The Neuroscience of YogaThe Neuroscience of Yoga

““For a finite-size system to persist in time (to For a finite-size system to persist in time (to live), it must evolve in such a way that it live), it must evolve in such a way that it provides easier access to the imposed currents provides easier access to the imposed currents that flow through it.” that flow through it.”

––Adrian BejanAdrian Bejan

Yoga means Yoga means UnionUnion

• Yoga in Sanskrit Yoga in Sanskrit means, “yoke”means, “yoke”

• Of what to what?Of what to what?

– Body to SoulBody to Soul

– Mind’s eye to physical Mind’s eye to physical bodybody

– Rich and Full Rich and Full Attention to the Attention to the Internal BodyInternal Body

Your brain tunes your body to Your brain tunes your body to give and receive information.give and receive information.

• Yoga is the art of attuning attention into the body – Yoga is the art of attuning attention into the body – effecting healing (blood circulation) and alarms effecting healing (blood circulation) and alarms (pain).(pain).

• The union of yoga is to unite the vibrancy of that The union of yoga is to unite the vibrancy of that which keeps you alive with the totality of your which keeps you alive with the totality of your attention.attention.

Your nervous system is an Your nervous system is an antenna for conscious antenna for conscious

experience.experience.

• On the left is a spinal cord. In the middle is a On the left is a spinal cord. In the middle is a television antenna. Do you see any similarities?television antenna. Do you see any similarities?

• On the right is how your brain cells perceive your body. On the right is how your brain cells perceive your body. How you feel inside to yourself is not how you look on the How you feel inside to yourself is not how you look on the outside. outside.

• The larger areas of this body represent where we can direct The larger areas of this body represent where we can direct and receive stronger signals. Note how large are the and receive stronger signals. Note how large are the hands, tongue and lips. hands, tongue and lips.

So if this is my body So if this is my body experience, then what is a experience, then what is a

Willful experience? Willful experience? • The brain holds tiny maps of The brain holds tiny maps of both itself and the entire both itself and the entire body – attention is when body – attention is when pointers make patterns pointers make patterns between these maps in the between these maps in the body and brain. body and brain.

• Attention is mostly not in Attention is mostly not in your control – movement, a your control – movement, a loud noise, or a strong loud noise, or a strong emotion, all attract the emotion, all attract the network to point to possible network to point to possible causes of why, and if it is causes of why, and if it is important to respond.important to respond.

• Conscious coordination of Conscious coordination of these points, through these points, through attention, produces willful attention, produces willful movement, thoughts and movement, thoughts and behaviors.behaviors.

Yoga means Yoga means WillpowerWillpower

• Yoga increases the Yoga increases the Will on three Will on three levels:levels:

– The Beginner: The Beginner: Do’s and Don’tsDo’s and Don’ts

– Intermediate: Intermediate: A Good PracticeA Good Practice

– Advanced: Advanced: Concentration, Concentration, Meditation and Meditation and PeacePeace

For the Beginner – Do’s For the Beginner – Do’s and Don’tsand Don’ts

What shall I keep?What shall I keep? What shall I What shall I remember?remember?

Non-violenceNon-violence CleanlinessCleanliness

TruthfulnessTruthfulness ContentmentContentment

Non-addictionNon-addiction WarmthWarmth

Sexuality is Sexuality is SacredSacred

Self-StudySelf-Study

Non-possessivenessNon-possessiveness SelflessnessSelflessness

For the Intermediate – A For the Intermediate – A Good PracticeGood Practice

Pose MeditationBreath

For the Intermediate – Must-For the Intermediate – Must-Do’s for Do’s for A Good PracticeA Good Practicedon’t fear pain in a posedon’t fear pain in a pose

don’t desire and don’t don’t desire and don’t avoid a poseavoid a pose

don’t ignore don’t ignore your poseyour pose

For the Advanced – Follow For the Advanced – Follow Your BlissYour Bliss

ConcentrationConcentration

AndAnd

MeditationMeditation

Will Guide Will Guide You to You to

Your BlissYour Bliss

Coming Down to Earth:Universal Yoga Manners Be mindful not to:Be mindful not to:• Invade space by walking on someone’s mat.Invade space by walking on someone’s mat.• Leave your mat unless it’s in between poses.Leave your mat unless it’s in between poses.• Allow your phone to disturb the space.Allow your phone to disturb the space.• Leave your belongings inside the practice Leave your belongings inside the practice space.space.

• Take actions that can be mindfully put to rest Take actions that can be mindfully put to rest – such as loud walking, noise and talking. – such as loud walking, noise and talking.

• Block another’s line of sight.Block another’s line of sight.• Place your mat too spaced out and thus pressure Place your mat too spaced out and thus pressure space of others who will arrive after you.space of others who will arrive after you.

• Place your mat too close and thus remove space Place your mat too close and thus remove space from others who have arrived before you.from others who have arrived before you.

• Leave the practice space without carefully Leave the practice space without carefully cleaning your space and all your props exactly cleaning your space and all your props exactly as you found them or better.as you found them or better.

Practicing yoga is like using a bow and Practicing yoga is like using a bow and

arrow.arrow.

The Bow Analogy