We live in strange times. The number of images and pieces of information the average person in the Western world receives daily through the Internet (including emails), TV, movies, magazines, radio, cell phone texts, newspapers, billboard advertisements, books, etc., is literally thousands of times greater than what our ancestors experienced.
It’s little wonder that so many people complain of stress and ailing health — after all, the nervous system is the most important system in the body, and the one that is most directly responsible for health, happiness and longevity. If the nervous system is overloaded and undernourished, we feel the effects.
So, what do we do about it?
In addition to being selective about what you watch and read, here are three little-known, but ultra-simple yoga techniques that will transform your nervous system and your life. (By the way, don’t let their simplicity fool you.)
1. Breathe light with a loving feeling 24/7: It sounds like an esoteric suggestion whereas in fact it is one that is well-grounded in modern science. According to Richard Gerber, M.D., “All matter is frozen light.” Most of our suffering — mental, emotional and physical — begins when we feel unsupported and separate from the people and world around us. Breathing in a gentle feeling of love and visualizing that love as white light actually connects you to the subtle energy that is the essence of your body, which also connects you with everyone and everything. Immediately you will feel happier and healthier.
2. Touch your “heart center”: The time-tested adage is, “Follow your heart,” not “Follow your brain,” yet most of us live almost entirely in our heads. The best moments of life are when we feel some form of love or joy, which means the heart, not the mind, is in charge. Place the middle finger of your right hand (this finger has the best energy connection with your heart) at the center of your chest (in line with your underarms) and allow your mind to focus there. Breathe white light with a loving feeling into the center of your chest. When the mind and heart are connected, feeling more whole is automatic.
3. Do shavasana: Shavasana is the “corpse pose,” the most important pose in all of yoga. Lie still on your back with your underarms open and your palms up. Close your eyes and relax for five minutes, breathing white light with a loving feeling into your body. Do this after exercise and just before falling asleep. Aerobic exercise — while helpful for circulation — tires the nervous system by putting it into fight or flight mode. Shavasana helps remove this stress-inducing effect. Before bed, shavasana helps your nerves unwind from the day and gives you a more restful sleep.
Aurora is a certified purna yoga instructor with over 4,000 hours of training. She teaches yoga and meditation at the Alive and Shine Center in Bellevue.
