Good morning! I like to watch and listen to podcasts. One fellow I like is a professor of neurology at Stanford Medical School by the name of Andrew Huberman. In one clip he was talking about concentration and heightened mental function He suggested a specific 17 minute protocol that began by being seated and upright, eyes open. He said that the measured results included reduced cortisol levels and if performed over time, predicted reduced risk of dementias. The protocol he described could be a yoga instructor’s intro to Pratyahara, the 5th of Patanjali’s 8 Limbs.
The Pratyahara observes the sensory functions — how the senses receive information and how they can be turned inwards with breath to illuminate interior landscapes of the physical and the subtle anatomy.
Huberman suggested to place your eyes and attention on one point. Observe how the eyes can focus. then observe how you can receive the impressions of light from the range of your visual field. Relax the focus on the point. Receive light from the range of the visual field. Breathe.
So breathe and continue as you turn the senses inward. This can be performed in posture.
Huberman suggested turning the senses outward and then turn them inwards. Huberman claims this practice clears the mind of distraction and supports concentration. Repeat with gentle but complete breathing.
What is needed for hand balances? How do they build? How do we enter and exit? Where is shtira?
Beginning again means asking familiar questions and looking for the answers in the posture, observing what doesn’t work, and what does. Learning twice, and twice again in Beginners Mind.
I recorded this last night because I must be on the road during our usual time. Here we observe three planes of functional spinal movement with breath. I invite you to recall warm-ups of this past week and to practice from whatever you can recall. If you cannot recall, then reboot yr favorite livestream recording and use that.
This week marks the start of a new endeavor at the SAMURAI INTI Martial Arts Studio in Frisco. I’ll be teaching i a group class there at Sendai Sebastian Mejias ‘ dojo on Monday and Wednesday mornings.
Here's Jeff's updated schedule (please note the upcoming change to Saturdays). Below the schedule, you'll find payment links for the in-person group classes.
Mondays, 9AM in FRISCO at Samurai Inti Martial Arts, 7410 Preston Rd., #105, Frisco, TX 75034
Wednesdays, 9AM in FRISCO at Samurai Inti Martial Arts, 7410 Preston Rd., #105, Frisco, TX 75034
Thursdays, 8:30AM in DALLAS at Carpathia Collaborative, 10260 N. Central Expressway, #210, Dallas, TX 75231
UPDATE APRIL 13, 2025: Saturdays, 8:30 AM in DALLAS *WILL BE AT A NEW LOCATION VERY SOON! Will likely either be at White Rock Lake or Carpathia Collaborative, not the Hillcrest location. Confirmation coming soon! This update was posted on April 13, 2025.
PAYMENT LINKS FOR GROUP CLASSES (you can also pay cash in person at the time of the session; take note of your subscriber and payment level):
Locals community subscribers at the free level, and the general public: $35
https://buy.stripe.com/eVadTm24V3fi77O6oD
Locals community supporters ...
This book was fundamental to body movement and awareness. Notice the three planes of functional spine.
If you ask a personal trainer, a pilates teacher, a yoga teacher, and a massage therapist about “core strength” it is likely you will get different answers.
We wish to observe the diaphragm as the central origin of neuromuscular action — activating channels of strength down through the lumbar vertebrae, hips, legs, feet. And likewise int he opposite direction up the spine through the thoracic spine, shoulders, neck and skull.
Here is an image for us to keep in mind and note how we humans hold together — feet to fingertips and eyes.