09-Jan-2011

Nerves of Steel

Super-Hero Yoga

What would it take to be a super-hero – in other words unflappable and unstoppable? Wouldn’t it be great to be unbeatable and undefeatable, never losing control in real life? To be a super-yogi all you need is a strong nervous system. Short of becoming a super-hero, there’s a lot you can do to steady your nerves and stay in your center when things shake you up, making it more natural for you to act instead of react, to make sounder decisions when under fire. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

In the accompanying video, Breathe Like a Champ, you will experience three centuries-old breath techniques, including Long Deep Breathing, Alternate Nostril Breathing and magical Sitali, to assist you in developing extraordinary steadiness.  Since breathing is the first thing you do when you are born, and the last thing you do before you leave, breath is the very essence of life. So, first things first – let’s start by learning to maximize breath’s benefits.

Example: It’s Monday morning and Alice has her annual performance review. Anxiety and fear begin. Breathing speeds up, becoming shallow. Body tenses. Central nervous system engages. Chemicals flood the bloodstream. Fight or flight mode has arrived. Fortunately, Alice realizes what is happening. She begins long deep breathing. Her nervous system relaxes as her breath slows. Within minutes, she is centered. By noon her review is over. She sailed through it, feeling great!

In my video, you will learn how each breath technique works with your body, mind and emotions. In upcoming articles, I will share powerful yogic techniques as we explore how to create Nerves of Steel in 2011. Leading you through a series of yogic practices that I have used successfully in my classes, you will become more calm and centered. I encourage my yoga students to make make it a priority to include a daily dose of pranayama, yoga, meditation, and mantra. 

Will you become the next super-hero? Maybe. Will you become stronger and steadier? Absolutely!

Lola Scarborough
Yoga Teacher, Life Coach, Healer, Acupressure Mat Distributor
Yoga Lola Studios and Body Buddies Acupressure Mats
Photo credit: Jennifer Reynolds
Recommended CD: Shanti by Snatam Kaur Khalsa 
Recommended: Breathwalk: Breathing Your Way to a Revitalized Body, Mind and Spirit by Gurucharan Singh Khalsa and Yogi Bhajan

Nerves of Steel - Pranayama (51 KB)

archives