What Can You Learn From An Astrological Reading?

What can you learn from an astrological reading?  First thing is to remember it isn’t a fortune telling.  It does not predict your future.  It simply offers you the “space for tendencies, temperaments and traditions.”  www.gobodhiyoga.com  

Since I was born on June 3, 1939, my sign is Gemini, the twin.  I was told at a young age that I am a chatterbox.  As an adult, I see myself as a communicator.  I am a nurturer.  That is no surprise as I am the mother of ten children with sixty grands and 15 greats with more to come.  My family is my most important focus.  Besides that I enjoy meaningful friendships.  I am adventurous.  I enjoy writing about the things I love.  I enjoy writing this blog because I love yoga and I love the yoga community where I associate with strong and visionary women and men.  For those who know me, these are nothing new.  

True, but it is affirming for me to know that I was born to strengthen those traits and to make a positive difference in the world.  There is more and more research and support to the idea that we are wasting our time trying to strengthen our weaknesses.  We are far ahead by strengthening our strengths.  If we all do that, all the bases will get covered and we will feel much more fulfilled.  

It would be just as easy for me to remain that chatterbox, smother my family with over nurturing, take my adventures to selfish extremes and write about my misadventures.  In either case you could say I am following my natal chart.  We are totally free to use our agency to do whatever we wish.  Knowing what these tendencies are, they are likely to become apparent in your life if you are looking.  The value of doing so is to magnify those talents in useful and enjoyable ways instead of letting life do with you as it will.  You may find a hidden talent that brings you the happiness you are seeking.   

Now It’s Time For Astrology

I have taken every course offered by Syl Carson at Bodhi Yoga.  I started with the Advanced Chakra Therapy Certification followed by Quan.TM Facilitator Certification, Yoga Teacher Certification, Partner Yoga Certification and now Soul Weather Certification.  I am nearly through with the Teacher Certification and I am very happy about that.   It has taken me 200 hours for this one program and I have learned a great deal.  I can’t even explain what a great trip this has been.  It is enriching to my body, mind and spirit.  

Right now I am in the middle of Syl’s Soul Weather Certification training.    Why isn’t everyone studying astrology?  There are so many different opinions about what astrology is.  Let me tell you what I base my beliefs on as taught at by Syl at Bodhi Yoga.  www.gobodhiyoga.com.  

If you were to have your astrological natal chart done it would give you a snapshot of the heavens at the exact time of your birth.   Syl tells us that it is a glimpse of how God sees us with all of our potential and gifts, our karma and our dharma.  It is a real challenge to map out a chart.  Don’t take for granted that the column in your favorite magazine is telling the whole truth about who you are when it says you will win the lottery in October.  I didn’t realize how many details are included in an astrological reading.  Now I am learning what they are so I can do my own chart as well as some for close friends and family.  It takes hours and hours so you have to care a lot before you start such a project even if you get paid for it.  The results are interesting and empowering. 

Dosha’s Do's And Don't's

As I study the Doshas I find it fascinating how many of the attributes fit me when I am in that Dosha imbalance.  For instance,  I recognize this sentence from our training manual.  “Vata is so sensitive and quick to change that it easily falls prey to over stimulation.  Vata people thrive on variety, but when thing change too much, their excitement turns to exhaustion.”  Aha, I can do that and the process is a lot of fun, until I crash.  “The remedy is to begin to cultivate balanced habits, paying a little more attention to regularity every day.”  That’s me.

The key to balancing Pitta dosha is moderation, making sure you don’t push yourself too hard.  Pitta is gifted with the most innate drive, aggression and energy.  Pittas already know how to be serious; they need the tonic of laughter more than any other type.  Lighten up, Pitta

The key to balancing the Kapha dosha is stimulation.  By nature, Kapha Dosha is steady and slow which leads to dependability and strength.  Kaphas need to make a conscious effort to seek new experiences.  They need to be conscious to not over eat and to minimize the sweets.  Regular exercise is important as well as getting up early.

You see, it is not easy to balance our doshas.  The important part is to learn what it will take in each case, recognize when there is an imbalance and do your best to create the healthy habits that support balance.  

Ayruveda—The Science of Life

Ayruveda is a sanskrit word which means ”science of life.”  I have been fascinated by ancient origins for many years now.  Ayruveda is a 5,000 year old natural healing system of India.  I know that everything that is ancient isn’t necessarily wise or worthwhile, however, the more I learn about Ayurveda the more it is supported by wisdom and good science of the day.  Ayurveda is governed by three cosmic forces: Life (Prana), Light (Jyoti), and Love (Prema which relate to the three great elements of air, fire and water.  These three elements combine to create the three governing forces known as Doshas: Vata (air/space), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth/water). Each of us has all three doshas, however one usually is more dominant.  The intention of Ayruvada is to bring the Dosha compositions into balance in all areas of our lives.  

Vata means, “that which moves things”.  The Air element governs sensory and mental balance.  It's primary attributes are dry, cold and light.

Pitta means, “That which digests things”.  Pitta governs our mental digestion, the capacity to perceive reality and comprehend things as they are.  The attributes of Pitta are hot, light and moist.

Kapha means “That which holds things together.”  Kapha provides support, substance and comprises the bulk of our bodily tissues.  Kapha also provides our emotional support and stability relating to positive emotional traits like love, compassion, patience and forgiveness.  The Primary attributes of Kapha are heavy, cold and moist.  

Having all three doshas in balance is the goal.  Doing yoga helps to bring them into balance.  It is a place of physical and mental well being.  Even though we will never reach that perfect balance, doing yoga, eating well, breathing well and any other healthy practices are in themselves a state of well being and worth doing every day.  www.gobodhiyoga.com

Get Your Nervous System In Gear

“The Nervous System is the most complex and delicate of all the body systems.”  www.gobodhiyoga.com  This is the electrical system of the body which keeps everything else running.  Hormones wouldn’t secrete, blood wouldn’t flow, toxins wouldn’t eliminate, heart wouldn’t beat as well as many other normal functions of the body.  

The Central Nervous System includes the brain and the spinal column.  The Peripheral Nervous System includes the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic subdivisions.  The sympathetic prepares the body for fight or flight.  The parasympathetic returns the body functions to normal after they have been altered by the sympathetic.  

It is pretty easy to see that the nervous system is far too complex to explain in a few sentences.  The real point here is that yoga provides tonification for both Para and Sympathetic nervous systems as it heightens awareness and relaxes the mind at the same time.  Under stressful situations the brain has a greater ability to focus.  Yoga brings out the best in us in all situations and doing yoga simply feels good.  Yes, do yoga.  

Yoga Makes Hormones Happy

“The endocrine system influences every cell, organ, and function of our bodies.”  By the time a girl or boy reaches puberty they become increasingly aware of the effect of hormones.  Hormones influence our moods and energy level from birth.   We couldn’t get along without them.  “The foundations of the endocrine system are the hormones and glands.  As the body’s chemical messengers they transfer information and instructions from one set of cells to another.”  www.gobodhiyoga.com 

We easily think of the sex hormones because their development can change how we look and feel in pretty dramatic ways.  Other hormones have just as an important role.  The thyroid gland produces hormones that play a role in the development of the brain and nervous system as well as the rate at which cells burn fuels from food to produce energy.  The pancreatic and adrenal glands have a great del to do with the regulation of blood sugar and emotional and physical energy.  The pineal glad regulates sleep.  

Doing Restorative Yoga is very beneficial to our glands and the hormones they secrete.  We all live with stress.  Yoga helps to minimize the negative affects and bring greater peace to our lives.  

We are the Pump

How many folks know that the largest eliminative organ of the body is the skin?  The skin sweats to cool the body as needed as well as releasing toxins.    

We all know about the colon and kidneys because we deal with them every day.  What do you know about the lymphatics?  The lymph is a clear liquid that circulates around the body tissues and drains into the lymph vessels or tubes.  It then drains into the thoracic duct, the largest lymph vessel, before emptying back into blood circulation.  

There are more lymph vessels throughout the body than there are blood vessels.  The most important difference here is that the lymph has no pump as the blood does.  We are the pump of our lymph.  Moving the body is what moves the lymph.  That is why it is so important for us to get up and move every day.  Doing yoga is an especially healthy form of exercise because the breathing, stretches and poses require the concentration and use of multiple muscles which are pumping the lymph as we do so.  www.gobodhiyoga.com

Again let me say, our bodies are remarkable.  Let’s do all we can to keep them in good working order for our whole lives.  Yoga is the way.

Love Your Gut

There is a lot to be said about what we eat lately.  That will vary from person to person, but we all rely upon the digestive system to take care of it all from top to bottom.  You could say that the digestive system contains several major organs including the stomach, liver and pancreas, connected by long twisting tubes.  That is the short version.  

The long version would include not only the digestive organs but the hormones and chemicals that are released all along the way to help digest and regulate the passage of our food as it moves along.  We feel hungry.  We feel full.  We crave something.  It is controlled by the hormones in the GI tract and also in the brain.  It is much more complicated than we want to admit.  All we know is that we want to feel good and we don't like it when we don’t.

Yoga is something we can do to love our tummy and help our bodies do what they were made to do.  A simple forward fold, either standing or sitting, is good for the gut.  A full body twist facilitates hormones as well as movement in a healthy way.  Loving your gut is one of the best things you can do for yourself.  It’s a good idea not to wait for it to complain to make the needed changes.  Be kind to that tummy and it will be kind to you.  www.gobodhi.com.

Breath In, Breathe Out

Breathe in.  Breathe out.  That’s usually not too hard.  In fact, it is the first and last thing we ever do in life.  It is essential to life.  We can’t do without it.  The main function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen so the blood can deliver oxygen to all parts of the body.  That’s why we breathe.  

The lungs are bigger than you may think.  I am told that laid flat they are about the size of a tennis court.  Put all of that in your chest and appreciate what it does not only to keep us alive but to give us the energy we need to do everything else.  Without adequate oxygen we lack vitality in so many ways.  Our cells can deteriorate and open us to sickness and disease.  That is the worst of it.

The best of it is that we can do more to vitalize our lungs and our blood through purposeful breathing exercises called Pranayama, and purposely combining the breath with movement in yoga.  I remember my father breathing in fresh air in the morning as he did his deep breathing exercises.  I wish I would have followed him back then.  Now I am making up for it with yoga and Pranayama.  Please breathe with me.  It does a body good.  www.gobodhiyoga.com

‘Round and ‘Round Does The Blood Flow

It is so easy to take for granted the systematic flow of our blood in keeping us going.  With four to five liters of blood flowing along 60,000 miles (as a child) to 100,000 miles (Yes, I said MILES.) of blood vessels throughout our bodies, it is no small task to keep blood flowing smoothly and without interruption.  That is what happens most days.  

What if you could help assure that healthy flow would continue to the end of your life?  Doing yoga is one of the really kind and healthy things you can do for your body.  Because yoga movements are accompanied by deep breaths and systematic stretches, blood flow increases to the point of giving the skin a healthy glow.  This occurs from exercise when your temperature rises and the blood delivers the heat to the capillaries, which then deliver it quickly to the skin which can give you a flushed, red appearance.  In our case I would call it the “yoga glow.”  You will never look and feel more vibrant and healthy.  www.gobodhiyoga.com

Muscles Make The Difference

Muscles pull but they can’t push.  Then how do we get from here to there?  Another set of muscles pulls in the opposite direction.  Muscles are banded together by fascia to form muscle groups which work together.  It’s pretty exciting when you think of it.  

By the time we reach adulthood our muscle tissues have lost about 15 percent of their moisture content.  No wonder we get more stiff and prone to injury as we age.  Fortunately, there is something we can do to slow down that process.  You guessed it.  YOGA.  www.gobodhiyoga.com  Deep breathing plus regular systematic stretching retards the drying or aging process.  The slower, more deliberate, and longer the stretch is held, the greater the benefit.  It is an interesting paradox that if you come to yoga “determined” to do the poses and push intensely to make it happen, it becomes more difficult.  If you are patient and breathe into the pose, the stretch will come to you.  I love how that feels.  Before long you will do poses you didn’t think you could simply by letting your muscles do what they were meant to do. 

Stand Up

Did you know that your skeletal structure consists of 206 bones that serve as a protection for your vital organs and carries bodily movements in interaction with your muscles?  Maybe you knew that in biology class, but to you think about it every day as you move about?  Yoga www.gobodhiyoga.com gives us an opportunity to really think about what is making our bodies do the things they do.  Sitting, standing, bending and going from one position to another would be impossible without this structural inner foundation of the body called skeleton.  

Long bones, short bones, flat bones and irregular bones all work together to move us and to support the poses we do.  We could never hold a down dog or even a forward fold without the support of our long bones.  The broad surfaces of our flat bones protect our organs and and help give us form.  Without the small vertebra of our back we would crumple.  Yoga and everyday life are supported by our strong and sturdy skeleton.  Aren't we glad?

Without Fascia We Would Be A Big Flop

Our skin is our body’s wrapper, but it doesn’t hold everything together.  We need another layer called the fascia.  It is a sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue enveloping, separating, or binding together muscles, organs, and other soft structures of the body.  Thank you dictionary.com.  It not only gives us structural support, but provides protection and gives structure to the body.  

Rageddy Ann wouldn’t be half so floppy if she had fascia.  Syl Carson of www.gobodhiyoga.com tells us, “I personally consider the fascia to be the net of emotion, meridian highway and the literal “child inside”.  It stores our memory and holds our potential for movement through our Mind, Body, Spirit evolution.”  Since the meaning of YOGA is to yoke body, mind and spirit, we can be very grateful that fascia makes that possible in the first place.  

Whence Cometh the Yoga Glow?

It is easy to do yoga without thinking seriously about what we are doing or how it affects our body, mind and spirit.  As I study while becoming a certified yoga instructor, I am learning all sorts of interesting facts about our incredible bodies.  

My Teacher Certification Manual www.gobodhiyoga.com teaches that there are Twelve Physiologies of the Body.  “The Twelve Physiologies each with their own climate of the body are the “context”, Sattva, or Yoga within where practice takes place.  They are not only physical systems of function, they are also mental, spiritual and ethereal and carry specific tendencies, which yoga can benefit.”  In other words, our bodies are benefitted in at least twelve specific ways when we do yoga.  

Let’s start with just one, Integumentary.  What is that? I didn’t know either.  “The word integument comes from the Latin to cover.”  That would mean the skin.  Have you ever experienced or seen someone who just finished an invigorating and relaxing yoga session?  They glow.  You glow.  All layers of your skin light up and you feel marvelous.  

“As much as one half of the total blood supply of the body is distributed to the skin.  It is the body’s blood and lymph that supply nutrients to the skin.”  Doing yoga is a gift to your body.  It is wrapped in your beautiful healthy glowing skin.  

As Smart As A Cat

We are encouraged on TV to be “as smart as a fifth grader.”  How about being as smart as a cat?  Every morning Tika runs from the garage where she sleeps into the kitchen and right to her dish of water.  After a good fill she darts down the hallway for her morning workout before plopping in the middle of the hallway for a good yoga stretch and a belly rub.  Then, while we read scriptures, she will either sit and wash her face or just perch on my lap with her paws folded.  

When I finish my yoga workout I find Tika sprawled out next to me in a yoga position.  How much healthier would we be if we followed Tika’s routine; drink water, do yoga, wash up and read scriptures?  A simple yoga routine can change the way you feel all day.  

The definition of yoga is to “yoke body, mind and spirit.”  The first and most important step in yoga is breathing.  Of course, we breathe all day and all night, but how often do we breathe deeply and on purpose?  Just taking twenty deep breaths through your nose with mouth shut first thing in the morning can energize you to start your day.  Any time you need a break, focus on the present and breathe deeply a few times.  It lifts your spirits and you didn’t know you were doing yoga.  I am trying to teach Tika to do that.

Of course, there are numerous yoga poses for your body that will help you feel better and build new brain cells, too.  I will tell you more about that later.  In the meantime, let’s be as smart as Tika Cat and take a few intentional deep breaths several times a day.  www.gobodhiyoga.com

Let's do YOGA!

Yoga comes from the ancient Auyravedic tradition of India in 1500 BC.  About seventy years ago it was introduced to the US and since then has become very popular.  It is almost a sport in some studios.  Personally, I prefer to follow a more traditional way of doing yoga which makes it slow and meditative in form.  I find that it is actually a bit more taxing on my body and strengthens me more by following this sort of practice as well as making it more meditative. 

Asana is the Sanskrit word for Posture.  Let’s stand up and get started with a simple forward fold.  That sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?  It is important to me that my posture is supportive of what I am doing in each movement so I won’t injure myself while I am doing the poses.  I believe it is helpful to learn how to do the poses correctly from the start for that very reason.  

I plant my feet on the floor hip width apart and I pay attention to how I stand.  I place my feet straight ahead putting pressure on the ball of my big toe.  I push the feet apart as if I am tearing the mat.  It will probably feel like you are pigeon toed but it will put your knees in line with your hips and everything will work together better.  Take my word for it. 

I let myself bend forward all relaxed like a rag doll.  I hang there for a few seconds and let my head swing into little yes movements.  Then I like to grasp my calves and pull myself into an even deeper fold.  I love how that feels.  I take a deep breath in and let it out as I grasp my ankles and straighten my back.  This is a standing forward arch.  I breathe in, coming up slowly bringing my arms up overhead with fingers spread.  I close my fingers into a prayer position and come down to my heart.  Two more times I reach up and then back to my heart.  I breathe in as I reach up.  Once more.  Look, you’re doing yoga.  Who knew it could be so easy?  www.gobodhiyoga.com

BREATH, The Very Foundation of Yoga

I think you would agree that our health is the most important aspect of our lives and yet, most of us don’t pay much attention to it until it fails us in some way.  The reason I practice yoga is because I am committed to having the highest quality of life until my last breath, and to enjoy the process.  

I admire people who run or participate in sports to help maintain a healthy body.  I was never good at sports or running.  I have done a lot of walking over the years, however, it wasn’t until I was introduced to yoga about 15 years ago, around age 62, that I fell in love with an activity that helps keep me healthy and happy.  

Let me give you a small sample of what, why and how you could start practicing yoga on a regular basis.  Sit on your mat or the floor in 'easy pose', with your legs crossed.

The most important thing we do every day is to breathe and yet most of us use very little of our lung capacity.  Let’s all take three deep breaths right now.  Breath is the very foundation of yoga.  All of the movements we make in yoga are accompanied by deliberate and focused breathing.  

How are you feeling right now?  Let’s take three more deep breaths, but this time I want you to relax your shoulders.  Place your hands palms up on your knees, straighten your spine and lift your chin as if your head is dangling from a thread.  In order to breathe deeply your belly will expand.  I like to relax and close my eyes.  Pay attention to how you are feeling.  

Now breathe to the very bottom of your lungs to the count of four and do it three times.  How do you feel now?  This is just the beginning of yoga.  There are several other types of breathing that will not only help you in your yoga practice but will bring more oxygen into your blood and especially to your brain.  Some methods are energizing and some are calming.  Let's face it, breathing just makes you feel better.  www.gobodhiyoga.com

There Is More To Yoga Than 'Just Yoga'

Patanjali, a sage in India who lived 200 to 800 B.C. is considered the “Author of Yoga”.  In the process of compiling the precepts of yoga, he lists “The Eight Limbs of Yoga.  These are eight aspects of the practice which work together to effect the spiritual, emotional and physical parts of all who practice yoga.  I will quote some of these aspects from my training manual at Bodhi Yoga.    www.gobodhiyoga.com

1. Integrity:  Yama-ethical precepts of non-violence, honesty, chastity and non-covetousness.  
2. Surrender:  Niyama-observing personal practice of cleanliness of thought, contentment, self-study, fervor for the subject and surrender of all thoughts and actions to God.  
3. Practice:  Asanas-This is the sanskrit word for posture; referring to yoga postures.  A process where the “body and mind move in harmony”.  Further interpretation of the word also carries the meaning of being steady and joyful.  

Integrity, Surrender and Asanas, (the actual practice of postures) are just three of the aspects of yoga.  I will share the other five aspects later.  For now, take time to consider the deeper meaning yoga can have for you as you enjoy the benefits of this ancient and joyful practice.  

Have You Ever Wanted To Play Dead?

Have you ever wanted to play dead?  I know I have.  Back in my clinical depression days I wanted to hide from life, just lie down and be done with it all.   Fortunately, it didn’t happen.  

When I play dead now it is doing the corpse pose or savasana at the end of a yoga practice.  I am in a place of utter relaxation and peace.  How often do we get there in the midst of our usually hectic and busy day?  Seldom, if ever.  That’s why yoga is so beneficial.  It slows everything down.  It has to be a conscious choice, like eating breakfast.

Even going to bed at night isn’t that refreshing if we haven’t wound down from our busy day.  How about choosing a few simple yoga poses before going to bed.  Stepping back into down dog makes you focus on something besides your daily stressors.  Everyone deserves a simple child’s pose to help put the brakes on.  Last but not least, lie on the floor and put your legs up the wall.  Close your eyes and dream of clouds or flowers or a waterfall.  I call it ‘blissing out.’  

Crawl into bed and assume your savanna or corpse pose.  Lie on your back with your hands open and facing up.  Move your eyes from left to right and back several times to disrupt the patterns of thinking of your to-do list for tomorrow.  Breathe softly and go to sleep in relaxation and comfort.  I love yoga, don’t you?  www.gobodhiyoga.com

As Best You Can Yoga

Yoga has made a positive difference in my aging body.  My stiffness, aches and pains are minimized as I stretch and pose making my body do things I didn’t expect to do in my seventies.  Going to BodhiYoga (www.gobodhiyoga.com) two or three times a week keeps my body from complaining.  I got so motivated a year ago that I started taking the teacher’s training course.  I am working on my certification.  I love helping others enjoy yoga—‘yoking body, mind and spirit.’  Doesn’t that sound lovely? 

You may think you can’t do yoga.  If so, it is only because you haven’t tried.  I make it easy to give it a try.  I hold classes in my basement for the brave at heart and willing in body.  I often call my classes, As Best You Can Yoga.  I will say, “Bend over your front leg and touch your nose to your knee—-as best you can.”  There is no perfection and no pressure in my basement studio.  We laugh a lot and everyone wants to come back.  I have taught classes of children, young adults, adults, Baby Boomers, and Seniors.  Everyone has a great time.  Everyone is surprised at what their body will do when given the right instruction.  Let me know if you want to join us. 

There is MUCH More to Yoga Than ‘Just Yoga’

I hope you enjoyed contemplating some of the deeper meaning of yoga in my previous blog where we considered three important aspects of yoga.  Petanjali, the “Author of Yoga” from ancient times included five more aspects that influence our physical and mental health.  Again, I will be quoting from the Bodhi Yoga Teacher Training manual.  

4. Breath-Work:  Pranayama-Prana refers to the life force of the universe.  Pranayama is yogic breath-work.  This is a big one.  The benefits are listed; to tone the diaphram, release thyroid tension, increase energy, calm the nervous system, relieve insomnia, cleanse the body and mind and reach altered states of consciousness.  How about a sound night sleep?  I consider that an altered state of consciousness.  Breath-work does magical things.

5. Reflection:  Pratyahara-Turning the senses inward from the external world to the inner.  

6. Focus:  Dharana-Concentration and focusing of the mind on a particular point.

7. Meditation:  Dyana-a meditative increase of deep concentration to envelope the entire consciousness in the present.  

The last three aspects help me become fully present in my life.  This is no small trick for me and I continually work on becoming better at it.  These aspects of yoga really help.  Now for the crown jewel.

8. Joy:  Samahidi-“State of truth and bliss”, Transcendence.  Have you ever wanted to lift out of this troublesome world, just for a few minutes?  That isn’t easy for me, but doing yoga on a regular basis brings me closer to the joy I aspire to in my life.  Come join me in my yoga practice and find out what I am talking about.  

Learning The Language of Yoga

It’s one thing to watch someone do yoga or even do it oneself; but learning the whys and wherefores of yoga is another thing. It’s like learning another language. In fact, it is learning another language. Most of the terms in yoga come from Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language.

What would you do if someone asked you to do the Urdva Dandasana pose? Easy. Everyone knows it is the plank, right? Not that it is easy for me to do, but I do it as best I can. How about the Balasana pose? This is my favorite. It’s child pose. I couldn’t survive the more strenuous poses if I didn’t know I could soon rest in child pose. Then there is Savanasana or corpse pose. At the end of each practice we get to rest in corpse pose, relax in our blended nature of body, mind and spirit and feel alive in every cell of our body. It is the cherry on top of our beautiful yoga practice at Bodhi Yoga in Provo. www.gobodhiyoga.com

As we sit up one more time in Sidhasana-Sukasana or easy pose with our legs crossed and hands together at our hearts we chant OM three times. We feel the resonance of all the positive energy we have drawn on together and end with a bow of the head and say “Namaste.” Namaste means “The divine in me salutes the divine in you.” What a sweet salutation to end our session together. There are many more poses; sitting, standing and kneeling. You have just given your body, mind and spirit the recognition they deserve in your life. Working together you can experience the peace and joy of yoga without even knowing another language.

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life—Do Yoga

I am fascinated by what is going on in brain research these days. I just read Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. and learned that doing yoga and mediation are two ways to change your brain. Not long ago, scientists said the brain couldn’t change. When we reached maturity we had a certain amount of brain matter that would diminish as we aged and there wasn’t anything we could do about it.

Fortunately for us, research has proven that there are things we can do to change and improve our brains for our entire lives. How, you ask? Well, we all know we should eat our spinach and get adequate sleep, drink water and move our bodies. I’ll let you deal with your nutrition and sleep. Let’s talk about yoga and meditation for our minds and bodies.

Studies show that meditation actually builds new brain cells. Yoga is a meditative practice as well as a physical one. Yoga builds brain cells, too. One of the benefits I find is that yoga lifts my mood. The gray days of winter in Utah Valley influence me less than they used to before yoga and meditation. You can be sure that I will fight for every little brain cell I can build and use to keep me from sliding into dementia and lethargy any time soon. Join me in the fight and come to yoga with me at Bodhi Yoga in Provo. www.gobodhiyoga.com  Or you can call me for a private session.