Plasticity: Power of Affirmations, Aphrodisiacs

Dearbhla Kelly (durgayoga, layoga.com); Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

“What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life tomorrow: our life is the creation of our mind.” - THE BUDDHA

  

Think affirmations are New-Agey and trite? I mean, really, as if, “I am the very source of abundance and love itself” taped on the mirror were going to pay that credit card bill in the drawer? 

I’m going to suggest that we rethink and try on the possibility that affirmations may be at the cutting edge of neuroscience and its sexy sister, PNI, or psycho-neuro-immunology.
 

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And while an affirmation in and of itself may not be enough to pay bills, practicing affirmations can reshape our brains and thus cause us to incorporate behavioral changes, which can help us do everything from having more successful relationships to better managing our finances.

“Plasticity” refers to the brain’s ability to reconfigure itself, to establish and to dissolve connections between its different parts. Consider the phrase, “Neurons that fire together wire together” [video]. What exactly does it mean? More

Aphrodisiacs: Encouraging Love and Vigor
Arun Deva (layoga.com, Feb. 2014, p. 26)

Depression help (chin mudra)

We are all fascinated with aphrodisiacs -- the substances or activities that help build our strength and staying power in the bedroom as well as our overall vitality.

In Ayurveda, the study and use of these is significant. The Sanskrit term for aphrodisiacs is vajikarana, which means "that which imparts the strength of a horse."

Aphrodisiacs are applicable whatever one’s personal situation. Reproductive fluid, called shukra, circulates throughout the body and is responsible for courage, activity, love, delight, and vigor, according to the ancient Indian medical texts, the Sushruta Samhita and the Charaka Samhita. More

Also in this issue: massage oils, yogi food, meditation, depression help (mudra), Deepak Chopra, astrology, India.Arie, yogis feeding the homeless, Events Calendar, "Lights, Camera, Yoga!"