Many of us know that yoga therapy works! Obviously, it is not only a physical workout but what else is there? This hidden secret lies beyond fancy yoga outfits and yoga business. I challenged myself with this question: “What is this inner connection between a brain and body?” I allowed myself to explore. I created this mish – mash ( ‘scientificish’/ soul organic ) article to produce amazing healing effects for me and for those who dare to follow my breadcrumbs.
All this happened simultaneously while mastering my Yoga Therapy continuing educations credits, and self-celebrating my birthday.
#1: MOVEMENT – “The human body is created to move!”
“Yoga movement is often performed in a slow and controlled manner that requires balance, coordination, and constant tracking of the body’s position in space. In addition to promoting physical health, this type of movement also helps to finetune interoceptive and proprioceptive awareness. Therefore, all my yoga session is start with movement to assess and shake/ release. Many of the movement-related aspects of yoga engage basal ganglia (BG) and cerebellar circuits. It has been hypothesized that yoga practice may promote increased connectivity within—and dynamic shifting between—motor, cognitive, and emotional neurocircuitry of both the BG and the cerebellum, with potential beneficial effects for mind-body integration and self-regulation.”
My b-day reflection # 1 of being a crone woman. (Contemplation upon reading the Ravenwolf poem)
I’ve never chosen the woman I was; my path chose me instead.
Whatever I needed, whatever life called for-that’s who I became.
Whatever role I needed to be, that was who I evolved into.
Mother, sister, partner, friend, mentor, survivor, provider, protector.
I’ve been each of those and more.
# 2: BREATH – “Your life runs on your breath!”
One of the reasons for practicing breath awareness and conscious breath regulation in the context of movement is to promote the use of supportive breathing patterns in everyday life situations. Breath will help you “take your home” to your inner chambers. Generally speaking, slow and rhythmic breathing promotes activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which in turn facilitates stress reduction. East and West researches agree that “slow and rhythmic breathing also increases the release of prolactin and oxytocin; these hormones can promote feelings of calmness and social bonding. Lastly, breath practices that involve the contraction of laryngeal muscles to create an increase of airway resistance—think ujjayi, or victorious breath—are hypothesized to stimulate somatosensory vagal afferents to the brain and, consequently, to promote improved autonomic regulation.”
My b-day reflection # 2 of being a crone woman:
It wasn’t about what I ever wanted, but what I needed to do and be.
I always did what I had to do to keep moving forward in my life.
Truth is, I didn’t know how I’d make it sometimes, but I always found a way.
I’ve been the one who everyone looked to for strength, courage and passion, and somehow, I was always able to become what I needed to be.
#3: ATTENTION/ CONCENTRATION – “Focus on your 3td eye!”
It also Included Bodily Sensations/Interception. Self – Regulation of attention is a fundamental aspect of yoga, so here are some of the main mechanisms at play in this facet of practice. INTEROCEPTIVE AWARENESS refers to the awareness of internal body states and sensations, including heart rate, respiration, and several autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses related to emotional states. BODY-CENTERED MEDITATION practices have consistently shown structural and functional changes in both the somatosensory and limbic areas. body-centered meditation practices have consistently shown structural and functional changes in both the somatosensory and limbic areas. Some styles of yoga use gaze, or drishti, as a tool for training attention and inducing a calm state of mind.
My b-day reflection # 3 of being a crone woman:
I won’t say it’s been easy or painless, because the struggle I fought was almost overwhelming at times.
But I made things happen, because that’s who I am.
I’ll never be fearless, flawless or faultless, but I’ll always be real, genuine and authentic.
I love with all my heart and I don’t do anything halfway.
FOR EXAMPLE:
Typical practice instructions are to avoid eye movements to potentially distracting stimuli in the visual environment and to instead cultivate a controlled gaze toward a specific body part or point in space. Some styles of yoga use gaze, or “Drishti”, as a tool for training attention and inducing a calm state of mind. Typical practice instructions are to avoid eye movements to potentially distracting stimuli in the visual environment and to instead cultivate a controlled gaze toward a specific body part or point in space. Alpha-wave production in this case is said to be related to a defocus and relaxation of ocular convergence, a technique similar to a yogic gazing practice known as bhrumadhya drishti (focus on the third eye).
#4: PSYCHOSOCIAL ELEMENTS – “Feeling good domains!”
Theses psychoemotional domains of health involve cognition, intellect, beliefs, emotion, and mood. So well known “feeling good” after your yoga class. It works in many way as a mood enhancer and health maintainer. The social domain of health looks at our ability to have and maintain healthy relationships and to interact with others in meaningful ways. In a yoga class it is about positive energy exchange even without saying a word. “Essential to connection with others are prosocial attributes such as compassion, empathy, and forgiveness. The foundations of yoga philosophy and practice are ethical principles (e.g., patience, acceptance, contentment, and non-harming) that can support relationships and help individuals develop insights into habitual ways of interacting that may be getting in the way of healthy relationships. In addition, yoga invites us all to recognize the same inherent nature within all beings, which can support connection and relationship with others and allow for inherent compassion and empathy to emerge.” 7These ethical and social aspects have also been reported as motivators for continued practice and predictors of long-term benefit.
My b-day reflection # 4 of being a crone woman:
My soul is filled with passion and I love hard when there’s love to be had.
I fill many roles and I have a never-ending list of responsibilities,
but I’ve learned I’m capable of conquering anything.
#5: SPIRITUALITY – “Who Am I?”
The definition of spirituality includes meaning and purpose, internal resourcing that may involve connectedness to something more transcendent. You might call it Universe, Divine, God/ Goddess or a source of all knowing. Yoga is non-religious practice. The source of wisdom shines on us without any limitation. “The development and cultivation of meaning and purpose in particular has been linked to decreased inflammatory responses, mortality, pain, and use of pain medication and improved wellbeing and immune processes. Spiritual well-being has also been proposed as an important mechanism through which yoga affects stress reduction.”
My b-day reflection # 5 of being a crone woman:
The fires that once threatened to burn me alive now fuel my drive to rise above and fly high.
Maybe my plans don’t always work out perfectly and there may have been a time or two when it came off the rails, but I managed to find my way almost every time.
I’ve provided for and protected those who needed me.
# 6 REGULATION OF ALLOSTATIC LOAD – “Yoga and Nerves Network/ Self – Regulation!”
“One of the key components for the regulation of allostatic load in humans is the Vagus Nerve, the 10th cranial nerve. The majority (80% to 90%) of vagal nerve fibers are afferent, communicating peripheral information about body states to the brain.”
My b-day reflection # 6 of being a crone woman:
I’ve loved my people who wanted me.
I’ve fought for the ones who couldn’t do it themselves.
I’m a woman of many talents, qualities and depths.
Born of the darkest times which forged my ironclad spirit.
But no matter who I’ve been and what I’ve done,
there’s always one part of me that I’ve needed most:
The SURVIVOR.
She’s the one that kept me going, gave me strength and lifted me up when I fell.
Come what may, she’ll always be the part I value most,
For as long as I will ever need her,
She’ll always be there.
Let all forces be with her ( my Survivor) for next year around!
~Veronika~ livingharmonyondemand.com
PS:
Online course of Yoga Therapy – Vegus Nerve was completed with score of 100%.
New founding, now I see my life as a magical Vegus Nerve / a wonder in its shape– a long- life passage network — running via my life from the begging leading me to (who knows where) but for sure to the next year! Smile!
“What is an archetype you vibrate the most?”
Reference:
Laura Schmalzl and Marlysa: Yoga Therapy and Polyvagal Theory:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29535617/
The Ravenwolf https://www.facebook.com/houseofravenwolf/
YOGA and TRAVEL 