Your Brain and yoga

Neuroplasticity is a fancy word to signify the brain's ability to reshape itself - to forge new connections and pathways.  When you become fluent in a foreign language, you utilize your neuroplasticity.  In a nutshell, the more you think, do, or say something the more you will think, do, or say the same thing.  It is the mental corollary to you are what you eat.  You are what you think! You are how you move!

A hallmark of aging is the slow down of the formation of new pathways.  In times of learning and experiencing new things, new neuro connections are constantly being created.  As people age, unfortunately, their curiosity flags and their exploration into new territory is often reeled in.  That is a choice which ages you and makes it more difficult for you to learn new material in the future.  To remain youthful  constantly learn new hobbies, movements, ideas, information.

However, we not only want to learn, but dive in.  Although when we do something new, neuro pathways are forged we want them to take hold, the connections to be solidified.  The more we repeat the activity, the more those neuropathways strengthen.  For success in any activity the key is then regular, repeated action over a long period of time. Yoga is a great venue for learning, practicing, and continuing to have new frontiers of learning to master.

Yoga, in addition, sharpens your ability to listen to your body, heart, and mind opening up more opportunities for you to learn of the universe within you. Over time this directs you in making decisions which are aligned with your goals and truth.  Listening helps you in practical areas of life also: to eat and exercise mindfully.  You will sense immediately when you have had enough during a meal.  No longer will you push yourself too hard in a workout.  Learning to listen to your own truth will protect you from needlessly getting suck in decisions you were not aligned with in the first place.

I encourage you to begin a practice of yoga.  Jolie offers yoga both during the day and in the evening.  We also have kids classes and parent-child classes coming on Saturdays at 10:30.  

with love and gratitude,
​Julia