"The brain is a
monstrous, beautiful mess. Its billions of nerve cells, called neurons,
lie in a tangled web that displays cognitive powers far exceeding any of the
silicon
machines we have built to mimic it."
~William F. Allman
"You have brains in your
head.
You have feet in your
shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose."
~Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
As the Bard says, what a piece of work is man! This year of living in gratitude has opened my eyes to so many wonders of life that I used to take for granted, and has awakened awe and appreciation within my soul. Today I am celebrating the human body, in particular the workings of the central nervous system and its command center, the brain. What a truly magnificent piece of architecture, this "monstrous beautiful mess of nerve cells" that regulates every life process and gives us the ability to think and reason, create works of art and music, store memories, communicate with one another, experience emotions, dream, envision, inquire and explore the world around us and the universe within us.
I've got the brain "on the brain" ever since I watched a program on PBS this week in which Rudolph Tanzi PhD, Professor of Neurology at Harvard, gave a talk promoting his book (coauthored by Deepak Chopra) called Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness and Spiritual Well-Being. Dr. Tanzi teaches how to transform our everyday brain into a super brain—how to keep the brain healthy (exercise it like you would a muscle), induce neuroplasticity (increase the production of new brain cells), and integrate the different parts of the brain for increased health and well-being.
How do we keep the brain healthy? Dr. Tanzi talks about the importance of eating a balanced diet—your basic Mediterranean diet is best; limiting sugar, fat, salt, wheat and butter (darn!) and increasing foods high in antioxidants, such as blueberries and dark chocolate (yes!). Getting adequate sleep is important, giving the body time to recharge and repair. Stress reduction is key, through meditation or yoga. Here's some good news: did you know we can actually increase brain cells as we age? Although we lose tens of thousands of brain cells every day, we are also constantly replacing them. Exercise is the best way to induce production of new brain cells. Staying socially connected is important for brain health, as well as staying intellectually stimulated—perhaps learning a new language or learning to play a musical instrument.
I also learned about a simple exercise that helps to increase mental energy: SuperBrain Yoga. Check out this video for a demonstration.:
Practicing this simple exercise for a few minutes two or three times a day, they say, sharpens memory and concentration and actually increases intelligence. I tried it out and it's actually quite fun and energizing. Created by Master Choa Kok Sui (see his book SuperBrain Yoga), this exercise stimulates neural pathways and synchronizes right and left hemispheres of the brain by activating acupuncture points on the earlobes while incorporating movement and breath.
I've got the brain "on the brain" ever since I watched a program on PBS this week in which Rudolph Tanzi PhD, Professor of Neurology at Harvard, gave a talk promoting his book (coauthored by Deepak Chopra) called Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness and Spiritual Well-Being. Dr. Tanzi teaches how to transform our everyday brain into a super brain—how to keep the brain healthy (exercise it like you would a muscle), induce neuroplasticity (increase the production of new brain cells), and integrate the different parts of the brain for increased health and well-being.
How do we keep the brain healthy? Dr. Tanzi talks about the importance of eating a balanced diet—your basic Mediterranean diet is best; limiting sugar, fat, salt, wheat and butter (darn!) and increasing foods high in antioxidants, such as blueberries and dark chocolate (yes!). Getting adequate sleep is important, giving the body time to recharge and repair. Stress reduction is key, through meditation or yoga. Here's some good news: did you know we can actually increase brain cells as we age? Although we lose tens of thousands of brain cells every day, we are also constantly replacing them. Exercise is the best way to induce production of new brain cells. Staying socially connected is important for brain health, as well as staying intellectually stimulated—perhaps learning a new language or learning to play a musical instrument.
I also learned about a simple exercise that helps to increase mental energy: SuperBrain Yoga. Check out this video for a demonstration.:
We exercise our bodies to stay fit and strong—whether it's working out at the gym, running, walking, biking, swimming, hiking, whatever. Doesn't it make sense to exercise our brains as well—to choose thought patterns, attitudes and practices that nurture and protect our mental and emotional health as well. Gotta run...I'm off to eat some blueberries and do some SuperBrain Yoga!
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