Boat Pose: Gut Wisdom

Holistic nutritionists say: Tend to the gut and the brain will thrive.

And indeed, healthy food is one of the best ways to deliver good nutrients to the brain. I get that mood is impacted by what and how I eat. I also know that feelings show up in the pit of my stomach - butterflies, a knot, unease. There is a complex connection between the gut and the brain, and it seems to me that each impacts the other.

Here's what I have learned: The gut is an ever-changing ecosystem that is responsible for many components of good health. It includes a vast array of microbes (trillions!), and the number of microbial cells in our gut is greater than the number of human cells there. It turns out (news to me!) that the presence of gut bacteria is essential for brain development and brain function and that there is a communication network between the gut and the nervous system.

Recent studies show that a shift in the microbiome, which we can impact through diet, can lead to a modification in brain behavior. Interestingly, most of the production of seratonin (which stabilizes our mood and creates feelings of well-being and happiness) occurs in the digestive tract. From here, it's easy to realize that what you eat impacts the gut microbiome, which then impacts brain chemistry, feelings and emotions. I buy it. 

We say "trust your gut" and biologically, it makes perfect sense. Neural pathways literally rely on chemicals produced in the gut. The gut communicates and makes changes to the brain through these agents. What you eat has impact. 

Your gut is the symbolic location of intuition, for really knowing what is true and right for you: gut instinct, gut feelings, trust your gut, listen to your gut, follow your gut. If you tune in, it can lead you to your next step, alert you to danger, it can tell you when you're ill, it can tell you when a relationship is unhealthy or just right. For me, sometimes I might be detached from how I'm feeling -- I can't quickly summon the words to describe the emotion. but I know there is something going on: an antsy-ness around certain people, a realization that I don't find a conversation enlivening, nervous fluttering. Here's the thing: it's like a muscle, and it gets stronger with exercise. Gut exercise is about tuning out other people's opinions, tuning out their logic, and tuning in, with trust. It's a practice of inner strength.

So when the teacher calls Boat Pose, draw your attention to the knitting together of the core muscles, and tune into that unmistakable burning sensation. Strengthen here, and you strengthen your connection to intuition and self-awareness. It's so empowering to know what you need, what you love, and what you must let go. Use the sensation of Boat Pose to tap into your gut, and your path forward.