The CDC reports that 90% of disease is caused by stress!
Yoga means union - the union of body, mind and spirit.The physical practice of yoga to what many looks like stretching, is one component of a larger system of transformation.
By linking breath and movement (yoga), we focus our thoughts and are challenged to quiet the thinking mind (the inner critic, the ego) and awaken the observer of our thoughts (SELF, spirit, soul). In doing so, we are more able to understand the nature of our human experience.
The brain is much like a computer - with one program and no “off” switch. Our brain is programmed to keep us safe. Emotions like worry, anxiety, fear, existential dread occur when our brains are left unchecked, when we are all consumed by our thoughts. The average person has 10,000 thoughts per day. Of those 10,000, a majority are repetitive thoughts, of those, another large chunk are critical thoughts, and of those, another big chunk are critical thoughts that are self-directed. When we can begin to identify that our brain is doing what a brain is supposed to - think and keep us safe - we can practice detachment; observing the thoughts and allowing them to happen while we feel a certain level of peace and calm by witnessing our thoughts without attachment to them.
Why do we care? Primitive man relied on some level of instinct and critical thought to avoid danger.Think of being chased by a tiger, we are triggered by the perceived presence of a threat - our breath stops or quickens, chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol shoot through our system; and we enter into flight, fight or freeze. While this may be helpful when there is a real threat, in current times, we may find this happening with just a thought of an uncomfortable situation, or mundane activities like our morning commute. When this is happening on an ongoing basis, it becomes unhealthy. 90% of disease is stress related.
Yoga is also a practice of present moment awareness. Have you ever taken one of those familiar drives to the gym, work, or the grocery store, and upon your arrival, you have no recollection of the drive because you were lost in your thoughts?
Most likely, you were having thoughts of something that already happened, or had yet to happen. Have you ever been in the shower and cannot remember if you already shampooed your hair? How about laying in your comfy bed and unable to sleep due to over thinking? When we allow our brain to take over (obsessive thinking), we miss out on LIFE. We miss out on the moments right in front of us. Because life is a finite thing - it will have an ending - and that ending is at an undetermined time - why not enjoy as much of it as possible?
