Stretch and Surrender: #8 Jaw Warm-Up

Benefits: Relaxes the jaw and facial muscles. Helps release the stress many of us hold in our jaws. Helps alleviate temporal mandibular jaw (TMJ).

METHOD: Sit comfortably in a straight backed chair with both feet on the floor. Keeping your lips together, place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. With the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, slowly open your mouth to a comfortable point without overextending. Open and close your mouth slowly 5 to 15 times.

Tip: Do this in bed in the morning, particularly if you have a tendency to grind your teeth while you sleep.