Feelings,Yoga and Learning - Part 1

Image: Jay Directo/AFP

Women are known for talking about their "feelings", but have you ever asked yourself: where do our "feelings" come from? What are they exactly?

We tend to refer to joy, anger, confusion, etc. as  our "feelings", and our kids may come & tell us that someone has hurt their feelings, but this is not accurate. These are emotions & an emotion is simply a reaction, created by either a positive or negative response to someone or something that is happening around us.

We might say we feel cold when we are shoveling snow, but when we touch something with our hand, or sense it with our skin, that is really a sensation. Humans need a variety of sensory stimulation in order to develop higher brain functions. Tactile input is sensed by the skin and emotions can be placed in the interoception category, which refers to what we sense inside of us.

When we are solving a challenge and we say "I feel that we should...."  we are really talking about what we are thinking, so that is more of an opinion. Our opinions are influenced by our knowledge, our own perception of our experiences,our emotions, and the people we surround ourselves with.

Our feelings are more than this. As I see it, feelings are the essence of who we are when we are figuratively (and maybe actually) naked-and take away all of the external sensations, opinions, memories, reactions & emotions.

All emotions are derived from one of two main categories: 'positive' emotions are generated from a position of Love, and 'negative' emotions come from some form of Fear. As humans we have an intrinsic need to
feel our emotions-some of us more deeply than others. These reactions to our emotions are what makes us women-and what makes us human.

We have all had the experience of allowing our emotions (reactions) get the better of us, and some of us to the point of social antagonism, argumentative behavior, aggression, headache, depression, stomach problems (ulcers) or even more serious illness. Emotions are the relay switch- the gate- between sensory input and thinking / decision making.

Why are our emotions so powerful and what connects them so closely to our physical body, our thoughts and our senses?

Image: realpowercoaching.com 

The answer lies in a system that some call our emotional anatomy (or energy anatomy) and in the yoga world, referred to as the *Chakra System, illustrated at right.

*(Quick Sanskrit lesson so you don't have to go out & buy Rosetta Stone: Chakra  simply means "disc". )

Simply put, these discs represent emotional energy centers in the body. They not only contain & regulate emotional reactions to sensory input, or to other people, but also those inner subtle feelings that we cannot really define, but seem to, (at least in part), define us.

Coincidentally (or not) the emotional areas of the body correspond anatomically with where our major organs are located, and associate with a higher concentration of nerve endings.

Our sensory systems and emotional systems are linked & directly effect each other. The human body, our environment, our belongings, our thoughts and the entire world in which we live is perceived by us through sensations, emotions and opinions. These all come from different areas of the body & are carried as different forms of energy, some subtle and some not-so-subtle. They all vibrate at the same time on different frequencies. The energies intersect and interact, at every moment, seeking receivers, sending us signals and waiting for a response. Some call this silent talking, but if you have ever watched its outer effect in action, its not-so-silent.

We are all like simultaneous projectors & antennae, picking up on the mental and emotional activity of our surroundings and of others, and projecting our own energy into our environments. At the same time, others are picking up on our signal projections and sending out their own. The Internet, smart phones, social networking and video chat has increased this process by leaps and bounds and why we sometimes feel fatigued after being on the computer. It is also why it is a very good idea to unplug often.

You will notice that our kids go through different stages of projection & receiving emotions, moment to moment, day to day and as they develop and grow. Parents & teachers will notice that on those days when one child is"off" they all are. That is because children cannot yet filter out all the intersecting stimuli and they react to all of it as it floats by. If we could see this, or hear this in action, it would resemble static.

By understanding how our emotional energy system works and effects us, you can better understand how to respond, react, conserve, utilize & spend it more efficiently, allowing you to feel better physically, think more clearly, exude strength and confidence (even when you are not feeling strong OR confident) and work more effortlessly to design the Life & Health you desire for you and your family.

In addition, if you are an educator or therapist, understanding this process will enable you how to design classroom environments, treatment plans & lesson plans that will eliminate some of the static and where learning can become effortless.


Part 2 of this article (will publish on Monday 1/14) will take us deeper into this process and talk about some of the ways we can help ourselves and our kids get a better grip on emotions and use them to help us find our own super power, make better decisions and become more confident in our own unique abilities.


Contact: barbara@bodylogique.com