Asanology, yogamatics

Yet another news story in the Times exclaims on the amazing possibility of a relationship between physical exercise and mental dexterity: “Exercise, the latest neuroscience suggests, does more to bolster thinking than thinking does.”


The connection seems so obvious to yogis and yoginis. One of the challenges of asana practice is the constant need to translate verbal instruction into physical expression. “Rotate your upper outer arms in and your lower inner arms out.” “Lift your chest and tuck your tailbone.” “Draw your hips toward the ceiling and drop your heels toward the floor.” 


Just like “Rub your tummy and pat your head,” these complicated instructions, which almost always come in opposing pairs, take a lot of brainpower to grok and even more to put into action. Of course it makes you smarter!