The nervous system

THE CONDUCTOR
The nervous system is the body's communication and control system. It is the most complex system and is responsible for all bodily functions and reactions to internal and external stimuli. It is the brilliant conductor that harmoises the symphony of the body into homeostasis. The nervous system is divided into two paths – the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PSNY). The central nervous system is made up of the brain and the spinal cord – it is the control centre of the nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is made up of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves – it carries information to and from the brain to all the systems of the body. There are two nerve pathways – sensory and motor neurons. The sensory neurons send information from the nerve receptors to the CNS, while the motor neurons send information from the CNS to muscles and glands. The motor division is divided into the somatic nervous system (SoNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements, like lifting your arm or walking. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions that happen without us having to think about them, like breathing or digestion.

THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
The ANS manages daily activity and responds to situations. It is divided into the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), ‘fight or flight’ response, and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), ‘rest and restore’ response. Both actions start with sensory signals sending information to the brain. The brain accesses this information and, based on past experiences, decides if the SNS, the PNS or a combination of both are required. When the SNS is active, motor neurons travel to the muscles and glands and increase heart rate and blood pressure, open our airways, inhibit digestion and reproductive organs, stimulate adrenaline production, open our sweat glands and contract the muscles. When the PNS is active motor neurons travel to the muscles and glands and reduce heart rate and blood pressure, relax our airways, stimulate digestion and reproductive organs, inhibit adrenaline production and relax the muscles.

Although the SNS is connected to stress it is also responsible for muscle activation and everyday movement. The two systems do not work in isolation, they work together to keep all the systems of the body active and relaxed when optimally needed. Problems arise when we lean more into one than the other and the nervous system can’t adapt. Yoga helps us build a malleable nervous system that can move smoothly from doing to non-doing and appreciate the value of both.

EXPLORING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM IN YOUR PRACTICE
This sequence is built using the framework of my Move & restore method. It starts with a movement practice with simple purposeful flows to build energy, strengthen your muscles and activate the SNS. Then brings you into a replenishing restorative practice to restore energy, relax your muscles and activate the PNS. Transitioning you from ‘doing’ to ‘non-doing’, building healthy symbiotic pathways for your nervous system and creating an optimum environment for all the functions of the body. As mentioned above, it is not as simple as switching on and off the SNS and PNS responses. Within the movement part of the practice the SNS and the PNS are both activated. The effort of standing upright against gravity stimulates the SNS which contracts the muscle, while at the same time the breath and meditative flow stimulates the PNS which relaxes and calms the mind. Alternatively, within the restorative part of the practice we are purely targeting the PNS, which is what makes restorative yoga uniquely nurturing and replenishing. You can learn more about how this works in my recent article on The vagus nerve; what makes yoga calming in Finding calm; the move & restore method in Move & restore; and restorative yoga in Restorative yoga, Restorative with home props, Restorative sleepy flow, Restorative for stress relief & Rest & renew restorative.

ALIGNMENT CUES
There is no specific peak pose in the nervous system sequence. The first half will activate your sympathetic nervous system with movement, and the second half will activate your parasympathetic nervous system with some restorative poses.

Have a read of the tips below and the restorative pose sets up, either print out the sequence or save it onto your device:

• Use the breath guide in the sequence to help you link breath with movement in the flow. Inhale is indicated with a ‘+’, exhale is a ‘-”.

• A full round of a mini flows is all the poses in the mini flow with the right leg forward first, then repeat with the left leg forward. Repeat this full round twice.

• Move slowly and use the breath to control your effort and ease.

• For a longer practice add in a Sun Salutations at the start of each mini flow or repeat each mini flow.

RESTORATIVE POSE ALIGNMENT CUES
The props you’ll need for the restorative poses are:
1 x bolster - or 2 towels, wrapped around a horizontally rolled pillow and tied to secure.
2 x yoga bricks - or 2 two thick similar sized dictionaries.
2 x yoga blankets - or any wool, thick cotton or fleece blanket with density.

No.1 - Supported bridge
Lie supine on your back, lift your hips up and place a bolster horizontally under your hips. Settle your hips down onto the support of the bolster. Knees bent, feet hip distance apart. Arms extended either side of the body, palms facing up. Feel a gentle opening in the front of the hips and across the chest.

No.2 - Prone twist
Place your bolster vertically along the top centre of your mat. Sit with your right hip along the short end of the bolster. Place a folded blanket between your knees. Turn to face your bolster and place your hands on the ground either side. With an inhale lengthen through the whole spine and on an exhale gently place your front spine along the centre of the bolster. Place your right cheek on the bolster. Shift your elbows away slightly from the bolster to allow the arms to gently hang out of the shoulder sockets. Feel the gentle twist in the spine and abdominal region. Repeat on the left side.

No.3 - Reclined seated
Place two bricks horizontally at the top of your mat, One at its highest height and the other at its mid height. Lie your bolster over the bricks along the centre of your mat and place a folded blanket on the far end of your bolster where your head will rest. Sit with the back of your hips along the short end of the bolster. Roll up a folded blanket and place it under your knees. Gently lie back onto your bolster. Feel a gentle opening across the chest.

No.4 - Savasana
End your practice with at least 10 minutes of Savasana or Resting Pose. Lie supine on your back, legs stretched out, arms slightly away from your body, palms facing up. Legs slightly apart, feet fall out to the sides, soften your shoulder, back of the neck long. Gently close your eyes, let the body become heavy and melt into the support of the ground. Soften the muscles across your forehead, releasing all tension, gaze inwards. Let all the muscles and bones of your body release.

To save the images for personal use click and hold down the image until the ‘save image’ option appears; on Mac hold down ‘control’ and click the image to get the option box; on PC right click on the image to get the option box. Scroll down in the ‘option box’ and click ‘save image’.

Ruth Delahunty Yogaru

Anatomy 101 - The hips

THE HUB OF ALL MOVEMENT
The hip joint is a ball and socket, synovial joint, designed for heavy duty usage and weight bearing. The hips are the joint with the most bony structural differences person to person – making them the joint with the most variety in mobility potential person to person too. Tightness in the front of the hips (hip flexors) pulls the pelvis forward into an anterior tilt – causing the lower back to overarch, the upper chest to puff and the head to tilt back. Tightness in the back of the hips (hip extensors) pulls the pelvis backwards into a posterior tilt – causing the lower back to flatten back, the upper back to overarch forward and the head to tilt forward. Balance and harmony in the hips unifies the upper and lower body and attributes to better fluid movement of the spine too. The hips like to be perfectly stacked over the foundation of our feet, to avoid unnecessary stress on the spine and allow the natural curves of the vertebrae to function properly as a shock absorption system.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE HIPS
The hips are made to be durable and to absorb the forces of gravity and body weight. The socket is much deeper than the shoulder joint which gives it slightly less mobility but much greater stability. The socket is made of several layers, each with their own important job. Starting with the deepest layer of the socket you have the bone of the hip. This bone is covered by a ‘c’ shaped fibrous lining which facilitates gliding called the cartilage. Around the edge of the socket is a rim, which creates a seal and deepens the socket, called the labrum. Then there is a tube like fibrous connective tissue, attached to the rim of the socket and around the head of the femur, which secretes synovial fluid, called the capsule. Next you have the ligaments, holding bone to bone to stabilise the joint. Finally you have many layers of tendons and muscles which facilitate movement of the hip joint.

The hips are made up of two bones – the pelvis (illium, pubis & ischium) and the leg bone (femur). The ball and socket joint is made up the top of the leg bone, called the head of the femur, and the socket which sits on the lower part of the pelvis, called the acetabulum.

THE MOVEMENTS OF THE HIPS
Below there is an illustration of the six movements of the hip joint:

Flexion – where the leg lifts forward and up.
Extension – where the leg reaches back and up.
Abduction – where the leg moves away from the midline.
Adduction – where the leg moves towards the midline.
Internal rotation – where the leg rotates inwards.
External rotation – where the leg rotates outwards.

THE MUSCLES OF THE HIPS
For those of you who love to go deeper into the actions of the hip joint I have also listed the six movements with their assisting muscles in the chart below. Grouping the muscles to the action rather than looking at each muscle in isolation gives a more experiential understanding.

EXPLORING THE HIPS IN YOUR PRACTICE
If you observe your habitual postural habits, in standing and sitting, you most probably find you are inclined to tip your pelvis slightly forward or back. Working with your hips in your practice will help you become more aware of your posture and help release the muscles of your hips that might be tight, and strengthen the muscles that might be weak.

This sequence will mobilise your hips in all directions and leave them feeling strong and stable, with lovely freedom of movement too. Bring your full attention to the hips as you move through the sequence. Notice what your strengths and weaknesses are with regards to the six different movements. It is very normal to have one movement that you move more freely in and one that feels a bit more sticky or challenging for you.

ALIGNMENT CUES
This sequence will bring you through the six movements of the hips – flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and external rotation. Focus your full attention on your hips throughout this practice and move slowly into and out of each pose. See can you notice what areas of the hip are being stretched and which are being strengthened as you move. The sequence is numbered to highlight sample poses from each movement of the hips to give you a better understanding of the role of the hip joint in the pose. Below are the six asana which are highlighted in the sequence where you will feel the six movement of the hips:

1 – Flexion - Standing lifting the leg forward, front leg in Ashta Chandrasana/Eight Crescent Moon, Knee to chest.
2 – Extension - Standing lifting the leg back, back leg in Ashta Chandrasana/Eight Crescent Moon.
3 – Abduction - Half kneeling leg lifts, Parsvakonasana/Side Angle, Utkata Konasana/Goddess.
4 – Adduction - Ardha Matsyendrasana/Half Lord of the Fish, Gomukhasana/Cow Face. 
5 – Internal rotation - Back leg in deer pose.
6 – External rotation - Virabhadrasana II/Warrior II, Parsvakonasana/Side Angle, Utkata Konasana/Goddess, Gomukhasana/Cow Face.

To save the images for personal use click and hold down the image until the ‘save image’ option appears; on Mac hold down ‘control’ and click the image to get the option box; on PC right click on the image to get the option box. Scroll down in the ‘option box’ and click ‘save image’.

Ruth Delahunty Yogaru

The immune system

YOUR DEFENCE SYSTEM
The immune system protects you from harmful microorganisms and from your own cells that have malfunctioned. It is your body's defence system against infection, illness and disease. The immune system is made up of millions of white blood cells, called leukocytes, which are mainly made in the bone marrow. They travel through the blood and lymph constantly scanning for signs of invaders. They are very adaptable and able to tackle many different threats. There are two types of leukocytes – phagocytes and T-cells. The phagocytes digest the foreign cells and send signals to lymphocytes in the lymph nodes. This information is processed and T-cells and B-cells are sent to kill the infected cells. These T-cells and B-cells produce antibodies to counteract further similar invasions and build long term immunity to this specific threat.

THE SYSTEMS OF THE BODY
The immune system works best when the body is balanced in homeostasis. For the body to be balanced all the systems of the body need to be working efficiently. Breath awareness and slow mindful movement of yoga stimulates several systems of the body which work hand in hand with a strong, reactive, but not over reactive, immune system – the nervous system, the digestive system, the respiratory system, the circulatory system, and the lymphatic system.

The nervous system
The nervous system is the body's communication and control system. It is responsible for all internal bodily functions and for our reactions to external stimuli. Periods of busyness and stress are a natural part of life. Every day we face challenges, adapt, solve, and move on. In these busy periods our body concentrates its energy resources on the activity and the other systems of the body are put on the back burner. When these challenges become overwhelming, and linger long term, the effect on the functionality of all the systems, including our immune system, starts to suffer. Yoga enhances the malleability of the nervous system – which is our capacity to move easily from activity to rest – by rewiring the brain's response to stress. The breath is one of the fastest ways to stimulate this response, which is why it is so important in yoga.

The digestive system
The digestive system, or the enteric system, is where the body processes food, absorbs nutrition and removes waste from the body – functions which are imperative to a strong immune system. The squeezing and stretching actions in yoga helps the digestive system in two main ways – it encourages fresh blood flow and stimulates the muscles in the walls of the gut. These two actions assist in efficient nutrition absorption, detoxification, and staying regular through the action of peristalsis in the colon.

The respiratory system
The respiratory system is responsible for bringing oxygen to all the cells of the body to facilitate cell growth and replication. The breath is part of the autonomic nervous system, which means it works automatically. What makes the breath unique is that we can also control it to a certain extent. We can extend, shorten and hold the breath depending on our desired outcomes. When we inhale our heart rate increases, the cells receive oxygen, and we feel energised. When we exhale the heart rate decreases, the cells release carbon dioxide, and we feel calmer. The vagus nerve, which is the main nerve responsible for the relaxation response, travels through the diaphragm. When we breathe, in particular an exhale, it stimulates the vagus nerve and initiates the relaxation response.

The circulatory system
The circulatory system, or the cardiovascular system, pumps blood around the body with the heart through a network of blood vessels. The blood carries oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to all the cells of the body, and removes waste products created in the metabolic functions. Think of the circulatory system as housekeeping. When the body is well serviced the immune system is able to work more efficiently. Breath awareness, and extending the inhale and exhale, affects the pace of the heart and in turn increases or decreases circulation and blood pressure. The movement and wide variety of positions in yoga – twists, inversions, backbends – each add their own challenge and benefit to the circulatory system.

The lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is the transport system for the immune system. It carries white blood cells and nutrients around the body, regulates the immune system, removes toxins, balances fluids and controls inflammation. Unlike the circulatory system it doesn’t have a pump to help it move around the body. It relies on gravity, muscle contractions and the rhythmic breath to keep it moving. When we breathe in we increase pressure on the abdominal region and reduce pressure in the thoracic area, when we exhale we reverse this. This increase and decrease in pressure is one the most efficient tools for keeping lymph flowing and is something that we can accentuate in our yoga practice.

All the systems of the body overlap and work in partnership with each other. The circulatory system works with the respiratory system to distribute oxygen; the circulatory system works with the digestive system to distribute nutrients; the digestive system works with the respiratory system to give each other oxygen and nutrients; the respiratory system works with the lymph system to keep lymph flowing; and the nervous system is the conductor that brings everything together in harmony. Within this harmony lies a strong and efficent immune system.

TWISTS, BACKBENDS & INVERSIONS
For the immune system to work at its best all these systems need to be working in symmetry. Although all yoga will help keep these systems in balance – twists, backbends and inversions are the most powerful poses to practice when working with the immune system.

Twists
When we squeeze into a twist, and stretch to open back up again, it stimulates all the abdominal organs. This twisting action helps the gut absorb nutrition and remove waste; the lungs expand and contract; and the blood to transport oxygenated blood to the organs and remove toxins.

Backbends
A similar principle as twists applies to backbends. When we stretch the front of the body in a backbend it stimulates the organs of the abdominal and chest cavity. This action is particularly good for expanding lung capacity. The higher the lung capacity the better our ability to feed all the cells of the body with fresh oxygen.

Inversions
Inversions add an extra bonus of boosting circulation and increase blood and lymph flow which helps clear bacteria and toxins from the body and plays a vital role in building a strong immune system. Inversions are any pose where the heart is above the head. Along with formal inversion poses, like handstand and headstand, they are also all standing forward bends, downward dog, dolphin, and bridge.

EXPLORING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN YOUR PRACTICE
Throughout the sequence there are lots of opportunities to twist, backbend and take an inversion. For added benefits you could choose one or two of these poses and linger in them for a few breaths. Towards the end of the first row and the third row there is a chest opening mini flow. To do this, place the fingertips of the raised arm to your temple with the elbow pointing down on your inhale, lift your elbow and rotate the arm open on the exhale. Swap the breath around and notice the difference between opening on the exhale and opening on the inhale. The final pose is Viparita Kirana with the legs up the wall. If you prefer not to move to a wall you can take a simple Savasana fro your resting pose.

ALIGNMENT CUES
There is no specific peak pose in this immune system sequence. Throughout the sequence there are lots of opportunities to twist, backbend and invert. Use the cues below to help you flow through the sequence with ease and fluidity.

Have a read of the tips below and either print out the sequence or save it onto your device:

• Use the breath guide in the sequence to help you link breath with movement in the flow. Inhale is indicated with a ‘+’, exhale is a ‘-”.

• If there are specific poses that you would like to stay longer in, give yourself three deep breaths in those poses and pick up the next pose with the allocated inhale or exhale as indicated by the sequence.

• There are five ‘pause breathe’ poses in the sequence. Take three deep breaths in these poses before you move on to the next pose.

• For a longer practice repeat the warm up flow on the first line at the start of each of the two standing flows.

To save the images for personal use click and hold down the image until the ‘save image’ option appears; on Mac hold down ‘control’ and click the image to get the option box; on PC right click on the image to get the option box. Scroll down in the ‘option box’ and click ‘save image’.

Ruth Delahunty Yogaru