Free Download! Your Brain on Yoga: Ancient Yogic Wisdom in the Light of Modern Anatomy

We usually think of yogic wisdom and philosophy as rooted in ancient spiritual pursuits of yore. However, are the yogic practices really developed based on deep insights into how the body and brain functions?

In this free download renowned yoga teacher and philosopher Tias Little bridges the beliefs of ancient wisdom and modern science to show that even without modern sophisticated devices, the ancient yogis had remarkable insights into the functioning of the brain and central nervous system paralleled in modern science.

The ancients viewed the spinal column as a channel through which the life force (Prana) of the body flows. They discerned the inner potency within the brain and spine, which moves throughout the body like an animating, life-enhancing force.

“There’s a lot of amazing information coming out now about the brain, but thousands of years ago, the practices developed by the ancient yogis were really all about regulating brain functioning,” says Tias. “The brain is an infinite network of nerves with infinite capacity that is only tapped about 10%, or so. When we move the body and somatically create all this articulation of our body, we really can experience greater brain function.”

Tias talks about how the nervous system is housed in the vertebral column and notes that all of Hatha Yoga really is about amplifying and awakening the spinal column, the central channel for the flow of nerve information. This in turn has a profound impact on the functioning of the nervous system.

By connecting to the ancient rhythms within us–breathing, heart rate, digestion, states of mind, and emotions–we connect to brain wave activity that promotes greater harmony and regulation throughout all the systems of the body, Tias notes.

He further gives practical examples of how specific yogic practices target areas that enhance the functioning of different areas of the brain, including the brain stem region which impacts all systems of the body.

“When we are connected to our vital energy, that's when we're really comfortable in our skin and we have great vitality. We have a capacity to be more adaptable and open. That potency gives us a means to not only feel good inside, but to amplify the fundamental life force that gives birth to all things,” Tias explains.

You may also enjoy Tias's course, Creating a Body of Light: Spine & Brain Anatomy in Light of Ancient Yogic Wisdom.