As you begin to practice yoga more and more, your comprehension of the benefits of the poses becomes more and more clear. Not just because you hear the words stated the same way each time, but because you start to feel the benefits at the same time. Our awareness of our body becomes heightened and the information provided in the dialog becomes real in the body. Learning from many different teachers of this discipline is a gift too, as each instructor tends to have their own style and unique contribution in explaining the effects of the poses. I believe as teachers it is our responsibility to do this, as what we learn from Bikram and other senior instructors is only useful when shared amongst you – the students. I too, being a teacher, learn so much from other teachers. It inspires me to stay educated and keep ties tight with Bikram, because the knowledge in this particular practice of 26 poses with two breathing exercises is endless and impactful. What is quite interesting is that we tend to each hear exactly what we need each time. Beautiful isn’t it?

One phrase that has come up lately is the use of the term “parasympathetic system.” We don’t often hear this term being used in our practice which is why I thought it worthy to do some research and further explain what this means and why it is so valuable to you as a practitioner.

Our autonomic nervous system consists of two parts: sympathetic and parasympathetic. One compliments the other. Our sympathetic nervous system is responsible for our survival. If we sense any kind of danger, real or perceived, our body moves into a “flight or fight” stress response. Our bodies, in their infinite wisdom, will start to pump blood to the heart quicker, increase blood pressure and sugar levels, boost breathing activity and other bodily functions to prepare itself for action. At the same time, there is a reduction or a shutting down of other areas of the body that are not needed in this time of self-defense. Our bodies are truly amazing. However -in our society, we live with an overexposure to stress (either positive or negative) and over time this is too much for the body to handle. Did you know that studies have shown that 90 percent of illnesses and disease are stress related? As one article put it, “over active stress response – develops into cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, autoimmune diseases, reproductive problems, suppression of the immune system and more.”

Sounds dismal, but the body has a way to counteract all that pressure on itself through the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. It is a necessary component to our overall health that is often ignored. It can be called the “relaxation response” and aids in restoring the body to recover from the stress response. The heart slows down, blood pressure returns to normal levels, blood is redirected to core parts of the body and signals the body to increase elimination by supporting intestinal activity and digestion.
Fascinating. Both activate nerve impulses yet under different circumstances and both are necessary for our overall health and well-being.

In our world today no matter where you live and no matter what your situation is, you will encounter stress. How we manage stress is key. I love this yin and yang movement of our central nervous system. The body also has its own coping mechanism for stress built in called the parasympathetic system and through yoga we can activate this natural antidote to stress.

Pranayama breathing activates the parasympathetic system. Long deep breaths like we do in each posture whether extending, twisting or inverting, activates the parasympathetic system. We enhance circulation of blood and bodily fluids to all parts of the body to improve and maintain normal functions. Bikram yoga is designed to encourage exertion on the body followed by maximum relaxation – all of this is exercising the parasympathetic system. As the body heals and regenerates and seeks to shield itself from stressors, our minds too are actively improving to detach from anxiety and fears.

Recently, I rearranged my home bringing in a large shelving unit that fits snug against a 12 foot wall. For the first time, I was able to put all my books that I’ve read and collected over the past 20+ years in one place. Like a photo album, they are a collection of the many experiences in my life. Each one holds some piece of information that was valuable to my growth contributing to who I am today. I was surprised and thrilled to see them all – together – like one big gathering of friends! They shaped ME.

As I look at them and read the titles, I make note of the interests that I have had over the years. Not too much fiction, although I do admit I read all the Twilight series and have quite a few Peter Mayle and all the Paul Coelho books, but there are mostly a lot of self “enlightening” books, as I like to call them. They range from Wayne Dyer’s books on inspiration, to Deborah Ford’s “Shadows of the Light Chasers” (a book on how to claim your dark side), to books on various religions, and several on leadership and what it takes to run a great business as in “Power of Engagement” to “E-Myth Mastery.” I bet many of you over the years, like me, have books that have touched you in some way helping to spark a change of some sort that helped build a greater you. I even have a few powerful children’s books. Wow. Some of those writings can serve us adults well as we tend to need refreshers on the simple things that make us good human beings.

Like yoga and the comprehension we develop with each pose at our own pace, each book came to me at the right time in my life. One is not greater than the other; they are just different and have their own unique gifts. As I look now, many of them were ways to deactivate stress much like the parasympathetic system. If my life was a bit too serious, I read a book that made me laugh. When I felt self-critical and lost, I read books like “Soul without Shame” or “Callings.” When my mother was dying, I read angel books and books that carried messages about God and higher forms of consciousness that soothed the loss I was experiencing.

There is documentary being re-released called “Yoga Unveiled.” (For more details see below as there will be a screening of this movie in Cupertino at the end of May.) One of the Yogi Masters being interviewed was being asked, “why yoga?” He responded by saying “that even 5000 years ago, yoga was created by the people for the people”.

My take on all this is that stress has been and will be one of the many ingredients in our lives but, our roles in life cannot be stifled by the stress that comes to us in whatever fashion. Even the body has built in it a way to cope with stress. How fortunate for you yoga practitioners to have discovered this remedy of stimulating the parasympathetic system as you do your practice. The invention of yoga itself may very well have been created as a response to stress. No matter, the use of the power of yoga to keep stressors at bay as they pop up is time honored and effective. Be on the lookout as your stressors unfold and dissolve and give them a little attention. I, too – need to be aware, as these unwanted visitors disturb my energy and irritate my attention to goals at hand.

I’ve been doing yoga for 12 years now. Little did I know back when I started the amazing decision I was making to engage in this practice. The list of benefits has grown as the years have gone by and I am grateful that I was led this way. Appreciate your choice too. You too will begin to hear unexpected benefits derived from yoga and how fortunate you will feel.

Did you happen to see Bikram on The Today Show on NBC? If you didn’t, don’t worry, I’ve linked the interview (see below) to this newsletter. It is always a treat to see this man, this yogi, in action, whether he is teaching a class, demonstrating a pose, or being interviewed on television, he is insightful and a delight to watch. This short but worthy piece had Jenna Wolfe of NBC interviewing Bikram at Teacher Training in Los Angeles. Jenna participated in the yoga and it turns out that she is an active practitioner! Bikram gave us his shining personality and some exact words that usually stun any audience: “Yes, I like money,” “I sell the truth,” “I don’t sleep; only one hour every night,” “I cure osteoporosis, scoliosis, bursitis, etc…” But, he saves the best for last: “People give up everything to be here. They have no health, no mind, no spirit and I give them hope, a new life.”

That part is hard to argue. If you practice like me and if you watched the video and were moved by seeing the hundreds of students taking class from Bikram, then you know that his yoga does bring new life to many. The older we get the more mileage we put on the body and the narrower our thinking can become. We go through a series of experiences that thread the tales of our lives. It’s only normal that we view our own lives with the filters we derive from each situation we’ve encountered. Taking Bikram Yoga not only helps to slow down the wear and tear on the body but it eliminates many of our filters so you can see and experience your life in newer, broader, perspectives. It’s like putting on glasses and seeing the same circumstance in a clear and brighter way. Bikram has another famous saying: “This is the only subject in the world where the object is you!” Take the yoga for a while and notice how life seems to work for you instead of you working for it. Bikram has a false reputation of being “cult-like.” That may be the addictive quality of the yoga at play here. When you find something that can help you live your most authentic and best life, you can’t help but get obsessed by it.

I have always loved trees. They inspire me. They root deeply, finding the nourishment they need and continually stretch up toward the light. I live in an urban area surrounded by some great landscaping, but there are mostly buildings. Luckily for me, I do have a tree outside my window. It’s a single tree in the midst of these buildings. It sits just outside my huge front window, centered perfectly. Call me silly, but I look forward to seeing that tree each day. This year in particular, I had doubts that it was going to make it. It isn’t a very strong tree, and if you recall, our weather went from great to really bad, and then back to pretty good, only to repeat it all again. We are only just now getting some spring type breeze and sunshine. My tree succumbed to frost a couple of times and was left barren, with few branches. But, to my surprise, it currently has the most leaves I’ve ever seen, and is full and flourishing! It’s decorated and dancing with green, with life!

In yoga, you hear us teachers reciting some of the benefits derived from the practice. For one, our discipline in that room teaches us to tolerate levels of discomfort beyond any threshold we are used to in our everyday life. For example, in Standing Separate Leg Stretching Forehead to the Knee, the knee must touch the forehead in order to get any benefit. That means your chin is tucked to your chest to the point where your throat is choking. Like all the poses, you must hold this pose for a period of time trying to breathe normally. This posture is mid-way through the class, so by the time you are doing this pose, you are hot and super sweaty, and in some cases very tired. It’s challenging and in the beginning, intolerable. However, over time, with frequency in your practice, you come to not only tolerate that throat choking sensation, but to detach from any feeling of discomfort and awaken to sensations that move you deeper into the posture. You become involved in the success of the pose instead of just getting through it. It’s a small but valuable analogy to my tree and to our lives, which grow in meaning with the repetition of the 26 poses. Day after day, just this one pose alone takes you on a journey to move away from familiar filters that can inhibit your growth to more heightened perceptions; perceptions that will free you to rediscover the power within you. These underlying but empowering truths will translate into areas of your life that seem dead, that need tolerance to get through that lack life.

Bikram will tell you that the biggest problem in this world is that we underestimate ourselves. Unfortunately, he’s right, and a lot of it comes from our unconscious, habitual thinking. He will also tell you that negative thoughts are nine times more powerful than positive thoughts. If this was put to a test, I’m certain that he’d be right again. Do the yoga every day and you will catch the doubts that hold you back, the self-sabotaging voice that says this is enough or I can’t do this, as well as those other routine thoughts of work and shopping for dinner that pull you away from being “here.” The yoga will expose the insecure thinking, but we must be present to “see” it.

Like I thought about my tree, we can make the mistake that we are so vulnerable to forces around us, which will keep us stuck at a certain point, not realizing our capacity. We can also fall victim to self-defeating forces within us if we stay asleep. But we are meant for exactly the opposite: like the resilient tree, to flourish and live our best life. We must be careful not to fall into an identity built on tolerance thresholds, as that will keep us living a mediocre life. Instead, we must focus our sights on the bigger picture we’d like to create for ourselves. In that way, we will build the tolerance to override the obstacles in the way of our vision of who we want to be. If the final vision carries more power than the image of the struggle in front of us, then there is no obstacle that we can’t overcome. Like my tree, we must never stop stretching upward, upward toward the light.