The Brain and Nerve System
Electrical System of the Body
Central Nerve System
Peripheral Nerve System
The Central Nerve System
The Brain
The Brain Stem
The Spinal Chord
The Peripheral Nerve System
Twelve pairs of Cranial Nerves (which emerge from the brain)
31 pairs of Spinal Nerves (which emerge form the spinal chord)
The Brain
Forebrain
Brain Stem
The Brain Stem
Mid Brain
Hind Brain
Forebrain
Cerebral Hemispheres (2)
The Corpus Callosum
The Pineal Gland
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland
Brain Stem
Spinal Chord
Cerebral Hemispheres
Receive Sensations
Involved in Perception
Thinking
Intelligence
Memory
Decision Making
Movement of Body Parts
Right Cerebral Hemisphere
Inner Perceptions
Creativity
Intuitive Processes
Art, Music
Spatial Perception
Left Cerebral Hemisphere
Outward Perceptions
Logical linear thinking
The Corpus Callosum
Band of Nerve Tracts (connecting the right and left brain together enabling the two hemispheres to communicate)
The Corpus Callosum, the right brain and the left brain also control pineal gland.
The Pineal Gland
Endocrine Gland
Secretes a Hormone (that stimulates the hypothalamus)
Thalamus
Relays Information and Instructions (back and forth from the cerebrum and the senses)
The Hypothalamus
Coordinates the central nervous system
Controls sleep, body temperature, appetite and other life processes in the body
Secretes hormones that stimulate the pituitary gland (which is attached to the lower part of the hypothalamus)
The Pituitary Gland
Endocrine Gland (coordinates all the other endocrine glands)
The Brain Stem
Mid brain
Hind brain
The Mid Brain
Highest Part of the Brain Stem
Relay Station (for messages to and from the brain)
The Hind Brain
The Cerebellum
The Pons
Medulla Oblongata
The Cerebellum
Maintains Posture
Coordinates Complex Body Movements
The Pons
Affects Breathing
Conducts Information (back and forth between areas of the brain and the body)
The Medulla Oblongata
Communicates Information (between the higher brain centers and the spinal chord)
Regulates the Rate and Strength of the Heart Beat
Regulates the Rate of Respiration
Regulates the Diameter of the Blood Vessels
The Spinal Chord
Contains Nerve Circuits
Conveys Information to and from the Brain. The spinal chord is located in the
Spinal Cavity
Contains the Spinal Chord (we call this the vertebral column) Inside the spinal cavity is
Inside the Spinal Cavity is Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Circulates in the Spinal Cavity (in and around the brain as well)
The Peripheral Nerve System
12 Pairs of Cranial Nerves (associated with the Five Senses and their related functions)
31 Pairs of Spinal Nerves (associated with the different regions of the Vertebral Column carring sensory and motor information to and from glands, organs and muscles to the spinal chord)
Of the 12 Pairs of Cranial Nerves 2 Pairs emerge from the brain (10 pairs emerge from the brain stem)
The 31 Pairs of Spinal Nerves emerge from the five regions of the vertebral column:
Cervical- 8 pairs of cervical spinal nerves- carries impulses to and from areas of the head, neck, chest, shoulders, arms and hands. (reflections of The Eightfold Path)
Thoracic- 12 pairs of thoracic spinal nerves- carries impulses to and from the areas of the chest and ribs. (Reflections of the 12 anatomical aspects of the Transcendental Creator)
Lumbar- 5 pairs of lumbar spinal nerves- carries impulses to and from the areas of the abdomen, pelvic and thighs. (reflections of the Body, Mind, Soul, Spirit and Will)
Sacral- 5 pairs of sacral spinal nerves- carries impulses to and from the areas of the thighs legs and feet. (Reflections of the Body, Mind, Soul, Spirit and Will)
Coccyx- one pair of coccygeal spinal nerves- carries impulses to an from the area around the base of the spine. (Reflections of the One Creator of the Higher Self)
The Central Nerve System/Peripheral Nerve Systems are divided into two systems according to function:
The Somatic Nerve System
Voluntary Control System (controls things like voluntary muscle movement of locomotion, etc.)
The Autonomic Nerve System
Involuntary Control System (controls things like digestion and other internal bodily functions)
Some organs are controlled by both voluntary and involuntary nerve functions.
Breathing which is involuntary most of the time can also be controlled voluntarily.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Kshtera
We walk through fields of mind and ego to a place where their is held a temple; a sacred space for us to be together--always. All Ways. You sit behind me, I sit before you--you're to my left, to my right, in front and within. We are upon one another; a face inside a face, a mask for all masks. I see that you have become strong in spite of me and I know their is a sea and more seas--that we are an ocean; we are an ocean of people (mostly free).
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Naad Yoga
THE YOGA OF SOUND By Russill Paul
Over the past twenty years, yoga and music – two powerful approaches to optimal health – have garnered enormous credibility in the western world. Health, we are fast realizing, is not simply the absence of disease: it is a condition of soul that invigorates our being, enabling us to derive the most from life. The yoga of sound is a highly specialized yogic system and methodology that brings together universal healing principles found in yoga and music into a unified approach. Requiring neither the extreme flexibility of yoga postures, nor the complexities of music, the yoga of sound combines the best of both these worlds.
Largely unknown in the West, yet developing alongside the popular form of hatha yoga that has swept the world, the yoga of sound is a broad term for a 3500-year old spiritual system that we can effectively use today to reduce stress, develop our health, and realize spiritual awakenings leading to enlightenment. It is no longer possible to ignore or downplay the role of spiritual practice upon our health and well-being. Healing and spiritual enlightenment are the two faces of the genuine happiness coin.
For thousands of years, Hindu spirituality, which has given the world Yoga, as well as Ayurveda – the world’s oldest medical system, has understood the profound effect that sound has on our well-being. Western medicine is rapidly rediscovering this today in employing sound and music to successfully compliment the treatment of varied health problems including Alzheimer’s, cancer, pre and post-surgical trauma, insomnia and even the dissolving of kidney stones. Overwhelming clinical studies verify that the application of sound therapies helps lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure, produce endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers), nourish DNA, and generate important proteins in body such as interleukin-1.
Vocal chanting is particularly effective because the palate and the human ear (much like the hand and foot in reflexology) function as blueprints for the body’s energy system. This is why, the use of our voice through increased dynamics in speech and chanting can stimulate a wide spectrum of energy releases in our body, contributing effectively to increased health and vitality. Consider the fact that the pituitary gland, which governs our immune system, is located only millimeters from our palate. Then there is the vagus nerve that services the heart, lungs and kidneys, which is located in the throat. Sound yoga deliberately uses sound, in the form of the highly refined syllables of the Sanskrit language, to manipulate the flow of energy in and through the body.
The yoga of sound, as a spiritual system, develops sound as a yoga path by integrating four powerful streams of sacred sound that evolved in India over four millennia – shabda yoga, shakti yoga, bhava yoga, and nada yoga. Shabda yoga is “word yoga” used to strengthen the mind. Shakti yoga is “energy yoga” that employs techniques of sound to build energy in the body and reinforce the nervous system. Bhava yoga is the devotional stream that addresses the needs of the heart, our emotional fulfillment. Nada yoga, the official term for sound yoga, essentially deals with the perception of subtle vibrations in the body and the development of meditation techniques involving deep listening. The other three streams – shabda, shakti and bhava – deal with mantras, and derive from the Vedic, Tantric and Bhakti traditions of Hinduism.
Mantras are spiritual pharmaceuticals that can be used to dissolve obstructions in the flow of our energy, boost the charge of our nervous system and connect our being to vast reservoirs of energy within ourselves. Recent discoveries in quantum physics reveal that the manifest universe is composed of vibrating frequencies of energy – sound, in other words. Mantras are constructed upon exactly the same notion – the individual letters of the Sanskrit alphabet being derived from the basic strands of energy vibrating at the core of our existence. This astounding parallel lends immense credibility to the crucial role that sonic technology – and particularly mantras – can play in determining a comprehensive approach to our health and well-being.
The simple joy in using one’s voice to pronounce certain sounds in rhythmic combinations and vary a few tones is enough to generate powerful chemicals in the body. Along with the use of mantras, the yoga of sound is a holistic approach to health and enlightenment that combines some simple postures, special types of breathing and certain body motions while using sound. Sound is closely associated with the soul — the part of us that reflects something deep and eternal. This is why most illnesses indicate soul issues, and why therefore both sound and music — the language of our soul — can help restore and increase our health.
In our fast-paced lives, dominated by deep-seated fears and the frequent adaptation to changes, we are all manipulated by varying aspects of sound vibrations through radio, television and constant noise everywhere. In response, we must become more knowledgeable of how sound affects us. We must also learn how to use sound, especially those we can produce by means of our own vocal chords, to optimize our health and make our world a better place. This is the yoga of sound.
Over the past twenty years, yoga and music – two powerful approaches to optimal health – have garnered enormous credibility in the western world. Health, we are fast realizing, is not simply the absence of disease: it is a condition of soul that invigorates our being, enabling us to derive the most from life. The yoga of sound is a highly specialized yogic system and methodology that brings together universal healing principles found in yoga and music into a unified approach. Requiring neither the extreme flexibility of yoga postures, nor the complexities of music, the yoga of sound combines the best of both these worlds.
Largely unknown in the West, yet developing alongside the popular form of hatha yoga that has swept the world, the yoga of sound is a broad term for a 3500-year old spiritual system that we can effectively use today to reduce stress, develop our health, and realize spiritual awakenings leading to enlightenment. It is no longer possible to ignore or downplay the role of spiritual practice upon our health and well-being. Healing and spiritual enlightenment are the two faces of the genuine happiness coin.
For thousands of years, Hindu spirituality, which has given the world Yoga, as well as Ayurveda – the world’s oldest medical system, has understood the profound effect that sound has on our well-being. Western medicine is rapidly rediscovering this today in employing sound and music to successfully compliment the treatment of varied health problems including Alzheimer’s, cancer, pre and post-surgical trauma, insomnia and even the dissolving of kidney stones. Overwhelming clinical studies verify that the application of sound therapies helps lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure, produce endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers), nourish DNA, and generate important proteins in body such as interleukin-1.
Vocal chanting is particularly effective because the palate and the human ear (much like the hand and foot in reflexology) function as blueprints for the body’s energy system. This is why, the use of our voice through increased dynamics in speech and chanting can stimulate a wide spectrum of energy releases in our body, contributing effectively to increased health and vitality. Consider the fact that the pituitary gland, which governs our immune system, is located only millimeters from our palate. Then there is the vagus nerve that services the heart, lungs and kidneys, which is located in the throat. Sound yoga deliberately uses sound, in the form of the highly refined syllables of the Sanskrit language, to manipulate the flow of energy in and through the body.
The yoga of sound, as a spiritual system, develops sound as a yoga path by integrating four powerful streams of sacred sound that evolved in India over four millennia – shabda yoga, shakti yoga, bhava yoga, and nada yoga. Shabda yoga is “word yoga” used to strengthen the mind. Shakti yoga is “energy yoga” that employs techniques of sound to build energy in the body and reinforce the nervous system. Bhava yoga is the devotional stream that addresses the needs of the heart, our emotional fulfillment. Nada yoga, the official term for sound yoga, essentially deals with the perception of subtle vibrations in the body and the development of meditation techniques involving deep listening. The other three streams – shabda, shakti and bhava – deal with mantras, and derive from the Vedic, Tantric and Bhakti traditions of Hinduism.
Mantras are spiritual pharmaceuticals that can be used to dissolve obstructions in the flow of our energy, boost the charge of our nervous system and connect our being to vast reservoirs of energy within ourselves. Recent discoveries in quantum physics reveal that the manifest universe is composed of vibrating frequencies of energy – sound, in other words. Mantras are constructed upon exactly the same notion – the individual letters of the Sanskrit alphabet being derived from the basic strands of energy vibrating at the core of our existence. This astounding parallel lends immense credibility to the crucial role that sonic technology – and particularly mantras – can play in determining a comprehensive approach to our health and well-being.
The simple joy in using one’s voice to pronounce certain sounds in rhythmic combinations and vary a few tones is enough to generate powerful chemicals in the body. Along with the use of mantras, the yoga of sound is a holistic approach to health and enlightenment that combines some simple postures, special types of breathing and certain body motions while using sound. Sound is closely associated with the soul — the part of us that reflects something deep and eternal. This is why most illnesses indicate soul issues, and why therefore both sound and music — the language of our soul — can help restore and increase our health.
In our fast-paced lives, dominated by deep-seated fears and the frequent adaptation to changes, we are all manipulated by varying aspects of sound vibrations through radio, television and constant noise everywhere. In response, we must become more knowledgeable of how sound affects us. We must also learn how to use sound, especially those we can produce by means of our own vocal chords, to optimize our health and make our world a better place. This is the yoga of sound.
Friday, November 7, 2008
8 Limbs
Yama - code of conduct, self-restraint: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy), and Aparigraha (non-covetousness).
Niyama - commitments to practice, such as study and devotion: Shaucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (study of text and repetitions of Mantras), and Ishvarapranidhana (self-surrender to God, and His worship).
Āsana - integration of mind and body through physical activity: posture is mastered by releasing tension and meditating on what is infinite or limitless; recognize infinity (within)
Pranayama - regulation of breath leading to integration of mind and body: Active regulation of breathing naturally requires concentration on the process, a prelude to control of the thinking process, the final goal of Raja yoga.
Pratyahara - abstraction of the senses, withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects: The objective of Prathyahara is to disrupt the communication from the sense organ to the brain. Light, sound, smell etc. stimuli received by the sense organs are blocked from the brain centers and thus could not distract from concentration of the mind
Dharana - concentration, one-pointedness of mind: (from Sanskrit धारणा dhāraṇā) is translated as 'collection or concentration of the mind (joined with the retention of breath)', or 'the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back (also in remembrance), a good memory', or 'firmness, steadfastness, certainty'. (The word dharana is related to the verbal root dhri to hold, carry, maintain, resolve.)
Dhyāna - meditation (quiet activity that leads to samadhi): Sleep, tossing of mind, attachment to objects, subtle desires and cravings, laziness, lack of Brahmacharya, gluttony are all obstacles in meditation. Reduce your wants. Cultivate dispassion. You will have progress in Yoga. Vairagya thins out the mind. Do not mix much. Do not talk much. Do not walk much. Do not eat much. Do not sleep much. Do not exert much. Never wrestle with the mind during meditation. Do not use any violent efforts at concentration. If evil thoughts enter your mind, do not use your will force in driving them. You will tax your will. You will lose your energy. You will fatigue yourself. The greater the efforts you make, the more the evil thoughts will return with redoubled force. Be indifferent. Become a witness of those thoughts. Substitute divine thoughts. They will pass away. Never miss a day in meditation. Regularity is of paramount importance. When the mind is tired, do not concentrate. Do not take heavy food at night.
The mind passes into many conditions or states as it is made up of three qualities-Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Kshipta (wandering), Vikshipta (gathering), Mudha (ignorant), Ekagra (one-pointed), and Nirodha (contrary) are the five states of the mind.
Samādhi - the quiet state of blissful awareness, superconscious state: Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (egoism), Raga-Dvesha (likes and dislikes), Abhinivesha (clinging to mundane life) are the five Kleshas or afflictions. Destroy these afflictions. You will attain Samadhi.
Niyama - commitments to practice, such as study and devotion: Shaucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (study of text and repetitions of Mantras), and Ishvarapranidhana (self-surrender to God, and His worship).
Āsana - integration of mind and body through physical activity: posture is mastered by releasing tension and meditating on what is infinite or limitless; recognize infinity (within)
Pranayama - regulation of breath leading to integration of mind and body: Active regulation of breathing naturally requires concentration on the process, a prelude to control of the thinking process, the final goal of Raja yoga.
Pratyahara - abstraction of the senses, withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects: The objective of Prathyahara is to disrupt the communication from the sense organ to the brain. Light, sound, smell etc. stimuli received by the sense organs are blocked from the brain centers and thus could not distract from concentration of the mind
Dharana - concentration, one-pointedness of mind: (from Sanskrit धारणा dhāraṇā) is translated as 'collection or concentration of the mind (joined with the retention of breath)', or 'the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back (also in remembrance), a good memory', or 'firmness, steadfastness, certainty'. (The word dharana is related to the verbal root dhri to hold, carry, maintain, resolve.)
Dhyāna - meditation (quiet activity that leads to samadhi): Sleep, tossing of mind, attachment to objects, subtle desires and cravings, laziness, lack of Brahmacharya, gluttony are all obstacles in meditation. Reduce your wants. Cultivate dispassion. You will have progress in Yoga. Vairagya thins out the mind. Do not mix much. Do not talk much. Do not walk much. Do not eat much. Do not sleep much. Do not exert much. Never wrestle with the mind during meditation. Do not use any violent efforts at concentration. If evil thoughts enter your mind, do not use your will force in driving them. You will tax your will. You will lose your energy. You will fatigue yourself. The greater the efforts you make, the more the evil thoughts will return with redoubled force. Be indifferent. Become a witness of those thoughts. Substitute divine thoughts. They will pass away. Never miss a day in meditation. Regularity is of paramount importance. When the mind is tired, do not concentrate. Do not take heavy food at night.
The mind passes into many conditions or states as it is made up of three qualities-Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Kshipta (wandering), Vikshipta (gathering), Mudha (ignorant), Ekagra (one-pointed), and Nirodha (contrary) are the five states of the mind.
Samādhi - the quiet state of blissful awareness, superconscious state: Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (egoism), Raga-Dvesha (likes and dislikes), Abhinivesha (clinging to mundane life) are the five Kleshas or afflictions. Destroy these afflictions. You will attain Samadhi.
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