04/30/2024
Let’s Talk About Our Precious Heart!
As we wrap up Stress Awareness Month (April 30th), our journey from brain science takes us to another extraordinary organ—our hearts. Earlier this month, we explored how the brain processes trauma, stress, and regulation. Now, I'm thrilled to share fascinating insights about the heart. Did you know that our heart is not merely a pump? It contains around 40,000 neurons, enabling it to sense, feel, think, and even remember, essentially hosting its own internal 'brain.'
Through the vagus nerve, the heart communicates with our brain, sending significantly more signals to it than it receives. This astounding fact reshapes our understanding of emotional and physiological responses (or feelings and emotions do matter!!).
Sharing an enlightening episode from one of my favorite podcasts - Everyday Better by Leah Smart, featuring Deborah Rozman, Founding Executive Director of the HeartMath Institute. The discussion illuminated how heart-brain interactions can profoundly influence our ability to self-regulate (establish coherence) and much more. As a yogi, I’ve felt this intuitively, but understanding the science that validates practices like the asanas, breathing exercises and meditation can bring about a state of coherence that calms our mind, body, and spirit is truly enlightening.
As we transition into May, celebrating both Mental Health Awareness and Meditation Awareness Month, I will continue to share these vital themes. It is up to us to nurture our mental and emotional health.
# ,
Show Everyday Better with Leah Smart, Ep Activating Your Heart's Intelligence - May 16, 2023