Neuroplasticity in Yin Yoga: Cultivating Your Intellect & Responsiveness.
By: Kali Basman
HERE’S THE INQUIRY: WHAT DOES A MINDFUL ASANA PRACTICE, THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION, DO FOR ACTIVATING THE BRAIN?
We know this much - how you focus your attention activates your brain in different ways, and how you activate the brain changes the structure of the brain. This is the definition of neuroplasticity.
The brain changes as the mind is activated in specific ways. The basic principle is this: how you focus attention activates specific circuits in the brain. How you activate specific circuits can stimulate the growth of three major architectural features of the brain.
New neurons
New connections between neurons called synapses
Growth of Myelin: the fatty sheaths along the length of the nerve that speeds up electrical conduction (so increases the functional connectivity among neurons.)
Clear scientific data that tells us the way you repeatedly focus attention activates circuits, when activated those circuits can enhance connections through myelin growth, synaptic growth, even new neuron growth. That’s neuroplasticity.
Being aware of awareness- that’s what we train in.
In asana, when you focus your attention on present moment, somatic awareness, what you find is the actual practice of creating mindful awareness harnesses the social and regulatory circuitry of the brain.
This mindful reflection activates stress reduction, improves immune function, enhances our capacity for compassion and empathy, our ability to balance emotions, our aptitude for insight.
Mindful awareness is a systematic way to train the heart and mind- and this is dependent on the integrity of the individual to harness their mind to transform their brains and to transform their lives.
All of us can focus attention in a new way to transform not only our individual wellbeing but actually collective path we have as a species.
‘Awaken the mind’ is not just about finding inner peace and equanimity, but also the implications of that for cultural evolution.
Photo credit: Kate Michelle Photography (ig: @katemichelleyosemite)
Want to practice with Kali and learn more about how yin affects the brain?
Learn more about her 50 HR 5 elements restorative and yin yoga training in peru this april!
About Kali:
International yoga teacher Kali Basman enriches the paradigm of Yin Yoga to integrate distinct aspects of Self into an innate wisdom practice to awaken a rich inner life and radiate with ritual. Her offering honors Yin Yoga as a tool to surrender to our intrinsic wholeness.
On the textured path of mindful healing, Kali is celebrated for her integration of the 5 Elements and Chinese Meridian Theory with self-inquiry, embodied Anatomy, Buddhist Philosophy of Equanimity, and sharp intellect.