Many people yawn during exercise. There are many possible causes for this phenomenon. Yawning is usually a normal response to fatigue or lack of sleep, physical exertion, emotional stress or boredom. However, it can also signal a psychological or physical disorder which could indicate that you need to change your workout regimen.
Lack of Oxygen
Yawning is often caused by taking repeated shallow breaths when working out. You may not be breathing deeply enough to supply your lungs and bloodstream with adequate oxygen for strenuous physical activity. Yawning is a response to excessive amounts of carbon dioxide in the lungs, and can provide an influx of oxygen or expulsion of carbon dioxide.
Level of Exertion
Yawning during exercise may be eliminated by a more vigorous workout. The University of Cincinnati reports on a study by Dr. George A. Bubenik, M.D. of the University of Guelph, Ontario, which found that the frequency of yawning is caused by chemical compounds, such as dopamine, serotonin, nitric oxide and glutamic acid, in the brain. However, compounds such as endorphins reduce yawning. The more energetic your exercise, the more endorphins are released.
Tiredness and Stress
Yawning during exercise can be a result of inadequate sleep or change in your daily rhythm, such as a time change due to travel or shift work, which causes reduced energy levels and sluggishness. Yawning can increase the state of alertness in response to stress, overwork or lack of stimulation; exhaustive and excessive exercise is also likely to cause yawning.
Medical Conditions
Yawning during exercise can be the result of a vasovagal reaction caused by the action of a nerve, called the vagus nerve, on blood vessels. This could indicate a heart problem, warns "The New York Times." In addition, medical issues such as adrenal conditions or diabetes may induce yawning. MedlinePlus adds that people with depression or mild to severe insomnia may yawn three times more than normal.
Temperature
Yawning may cool the brain. The theory is that the brain's temperature can spike when the body is stressed, such as when exercising, or from sleep deprivation, so the body tries to cool off through sweating. If this methods fails, the brain initiates a yawn, which increases heart rate and blood pressure and enhances blood flow. Brain temperature may also be regulated by the increased flow of cool air being inhaled, reports Canada.com.
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