Thinking About the Brain

by Nina

“I don't think there's a girl floating in a jar anywhere who's as happy as I am.” — Ann Uumellmahaye

Do any of you remember the classic Steve Martin movie “The Man with Two Brains"? In that movie, Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr visits the lab of mad scientist Dr. Necessiter, who has a collection of brains stored in glass jars, and he falls in love with Brain #21, Ann Uumellmahaye, with whom he communicates telepathically. Well, yes, I loved that movie, but when I was thinking about the brain yesterday, it came to my mind as a perfect example of how not to think about the brain. 

For some reason—perhaps due to various religions that tend to separate body from soul?—most of us do tend to think about the brain the way it’s portrayed in that movie, as a separate entity from the rest of the body where all cognition and emotion takes place (while the body does the work of keeping us alive). 

But that’s not really how it works, is it? First of all, your brain plays an absolutely essential role in keeping your body alive. Through a network of nerves, your brain is connected to all the other organs, structures, and systems of your body. And it’s your brain that actually keeps you breathing, keeps your heart beating, and coordinates all the other functions, such as digestion and immune system, that are keeping you healthy and active (see Your Brain is More than that Thing in Your Skull). 

And as for the thinking part, our senses, including our vision, hearing, sense of smell, sense of taste, and sense of touch (which is present in our entire skin), are an essential part of how our brain interacts with and understands the world around us. So maybe your entire body is part of your brain! For example, the sensations you experience on the bottom of your feet as you walk on an uneven surface are information your brain needs to keep you from falling over. That’s why our new saying here at YFHA is “your brain is more than that thing in your skull” (or, in the case of Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr, that thing in the jar). 

All of this is why when we talk about yoga for brain health, it doesn’t make sense to address the single organ—and its cognitive abilities—on its own. Instead, we will always address your brain along with the entire nervous system your brain uses to communicate with the rest of your body. And because your brain actually is a part of your body—just like your heart or liver—we will address how keeping your body itself healthy is as vital for maintaining brain health as is staying mentally and socially active. See Your Brain is More than that Thing in Your Skull, Aging Changes to Your Brain and Nervous System, and How to Foster Brain Health with Yoga. 

“So many brains. I feel like a kid in a candy store.” —Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr

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