Did you know that yoga actually makes your brain more flexible as well as your body?

I think we all know by now thanks to fMRI's etc. that we can continue to mold and change our brains as we age and there's not much better news than that!

There has just been so much research on the plasticity "changeability" of the brain in recent years and there is absolutely no denying it. It is just so thrilling that we can continue to expand pathways in our brain, and adapt and learn as we age. And many folks are living sooo much longer these days (interestingly, I just read that there are "48,000" centenarians living in the United States alone right now surprisingly).

And although none of us knows how long we are going to live I do know one thing for sure... as long as I live I really hope and pray I can take care of myself and "think" up until the end whenever that may be.

Yoga is brilliant in so many ways:

Did you know that stem cells that form new neurons in the brain come from the bone? (the marrow of our bones)

When we practice yoga we are "literally" creating the stem cells that form new neurons in our brains. We are stimulating the brain to grow so we can have more available pathways.

Its truly fascinating, and too amazing for words.

And combine that with all the other brain benefits of meditation? Its just so incredibly huge. (Almost too much to wrap my brain around haha)

So remember, even if/when we're elderly our brains can keep rewiring themselves protecting against cognitive decline both structurally AND functionally, and thats wonderful news!

See you on the mat friends! Namaste.

Use it or literally lose it. remember your yoga practice

Its been a couple of years since I have posted this Gil Hedley video but it is brilliant and describes so clearly the fascia, and how critical it is to move our body/the sliding surfaces of our body every single day. Otherwise the fuzz literally builds, and builds, and builds.

A facebook discussion on my own self myofascial release this evening prompted me to post this video again. MOVE MOVE MOVE your body, and lose the fuzz. And feel delicious. Remember your yoga practice :)

Pelvic floor issues for men? Yup. you betcha.

Just last evening I looked in the faces of about 20 women and told them that even if they didn't have babies/have a vaginal birth/wound up having a c-section/were a man etc. our pelvic floors can become compromised no matter who we are for various reasons. I looked at them point blank (the previous day I told even more...25-30 people easily) that even my own pelvic floor is changing and I haven't even ever had a baby. I certainly wouldn't call it compromised in any sense of the word thankfully, but at 47 it's just a little different. And if you live long enough you'll notice too that things just change a little bit. Its not bad and difficult to explain. The bottom line (pun intended haha) we ALL need to take care of our pelvic floors, thats all. Those muscles are holding our internal organs in there, babies in there, women use those muscles to push baby out if they deliver vaginally, and men too need to keep a strong and healthy pelvic floor to support the organs and core and spine just as we do because everything is connected. The latest research seems to speak of really strengthening the adductors and to keeping that lumbar curve while sitting. Saw this video this morning and thought I'd share. See ya at yoga! Registration is on. Namaste.

I might be weird but I love ageing and always have (It sure beats the alternative!)

And I love these two. Hopefully we'll still be full of fun and learning new things when we get a little older too. This video is sweet and unscripted.

going on 88 and a real inspiration

I love it when she says "when they say it can't be done i've got to do it." This woman is the perfect example of if you use it you "keep it" (as opposed to, "if you don't use it you lose it"). Lifetime learning, trying new things by pushing the evelope, and and moving her body through her her yoga practice and dance has clearly kept her balanced, vital, clear, and both strong and flexible in body and mind.

They say there are two kinds of people. The elderly, and those who will be elderly (if they livelong enough of course). This woman is lovely, though I'd share.