Why Do We Instinctively Stretch And Yawn When We Wake Up? and Why It’s So Important

The alarm signals tell us to get up in the morning, but it does not wake up our body, what does, is stretching and yawning. Perhaps it is because we do it as an involuntary process that we do not even pay attention to it.

However, these 2 actions do much more for our body than simply waking us up.

We got very curious about this combination of yawning and stretching and we decided to show you some discoveries that really surprised us.

5. Stretching Will Realign The Muscles

When we sleep, our muscles lose their tone and gravity drags the fluid to a place along our back. When we stretch, it massages the fluid, helping it gently return to its normal position.

But, as our nerve impulses reach their limits, the muscles protect themselves from overstretching by overpowering them.

For a moment, the stretch will release the muscles from their resting place, so they can work in their proper position. This process will help us calculate the movements we need to get up and start moving.

4. It Can Decrease Stress

When we yawn and stretch at the same time, we help the blood flow, which automatically reduces stress.

This is because the part of the nervous system responsible for our heart rate, digestion, and endocrine functions gets a jump start.

3. It Can Help With Stiffness And Tightness

Spending more time in one position can affect our bodies and cause stiffness and tightness.

When we stretch after waking up, we work on our joints and muscles, helping to maintain a wider range of mobility, even if we are not engaged in complex activities.

It tells our brain that it is time to get up.

2. It’ll Help The Brain Send Stronger Signals To The Muscles

Stretching helps re-establish communication between the brain and the muscles. This means that as we stretch, our brain sends stronger signals to the muscles.

Then the feedback received allows the brain to work on the strength of the signal to perform different tasks.

1. Yawning Keeps You Awake

Yawning cools the brain and helps us stay awake. We also yawn when we get bored to stay alert and continue with the task at hand.

We can also see the stretch as a soft reset. This is because it activates the nervous system and increases the speed of the background processes that keep us alert and awake during the day.

Also, it increases the heart rate and pushes the blood to the extremities.

Have you noticed when you yawn and stretch more? Does it help you stay awake?