Archive for October 11th, 2015
Any objective measurable Sciences behind Yoga and Stress?
There are two functional parts of the brain that play a key role in stress.
These serve the functions of emotion and cognitive function.
So I am calling them the ’emotional’ brain (amygdala and its connections and medial forebrain structures including the medial prefrontal cortex) and the ‘logical’ brain (the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, other parts of the prefrontal cortex, parts of the cingulate cortex and parts of the hippocampus)
(Humm. Now that names have been attached the science can proceeds)
Najat Rizk shared this link
How to get rid of stress
The emotional brain is able to initiate a ‘stress response’ via the sympathetic nervous system which culminates in adrenaline and cortisol racing through our circulation.
The logical brain is always trying to ‘turn-off’ this stress response and it is also trying to restrain the emotional brain.
The stronger our logical brain, the better it becomes at doing these two things.
When the stress response is ‘turned off’, our parasympathetic nervous system signal is ‘turned on’. This signal ‘relaxes’ the body. So a strong logical brain goes hand in hand with relaxation.
The stress response and ‘relaxing’ signals travel through the body along a particular route and parts of this route have little ‘switches’ which we can physically manipulate to turn the signals on or off.
The neck is an example of where such switches are located (by the carotid arteries).
Training the stress circuit
Yoga is training this entire stress circuit at two levels.
First, every time we are ‘holding’ a posture, staying very still to concentrate or trying to balance, our logical brain is being activated.
When we are bending forwards, our ‘relaxation’ signal is being turned on through the ‘switches’ in the neck. So bending forwards and concentrating at the same time is triggering both the logical brain and the relaxation signal at the same time.
Bending backwards triggers the stress response signal through the switches in our neck. Contracting a muscle also triggers the stress response signal.
So, when we bend backwards and contract our muscles while still having to stay still and concentrate on balancing, our logical brain is given an extra challenge.
It has to overcome the stress response signal being triggered in these two ways before we can be still and concentrate during a posture.
This ‘extra’ resistance the logical brain is having to work against, ‘trains’ it like a muscle.
Rewiring the nerve connections
At the end of a series of yoga postures, the logical brain has had a ‘workout’. It is buzzing with activity.
You feel mentally calm as it is keeping your emotional brain quiet. Training the logical brain in this way for a long time can result in a rewiring of the nerve connections within the logical brain.
New circuitry that enables you to find it easier to control your thoughts is formed. You may find it easier to channel your thoughts in the direction you want and not ‘dwell’ on negative thoughts or experiences.
This is partly why yoga seems to have a positive effect on depression and anxiety, where sufferers have a tendency to dwell on negative life events. Stronger connections within the logical brain keeps the lid down on the emotional brain and the stress response.
This is why yoga can be so effective at battling stress.
The key thing to do is to attempt yoga postures which are structured in a well-formulated sequence where each posture involves a long hold.
Then your yoga and stress will begin to be balanced.
It’s all nurturing: We can Raise a Non-materialistic Child
But I cannot vouch for the adult person in his new environment
Yes, the cost of living is on the up and the last thing you need is your child chanting “I want an iPhone! I want an iPhone!”
When I look around me and see the way my friends are dealing with their children, I know I’ve done something right.
Here are a few tips to ensure that your kids grow up understanding the value of money and knowing that they don’t need it to be happy!
Jeanine Fakhoury and Patsy Z shared this link Beirut.com.
1. Start young. Let them understand the concept of money at a very early age.
When my son was two, he asked for one of those really expensive cars kids can ride. At the time, it cost around $300. I could’ve stepped out and bought it for him but instead, I explained to him that he had to “save” for it. So, every few days or so, we’d add a few dollars to his piggy bank. Nine months later, he happily took his savings to the toy store and bought his first car!
While it was me who paid for it, I had the chance to teach him a lesson about saving and patience, and it really paid off.
He appreciated that car and took care of it as long as he could fit in it.
2. Practice what you preach. If you want your kids to understand the value of money, don’t go throwing it around like confetti.
At the same time, don’t display signs of envy and jealousy if your neighbor gets a new car or your sister remodeled her home.
Kids are essentially sponges, and will mimic your attitude towards money.
3. Spend time with your kids. I know so many parents that leave their kids with the nanny and make up for their absence by buying them all sorts of expensive gadgets.
My son was being bullied at school once by a boy that picked on him every chance he could get while also constantly showing off iPads, iPhones, and tons of other gadgets.
I explained to my son that something is not right in the boy’s home and if you get close enough, you will figure it out.
A couple of weeks later, and after lots of efforts on my son’s part, my son told me that the boy lived with his nanny and grandmother since his parents were constantly traveling. Mystery solved.
4. Get them involved in charity work. Let your kids know that there are many people less fortunate than them.
If you can’t take them to volunteer at an NGO, make them go through their clothes and toys for things to give away to the needy. This instills a sense of fortune in them as well as a responsibility towards their community.
Every season, I see my little girl trying on all of her clothes to know what he should give away and once she’s done, she always tells me how great she feels that someone out there will have new clothes that she was otherwise just stocking up in her closet.
5. Give them cash. While this may seem counterintuitive, it really does work. Give your kids money.
It could be pocket money, a weekly allowance, or even a payment for chores well done. Then, teach them how to spend and save this money. At the same time, you will be teaching them the concept of “giving” as you pass on cash to them. I’ve set up small bank accounts for my children and nothing makes me happier than when one of them hands me a 20,000LL note and says “Mom, please deposit this for me today”. This means they have a plan and they are saving for it.
Adonis Diaries 