# 58 - Adrenalin vs Endorphins

Adrenalin and endorphins may be considered the masculine and feminine hormones - the yin and yang of feel-good juices. The first provides an instant rush and as steep a fall; the second is more of a slow release of energy that lasts much longer. During our youthful years, we typically tend to seek out activities that offer a temporary high. Youth gives us the physical strength to tolerate the extreme lows that follow immediately after such intense highs.

As we age, we long for consistency in the way we feel about ourselves, and seek out those activities that help us stay in this safety zone for longer periods of time. This is why many of us seek the blissful state that yoga seems to offer us in our later years (blessed are those who have discovered this path at a younger age). With its value added breath, postures, and meditation techniques, the age old practice of yoga brings us to a state of mind that seeks no return.

# 57 - Life is a M.O.P. (Matter of Perspective)

According to one of my favorite yoga teachers in New York, yoga helps us discover our feminine side, although the way it is packaged in the Western world makes us feel that yoga is for women only. Truth is, yoga practice not only helps us re-discover our refined (and therefore more gentle/ feminine) side, it also explores our inner potential to its greatest depths.

My local grocer had a very honest response about why he did not practice (or acknowledge practicing) yoga, despite being wholly aware of its multi-faceted benefits. "People will think I’m gay…" he replied ruefully. Little did he know that the opposite was probably true, or that yoga could help him face his worst fears with a winning smile.

Must we fear our gentler side so much that we leave our unexplored potential untapped to the very end? Is it not more relevant to leave this form with fewer regrets? More importantly, does it really matter what people think if the upside is better health?

Life is a M.O.P. - so let's clean it up before it cleans us out.

# 56 - Focus Points in 48 plus/ Supine Stretches

The following list serves as a general guideline of focus points in the various ailment specific (supine) stretches from the 48 plus sequence:

42. viparita karani/ legs-up-the-wall - lower back

43. hala/ plough - base of throat

44. bala gopala/ happy baby - upper back

45. matsya/ fish - eyebrow center

46. sethubandha/ bridge - base of throat

47. supta parivritta/ supine twist - upper abdomen

48. pinda/ spinal rocking - lower back

# 55 - Focus Points in 48 plus/ Prone Stretches

The following list serves as a general guideline of focus points in the various ailment specific (prone) stretches from the 48 plus sequence:

35. ashtanga namaskara/ eight limbed salutation - lower abdomen

36. bhujanga/ cobra - lower back

37. salabha/ locust - lower back

38. nava/ boat - upper abdomen

39. dhanura/ archer’s bow - front of chest

40. manduka/ frog - upper abdomen

41. danda/ staff - lower back

# 54 - Focus Points in 48 plus/ Seated Stretches

The following list serves as a general guideline of focus points in the various ailment specific (seated) stretches from the 48 plus sequence:

20. marjaria/ cat – pelvic

21. ustra/ camel - lower back

22. supta vajra/ supine diamond - pelvic region

23. shashanka/ rabbit - forehead

24. ardha matsyendra/half spinal twist - upper abdomen

25. marichya/ ray of light - upper back

26. janu sirsa/ head to knee - base of throat

27. paschimottana/ seated forward stretch - lower back

28. gomukha/ cowface - back of chest

29. kapota/ pigeon - pelvic region

30. maha mudra/ grand gesture - lower back

31. paripoorna nava/ full boat - lower abdomen

32. badha kona/ cobbler - pelvic region

33. mala/ garland - pelvic region

34. supta namaskara/ supine prayer - eyebrow center

# 53 - Focus Points in 48 plus/ Standing Stretches

The following list serves as a general guideline of focus points in the various ailment specific (standing) stretches from the 48 plus sequence:

1. hasta uttana/ raised arms - base of throat

2. pada hasta/ hands-to-feet - lower back

3. utkata/ thunderbolt - pelvic region

4. trikona/ triangle - lower abdomen

5. vira bhadra/ brave warrior - pelvic region

6. vira bhadra kona/ warrior angle - upper abdomen

7. tirianga/ reverse inversion - upper back

8. ugra/ fierce - lower back

9. ardha chandra/ half moon - base of throat

10. kati chakra/ spinning wheel - back of chest

11. vriksha/ tree - eyebrow center

12. tuladanda/ balancing scales - eyebrow center

13. uthita pada/ raised foot - back of chest

14. nataraja/ cosmic dancer - base of throat

15. garuda/ eagle - back of chest

16. uttana/ standing forward fold - lower back

17. parvata/ mountain - base of throat

18. ashwa sanchala/ equestrian - eyebrow center

19. parsva kona/ prayer twist - upper abdomen

# 52 - Why Focus is Important

It helps to remember that where the mind goes, energy flows. When we focus internally on various points in the body during posture practice, we channel fresh energy to that region. But when we plant our external focus on a single point ahead of us, we are attempting to improve our balance by zoning out ancillary thoughts. Concentrating on body parts that require greatest effort often helps us face our fears; while deep exhale helps us ease into postures more gracefully. It would help us to remember that, since each body is built differently, focus points may sometimes vary by ability. As a general rule of thumb, we would send our focus to that region of the body which needs our greatest attention.

Nevertheless, in ailment specific sequences, it is prudent to direct our attention to body parts that are impacted in specific ailments – i.e. knee joints for arthritis (of the knees), chest region for asthma, lower abdomen for constipation, upper abdominal region for diabetes, eyebrow center for hypertension, lower back for lumbago, pelvic region for piles (hemorrhoids), and back of upper thighs for sciatica.