Woman encouraging people to 'stop Bury-ing their yawns'

Rachel Earing, from Bury, the founder of The Great Big Yawn, is seeking to create a “contagious yawn of relief across the globe” which celebrates the benefits of the reflex.

“I wanted to do something fun to change public perception of the yawn,” Rachel, 55, said.

“And with National Yawning Day coming up on November 10, I wanted Bury to be at the forefront of opening and encouraging the conversation around the benefits of yawning!”

A contagious yawn of relief, Rachel described, is intended to change negative public perceptions of the yawn, and can be expressed in many forms.

“Yawning is most associated with negative actions like fatigue and boredom.

"However, research suggests yawning helps soothe symptoms of very serious illnesses, including long Covid, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

“That’s why it is so important to recognise the benefits of yawning. Getting involved in expressing the contagious yawn can be everything from becoming a yawning ambassador, to filling in our survey, or posting a selfie on our Facebook page, The Great Big Yawn Community.

“The Great Big Yawn have 19 yawning ambassadors, from across the globe, including Africa.

"A yawning ambassador can help people, whether they’re feeling bored, exhausted or unmotivated, to go to a lighter place through the act of yawning.

“This can be as simple as yawning, or opening up the conversation about the yawn to allow people to feel safe in their own bodies.”

Rachel, who worked in television before moving into alternative therapies, has spent years researching the benefits of yawning, and has collaborated scientifically on studies proving the yawn’s effectiveness.

This made her determined to spread awareness through The Great Big Yawn’s mission.

“When we yawn, we release tension, signalling our bodies and minds that it is safe to relax,” Rachel states on her website, The Great Big Yawn CIC.

“Scientifically, the act of yawning triggers the relaxation response in our nervous system, if only for a fleeting moment.

“In that split second, our bodies experience a brief reprieve from the chaos of the world around us.

"It’s a small window of opportunity for our minds to find respite from the frantic pace of modern life.”

Alongside coordinating a contagious yawn of relief, Rachel has also promoted the benefits of the yawn through creative projects including singing, and poetry.

She said: “We will be releasing a song, written and performed by our Ugandan yawning ambassador Allan Mubiru! It is available to listen to on YouTube.

“However, it would be great if Bury could help our contagious yawn. Submissions are open to show your yawning selfies, babies, animals, art work, poetry and songs!”

Rachel shares her work on promoting the yawn, and upcoming activities on her website. To post your yawn, head to Rachel’s Facebook page, The Great Big Yawn Community.