Yoga Science
Continuing to feel very grateful for the inspiration put out on The Huberman Lab podcast.
Citing only quality peer reviewed studies, largely out of Stamford uni, I have really enjoyed learning some mechanism and incorporating the Neuroscience based tools into my classes. Over the last weeks, inspired by the HLP, we have been integrating the visual system as it converges in the cerebellum with range of motion, whereby you can access greater range of motion in your joints by inviting a wider visual aperture.
It’s impossible to not notice the number of things the Indian yogis have already employed in the yoga System, eg. drishti. Expanding into a more panoramic, wider aperture field of vision unlocks more range of motion as these converge in the cerebellum, of ‘mini brain’ in the back of the brain. Not to say that this is the primary purpose of Drishti, but according to science it would follow that for example a third eye drishti in a back Arch would unlock more ROM in that direction. Another eg: Science has proven now that taking rest after trying to learn a new skill helps the hippocampus consolidate memories, as it replays everything backwards and filing through the errors & successes to facilitate skill accomplishment. Savasana, the traditional period of rest following physical practice, provides just this.
In one of my favourite episodes, Andrew explains why making errors while learning something is crucial to our brains changing, as the frustration itself if the cue to change the nervous system.
In addition he explains how the vestibular (balance) system is a powerful mechanism for amplifying plasticity, as it taps into an in-born biological mechanism where the cerebellum has outputs to these deep brain nuclei associated with dopamine, Acetylcholine and norepinephrine.
What is interesting is that this doesn’t work with skills that are familiar. if you’re very skilled at eg skateboarding already you are not going to open up plasticity by skateboarding. it is IN THE LEARNING- the NEW relationships to gravity that the windows for plasticity are enhanced.
He makes the point that kids are always moving a lot in different dimensions ~ hanging from trees , falling / rolling etc. And As we age we get less good at engaging in neuroplasticy.
And he wonders: Could it be a Self degenerating cycle? - where as we get older we get more linear about specific kinds of movements - treadmill, stairs etc . With less opportunity for engaging these relationships to the gravitational pull through the vestibular motor sensory convergence, And therefore have reduced plasticity because those chemicals aren’t being deployed because we aren’t engaging in behaviours rather than the other way round !? 💥 love that !!
It made me think about the emphasis in yoga on being unattached to performance, to stay with what is happening however it is - falling out the balance, not understanding where to put hands / feet / legs etc, and while this speaks to a broader purpose of course, it is also happens to be the practice and tool for the mechanism that the science is describing. Andrew talks at the end about how he wishes to bridge the gaps between tools and practices and mechanism.
[Science - all about mechanism, no description of tools and practices
Yoga - tools and practices little description of mechanism]
Made me super appreciative of the Yoga room as a place to combine the two.