaws or grind our teeth--and not just in our sleep. "Lips together, teeth apart" is a simple practice of letting go of that holding and, in its place, choosing lightness, ease and aliveness.
Lips together evokes for me quiet, calm, and inner peace. Teeth apart signals surrender, joy, awe. Try playing with the distance between your uppers and lowers. And see that your lips just touch, without pressing or pursing.
Portability
Wherever you go, your mouth's there, too (have you noticed?). So you can try this in the shower, at your desk, in your car or on public transit, while waiting for the elevator, before--even during--an important (read stressful) event, or before falling asleep.
And no one needs to know!
In the Hammock
For those of you wanting the 2.0 version, add your tongue to the mix: some yoga practitioners recommend lightly touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth just behind the upper front teeth--claiming it circulates the qi (life-force). Personally, I like letting the tongue float freely in the mouth--like that mint leaf in the glass of cool water. Either way, see that your tongue isn't tensing, itself. Instead, imagine it lying in the hammock of the bottom of your mouth--just chillin'.
Putting all three together, I notice an instant deepening of my sense of well-being and relaxed alertness. Whether I'm in downward dog pose, waiting for a download or winding down at the end of my day, I feel held by a firm and friendly hand. And I am both the holder and the held.
May it also serve you well!
|
