This winter, Ive been lying low. As a human, Im part of nature, not distanced from it. Winter is a season in which to be quiet, so Ive been quieter. Its a time of dormancy, so Ive slept more. Less bustle, more self-care and reflection.

In late December, a group of us gathered in circle to address wintery questions: What am I laying to rest? and What requires care-filled tending? We also shared sleep-state dreams that felt like they came from Earth herself. Our council was a great reminder of how to look after ourselves as well as what each of us needs to be aware of in the entire web of life. As a contrast to the holiday hustle that was taking place everywhere at the time, we concluded our gathering by dropping into 45 minutes of stillness during which people journalled, napped, meditated, pulled tarot cards for themselves, did energy work on their bodies, and other quiet (non-)activities. Ive carried this cave-like, nest-like sensibility throughout the season and, yes, gotten cranky when it has been interrupted or disturbed. You will have noticed that I didnt even write any blog entries.

Today is Imbolc or Candlemas, a day when a tiny spark of spring is lit, when Brigids creative flame and cleansing well may be experienced. To be honest, Id rather spend more time in the nest-like tending of the cave, yet a part of my mind is curious about whats been gestating in the deep. Hmm, that curiosity is my small spark, I guess. If I spend time with it, divine about it, hold council with it in my journal and perhaps with others in circle, what flame might it generate?

And people are calling me to stir the waters and light the fires, so to speak. Will I offer Circle Way in such-and-such place? Yes. Will I present something about justice in the tarot at so-and-so conference? Yes. Would I be able to blend circle process and the tarot at such-and-such gathering in late spring? Yes. Would I be willing to teach Reiki during so-and-so months? Yes.

So, for me, this is a moment at which one foot is still firmly planted on the stone and blanket of winters restful cavern while two or three toes on the other foot are starting to wiggle and stretch, ready to venture into, or at least point toward, what might come alive in the fields of spring and beyond. The tending wont stop, it will simply take other forms. Less lying fallow, more planting. Less snoozing, more awareness of opportunities and possibilities.

All of this calls forth questions. I plan to use them for tarot sessions for myself, for journalling, and as conversation prompts with friends and circles.

Perhaps one, some, or all of these questions resonate with you. Which one(s)? How will you interact with it/them? Perhaps the cave-tomb-womb of winter has generated very different questions through you. What are they? How will you interact with them? Perhaps theres a meeting between your questions and mine. Perhaps we can explore and enliven them together in a tarot session, in a council circle, or over tea. Whichever, please let me know. Im here. Im setting aside the blanket, lighting the fire, gathering water from the well, and opening the cave door . Will you join me? Where, when, and how shall you and I meet?

Images: The Spirit of Nurture (top) and the Dancer of Beginnings (bottom), both from the Shamans Oracle by John Matthews and Wil Kinghan.

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Fitness and health are import aspects of a persons wellbeing. People experiencing motor impairment can, and do, exercise whether its by participating in organized activities such as sports, or in solitary movement such as calisthenics or yoga. Some require therapeutic measures while others enjoy the sensations of feeling fit or the pleasure of recreation. The key is finding a way to engage in sustained movement that provides form, support, stability, movement and balance to the bodys musculoskeletal system.

Most children with Cerebral Palsy live well into adulthood. With that happy development, however, is the notion that adults with Cerebral Palsy should maintain the highest level of health and fitness possible.

If a person cultivates a nutritionally-sound, rested, and active lifestyle, they are destined for a healthier path.

Because Cerebral Palsy is non-progressive, the impairment will not advance but could improve with treatment, therapy or surgical interventions. However, the stress and strain on a persons body as it functions with impairment from day-to-day can lead to premature aging, osteoparosis and arthritis.

The aging process can be compounded by the effects of secondary conditions (i.e., pain levels due to inactivity) and unrelated health concerns (i.e., broken hip due to fall), not to mention the natural progression of the aging process.

Other health concerns that affect everyones health smoking, drug use, unhealthy sleep patterns, inactivity levels, obesity, and such should be kept at bay.

As is the case for all, a healthy dose of sleep, exercise, fitness and nutrition can thwart the advancement of disease and further disability.

As a person ages, he or she develops health concerns that might be minor inconveniences. These are a healthy part of living a long life that everyone is prone to.

An adult with Cerebral Palsy, even if he or she has a mild to moderate case, may age prematurely due to the stress and strains placed on the bodys musculoskeletal system the system that provides the body with much needed support, stability and movement is the vary system that is largely affected in individuals with motor impairment.

It is for these reasons that a person with Cerebral Palsy will need to prioritize their overall health starting when they are young. For most, early intervention and physical therapy is a staple during childhood. As a child grows, surgical interventions, adaptive equipment and drug therapy are also common.

But physical health often suffers when health insurance coverage stops, therapies are discontinued, government assistance is reduced, or education plans no longer warrant. Children transitioning into adulthood have not been conditioned to maintain physical health, much less worry about the impact of inactivity on the aging process later in life.

Granted, avoiding the pitfalls of an unhealthful lifestyle isnt going to change the physical effects of a persons Cerebral Palsy, but maintaining health and fitness will help to safeguard against premature aging. An active and healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and proper diet will be rewarded with increased mobility and dexterity later in life.

As people get older, they often develop conditions that are considered chronic as opposed to acute. An aging body is less able to respond to physical stress, which means that a variety of conditions are at play. This is true for all.

The consequences of premature aging with a condition such as Cerebral Palsy can be cause for concern. Take, for example, a person that walks with an irregular gait. Stress on the limbs may, over time, hasten the development of conditions like arthritis. When this occurs, it can impede a persons ability to ambulate. Further stresses on a persons system that are secondary such as pain levels my further accelerate physical declines. And, inactivity can lead to weight gain, diabetes and health disease, for example.

When secondary conditions are present, they can complicate a persons life in the following ways:

When a persons health becomes compromised after they have worked hard to improve their physical capabilities earlier in life, its often a source of great distress. However, its a normal part of aging for the most part, and with the right preventative health measures, functional dysfunction can be eliminated or mitigated. Proper diet, exercise, and healthy sleep patterns apply to all.

As a person approaches their overall health and well-being, its always helpful to know that there are fixes for many secondary conditions.

Just because a person has a disability or impairment does not mean he or she is unhealthy. For that reason, a person with Cerebral Palsy should seek health care that treats the whole body.

The bodys ability to rebound from injury and illness becomes strained over time. Its a part of life that everyone that is lucky enough to age will experience at one time or another. The more a person has an eye on their health, however, the healthier he or she will be. Its a personal choice with long-term ramifications.

The failure to adhere to a regular exercise program and a nutritionally-sound diet has consequences, some of which will exacerbate a persons disability. Even if a person does maintain a healthy lifestyle, some secondary conditions will develop, such as:

There are no shortcuts around maintaining a high level of health its all about engaging in an active lifestyle to the highest extent possible, eating right and maintaining healthy sleep patterns.

Often, people with Cerebral Palsy believe they cannot lead an active lifestyle, but exercise levels are relative to our abilities. Every day, people with a disability engage in sports, take part in group exercise classes, participate in therapeutic sessions, or enjoy solitary fitness regimens. Theres no reason most people with Cerebral Palsy cant find something that works for them; its a matter of finding an activity that is structured, sustainable and enjoyable.

Exercise programs that will greatly affect a persons health in a positive way help reduce stress on the heart, which helps to lengthen a persons lifespan. For adults, its recommended that 30 minutes of activity, at least five days a week, is sufficient to maintain health.

The goals of an exercise program should be to:

Some exercises that can help people maintain a high level of fitness include:

A persons impairment may also dictate daily routines to maintain spasticity, thwart contractures, or maintain muscle tonality.

It is believed that every individual should sleep a sound 6 to 8 hours a day on a consistent basis in order to take advantage of the bodys ability to heal at rest.

The other piece of the health puzzle is a balanced diet. The role of eating right cannot be overstated it helps people keep their weight at a healthy level, which is especially important if a person has significant mobility limitations. The nutrients provided by healthy foods power our bodies and our brains; they give people the energy needed to lead productive lives. Likewise, poor diet choices or unhealthy eating patterns can place undue strain on an otherwise, healthy person.

A healthy diet consists of lean proteins, fresh vegetables, whole grains, fruits, milk and a limited amount of fat. Of course, trans fats such as the ones found in snack foods should be avoided.

If a person has dietary concerns or feeding abnormalities common in individuals with oral-motor dysfunction he or she should consult with a registered dietician for suggested meal planning, diets and food preparation.

Another suggestion for maintaining health is meditation and relaxation. A simple 30-minute meditation gives people a chance to relax and reflect on the future. The health benefits are numerous, and include reducing stress, and encouraging happiness and spirituality.

Health practitioners recommend at least six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. But, too much sleep, or too little, combined with extremely low energy levels can be cause for concern, possibly signs of depression or anxiety.

From the time adults with Cerebral Palsy are diagnosed, therapies and medical treatment become second nature. Just because that person is an adult, to most peoples chagrin, those interventions shouldnt cease.

Ways that a person can maintain both his or her health include:

Maintaining good health can be a challenge that sometimes not within reach. There will be days when a person overeats, or decides not to exercise. Thats not unusual its human.

The best way to stay motivated is to take transgressions with a grain of salt and move on. Meeting fitness goals requires and understanding of what works for the individual its not about mimicking what works for someone else. Once a person finds the preferred balance of activities, exercise regimen, fitness routines, sleep and relaxation, and proper diet that work best for him or her, its becomes easier to maintain sufficient energy and motivation. It can actually be a reward, in and of itself.

Some tips for staying motivated include:

One factor that can hamper progress is when expectations are unrealistic. Its not reasonable to expect that a person can run a marathon after training for a week. When expectations arent realistic, it can be demotivating. If this occurs, try making smaller, attainable goals. Short-term goals, once met, can lead to long-term rewards.

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Here are our picks forTop 100 YogaBlogs.Please enjoy! Here atThe Institute for the Psychology of Eating,were on a mission to forever change the way the world understands food, body and health.

The Institute for the Psychology of Eatingisthe worlds only online school dedicated to a progressive, positive, holistic understanding of eating psychology and nutrition. Unique and revolutionary in its approach, the Institute teaches students and professionals how to effectively work with the most common and compelling eating challenges of our times weight, body image, overeating, binge eating, emotional eating, endless dieting, digestion, fatigue, immunity, mood and much more.

The Institute features an internationally acclaimed distance learningprofessional offering theEating Psychology Coach Certification Training along with well loved online programs for the public, includingTransform Your Relationship with Food.No matter what nutritional system you follow, we all have a relationship with food that profoundly impacts our behavior and metabolism.Ifyoure interested in learning more about the work we do, please check out our FREE Video Series calledThe Dynamic Eating PsychologyBreakthrough.You can sign up for itHERE.The list below forTop100 YogaBlogsis in no particular order. Theyre all ranked highly in our eyes!

Just click the box below, copy and paste!

1. YogaMint.com YogaMint helps you transform your life with a mix of yoga moves, delicious vegan and organic recipes, and uplifting meditation that will defeat stress and let your spirit soar to new heights.

2. DailyCupofYoga.com For Brian, it all began with Rodney Yee. From there, what was a personal record of his own transformation become a collaborative adventure, complete with guests writers, tips, tools, wisdom, books and tech, including a great Sansrkit glossary of terms. Definitely worth a look.

3. Spirit Voyage SpiritVoyage.com provides advice on integrating yoga into your lifestyle (ranging from herbalism to aromatherapy and even humor), material for meditation, music, and a guide to interesting yoga events.

4. Yoga Journal A wide-ranging yoga blog that tackles topics like combining motherhood and yoga, where beginners should start, and practical tips on working yoga into your daily routine.

5. My Yoga Blog Intriguing musings from a dedicated yoga practitioner. Also includes photo shoots, book reviews, and a diary of day to day attempts to follow a yoga lifestyle that may provide more insight on your own yoga.

6. AnacostiaYogi The blog of Sariane Leigh, a yoga instructor who specializes in yoga practice and spirituality from an African-American perspective. Includes several different yoga programs.

7. Starr Struck A yoga lifestyle blog with detailed examination of how to carry out some special yoga exercises. Also includes spectacular pictures and interviews of interest to yoga enthusiasts.

8. PowHow Powhow is the leading global platform for live webcam classes. Powhows vStudio Platform enables fitness, dance, music, and arts professionals to connect with their students in multiple ways. A truly great resource.

9. Yoga Lisa DC Lisas blog is about the integration of yoga and knitting (two contemplative pursuits). She uses yoga to help her reduce daily stress and stay fit.

10. Ripple of One Stone RippleOfOneStone provides advice on avoiding injury while carrying out your yoga exercises. A very unique feature is their inclusion of professional, anatomical analyses of the proper and improper ways to perform yoga poses.

11. YogaTwistOnLife A great source of both deep and homely thoughts on the topic of yoga. This blog also features many interesting links for yoga fans to peruse, plus yoga events, yoga teaching, and much more.

12. Semperviva SemperViva has tons of great advice on all aspects of yoga, including nutrition, yoga insights on other current health trends, interviews, reading suggestions and much more

13. Yoga Trail YogaTrail was created to help people to find the yoga that suits them, which led to the largest, most comprehensive directory youll find. But more importantly, Yoga Trail provides independent reviews and yoga-centric criteria for evaluating studios, teachers, training programs, or retreats.

14. The Everything Yoga ItsAllAboutYoga.com features long but fascinating thoughts from the life of a yoga practitioner, salted with inspirational notes on practical yoga exercises.

15. My Yoga Online MyYogaOnline.com reports on a wide range of yoga related products that enhance your meditative lifestyle. Clothing, footgear, mats made of recycled materials, and even yoga games are covered in depth on their blog.

16. YogaCurious At YogaCurious you will learn individual yoga movements, sequences, and relaxation techniques to improve your lifestyle in all dimensions.

17. Cowgirl Yoga Who can resist a yoga site based on Cowgirl Yoga with the motto Yeehaw and Namaste? A Montana womans guide to combining motherhood, horses, the countryside, and yoga.

18. Elsies Yoga Kula A rich source of information on yoga, alternative health practices, yoga videos, and health and wellness. They have a huge selection of online yoga classes and podcasts, as well as a gift guide for yoga lovers.

19. Five Points Yoga This is the blog of Barrett, an advanced yoga trainer with over 500 hours of experience, located in the Boston area. Breathing, music, meditation, and asana are all covered.

20. Ashtanga Vinyasa Krama Yoga at Home This blog features an in-depth discussion of Ashtanga Yoga and its technical and meditative aspects, as well as the potentially ego-building features of some yoga practices and the humbling effects of others.

21. Yoga Paws LLC YogaPaws blog deals with the calming and spiritually soothing aspects of yoga. Their articles are very in-depth with high quality photos to help guide you along.

22. AbelaYoga.com This yoga blog by abellaYoga focuses on the spirituality of yoga and the possibilty of a yogic life, and not just yoga as an exercise.

23. Ashtanga Yoga Mother Earth Yogic wisdom abounds in this blog, which tackles diverse topics such as Paleo and organic diets as a complement to yoga, yoga and modern journalism, and other food aspects of yoga.

24. Christina Sell Yoga Christina Sell discusses the yoga lifestyle, the potential and problems of yoga teaching, and various experiments with yoga under different conditions.

25. Sadie Nardini Sadie Nardini is a fabulous, fierce and fit Ultimate Wellness and Yoga expert and host of the daily yoga and lifestyle hour on Veria TV, a 24/7 national wellness channel. Shes also the author of the upcoming book, Core Strength as well as creator of the bestselling Total Transformation yoga DVDs.

26. lululemon athletica Lululemon goes into extreme detail of everything yoga. They have easily searchable subsections, including the popular ask a yogi section, plus details on food, fitness, education, music, travel, culture, dance, and many other yoga topics.

27. Yogi Times Out to empower the lifestyle of a Modern Yogi, Yogi Times hopes to inspire your healthy, mindful, conscious life. Join in the great community forum where everyone can express their passion and knowledge and share what they know.

28. True Yoga TrueYogaInc is a philosophical, inspirational yoga blog with a strong emphasis on reaching God through yogic practice. This blog also features posts about using nature to increase the effects of yoga exercises.

29. Riverflow Yoga Hot yoga is in the spotlight Riverflow-Yoga.com. But they know how daunting it can be. They focus on making their site a warm, welcoming hot yoga community and caters to all skill levels.

30. Chelsea Loves Yoga Chelsea Loves Yoga is all about building community and connecting to others through yoga. There is a special section for kids and teens, too.

31. The Yogini From Manila Jane from the Philippines shares her knowledge about Manila instructors, the different uses of yoga, talks about good yoga accessories or books, and generally discusses yoga in a friendly, accessible way.

32. Ishta Yoga IshtaYoga is unique in the fact that they provide excerpts from meditation classes. They also give great yoga pose advice, info on office yoga, and elaborate on the spiritual underpinnings of yoga.

33. Eyogaforbeginners.com EYogaForBeginners is designed to help those new to yoga make a fruitful start. This blog is loaded with step-by-step info designed to ease newcomers into the yoga lifestyle.

34. Yogijbrown J. Brown is a yoga teacher from Brooklyn who provides his insights on how to integrate the physical and spiritual halves of the practice into an empowering whole.

35. Nadines Yoga Yoga challenges are Nadines cup of tea, and her blog can be used as a guide to working yogic and Buddhist challenges into your own lifestyle for better flow and meditation.

36. Yoga Gypsy YogaGypsy is a highly instructional blog with lots of great tips on safe, stable, effective yoga moves. It is all from the perspective of a Canadian expatriate living in East Timor.

37. Spoiled Yogi SpoiledYogi rocks! This new mother and self-described spoiled brat spices her blog up with interviews, musings on the yoga community and reviews of yoga products.

38. Write on Yoga Melissa Garvey shares her insights on prenatal yoga and yoga for new mothers. She also helps instructors with advice on the ways to arrange and not to arrange yoga classes.

39. Ashtanga-Yoga-Gainesville Christine has been practicing Ashtanga yoga for the past 10 years and teaching for 5. Her blog contains yoga musings and insightful thoughts on the yoga lifestyle.

40. Curvy Yoga CurvyYoga is about yoga for those with a generous, curvy build. Anna focuses on body positivity and the way yoga can be made to fit any physique or lifestyle.

41. Bernadette Birney Bernadette Birney became a yoga teacher after realizing she wanted to be her first yoga teacher. Shes devoted herself to her yogic eduction and her blog chronicles her thoughts and insights into life and yoga.

42. YogaYak Videos, postures, relaxation techniques, breathing, meditation you name it, its covered here in free, downloadable class videos. Yes, we said free.

43. Yoga Download Exciting tips for making your yoga awesome and unlocking its potential in transforming your life, your stress levels, and your relationships. A great how to guide for living yoga rather than just practicing it.

44. Five-Minute Yoga Get inspirational reading from the thoughts of Eve Johnson, a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher, who deals with such interesting topics as stretches, psychology, yoga and aging, and much more.

45. CorePower Yoga CorePower Yoga is a yoga blog designed to help you live an extraordinary life. They cover everything from beginner yoga to inspirational quotes.

46. Gaiam, Inc. Practical advice on yoga routines for different situations (at work, at school, while hiking, etc.) is combined with excellent posts on the significance and possiblities of yoga in this richly diverse blog.

47. Alignment Yoga Scott Anderson is the writer behind Alignment Yoga. His lifestyle yoga musings are very entertaining, but its the audio and video tutorials that set this blog apart from the others.

48. Whole Life Blog WholeLifeYoga.com provides holesome, clear-sighted advice & commentary. They want you to beat stress, overcome suffering and anxiety, and unlock your full potential.

49. Aura Wellness Center Aura Wellness Centers blog provides advice on how to use yoga for specific uses. For instance, how to energize yourself if youre a runner or how to use yoga to ease physical discomfort, like nausea.

50. Yoga for Healthy Aging YogaForHealthyAging is an in-depth guide to creating a healthy, stress-free aging process using yoga to reduce the effects of arthritis and other aging related problems. The staff includes two medical doctors, a scientist and a physical therapist.

51. Yoga Tune Up YogaTuneup is a head-to-toe health and fitness system. Their blog shoes you how yoga, combined with other techniques, can create balance and flexibility in your body, while relieving pain from past injuries.

52. YogaWiz YogaWiz is a sleek, professional blog that includes many articles on the health benefits of yoga. They provide tutorials on breathing techniques, as well as advice on inducing relaxation and improving strength.

53. LexiYoga LexiYoga is a fascinating mixed bag of yoga related articles, detailing everything from yoga for singles to yoga for healing or relief.

54. Mastery of Meditation, Zen & Kundalini Yoga AnmolMehta.com is a yoga self-help blog that gives you insight into yoga for kids, ways to be happy or inspire yourself, and exercises tailored both to beginners and advanced yoga practitioners.

55. Eco Yogini Eco Yogini has been a self-professed ecoholic yogini and feminist for many years. She shares her journey with yoga on her blog.

56. SynergybyJasmine Promoting yoga, health, and a non-judgmental culture, Synergy by Jasmine is a breath of fresh air that gives both vital insights into yoga practices and ways to apply these principles in our lifestyles.

57. The Joy of Yoga Poetry and yoga abound in this blog which, despite being only three years old, is jam-packed with everything from uplifting thoughts to practical advice on how to handle yoga classes and relationships.

58. Young Yoga Masters Make yoga fun for your kids with the awesome and exciting advice on the Young Yoga Masters blog. With all kinds of tips on young yoga, this is a blog yogic parents appreciate.

59. Yoga Spy A serious yoga blog with occasional flashes of humor, Yoga Spy is what you need to get a good perspective on yoga practices, etiquette between teachers and students, and much more.

60. Is Yoga Legal? Offers insights from a lawyer yogi in how the non-judgmental process of yoga and the completely judgmental process of the law mesh, and what it means for the yoga lifestyle.

61. Karma Spot Solid advice on how to use yoga breathing and other methods to meet lifes challenges, with observations on female empowerment and how it relates to yoga.

62. Yoga Minded YogaMinded offers creative yoga solutions, from yoga while hiking to yoga for teenagers. You can read about good books on the subject, get some advice on poses, and enjoy pithy observations on yoga and life in this blog.

63. Radiant Child Yoga Children need physical and spiritual health just as much as adults, and this blog is rich with detail on how to give kids these gifts through the use of yoga.

64. YogaImmunity YogaImmunitys high quality photos of perfectly performed yoga techniques sets it apart from the pack.

65. Yoga in the Dragons Den Ashtanga yoga and philosophy make a riveting combination in Yoga in the Dragons Den. This blog is a highly thoughtful and greatly acclaimed work of a yoga enthusiast.

66. Yogi Crystal The author behind YogiCrystal started yoga in 2008. She blogs about her goal to grow and learn more on her yogic journey, while spreading knowledge and joy to others and helping them heal from their injuries through yoga.

67. Yoga Untwisted YogaUntwisted is written by Carissa, a lover of all things yoga! She started practicing yoga after a mountain biking accident and found it was a great way to heal. Ten years later, shes still practicing and now blogs about the benefits of yoga.

68. Yogapossible YogaPossible is written by Adam Hocke. Adam has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and his blog focuses on joy, suffering & the health benefits of yoga.

69.Tiffany Yoga Tiffany Cruikshank is an international yoga teacher, author and health & wellness expert who travels the globe inspiring people to live their lives to the fullest. She is known for her lighthearted attention to detail and passionate dedication to the practice

70. YogaG33K YogaG33k is written by Courtney Pearce. She helps yoginis and yogis along their path to living a more yogic and creative life. Her blog is lighthearted, whimsical and full of personality.

71. YogaDork YogaDork writes about the most unique stories in yoga, while chiming in her own perspective on the stories.

72. Yoga Brains YogaBrains was founded in 2012 by five Southern California yoga teachers, practitioners and enthusiasts as a way of demystifying the discipline of yoga and moving the conversation towards the intersection of science, comparative mythology, philosophy and contemplative practice.

73. Daily Downward Yoga TheDailyDownwardDog is dedicated to cool yoga experiences documented as the author journeys through the spiritual worlds of yoga and meditation. She hopes to share the benefits of yoga for people over 40, including the relief of back pain sufferers everywhere.

74. Ups and Downs of a Yoga Mom ChicagoNow is about the ups and downs of a yoga mom. The authors goal is to help take the isolation out of parenting. She accomplishes that through sharing her yogic journey.

75. The Veganasana TheVeganAsana is one womans adventures in veganism and yoga. Her blog is full of inspiration for not just yoga, but for life.

76. One with Life Stephanie Spences One With Life blog is about the tales of a traveling yogini. Her blog is an expression of the love of yoga and the love of life.

77. Movement Georgie Abels blog combines life, yoga, beauty, rock climbing and overall movement into a web of beautiful vignettes. Highly recommended.

78. Kat Saks Yoga Kat is a certified Vinyasa Yoga teacher who invites her students and blog readers to uncover and express their most powerful and authentic self. Her blog helps you in every aspect of your yoga journey, from cultivating an at home yoga practice, to building a yoga music playlist.

79. Flowtation Devices FlowtationDevices is written by Jennifer, whose blog mission is to share her practice experience in dance and yoga, while fulfilling her desire to grow with the world around her.

80. Elephant Journal Elephant Journal is one of the Internets leading yoga blogs. Nuff said.

81. Connect to the Sky Connect to the Sky is written by Bram Levinson, an enthusiastic yogi since 1999. His blog is his way of sharing with the world and communicating the shift that yoga provides.

82. Alive in the Fire Alive in the Fires tagline is being at home within the self, and all her posts are about careful asana practice, giving hugs, letting go and living green.

83.Yoga Healer This is the blog of Cate Stillman, who gives you effective, practical life skills for vibrant health and an awake life. She delivers top information about yoga, Ayurveda, eating green, and how to move gracefully at any age.

84. Yoga Lunchbox Welcome to New Zealands premier online yoga magazine, published by Kara-Leah Grant in the wake of her insatiable curiosity for the human experience. She believes in the power of yoga to transform lives physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

85.Ashley Josephine Yoga This is a blog for the modern day woman looking for a little more balance in life. Here, Ashley has created a bite-size series of yoga videos to give you a taste of the studio in your own home. She teaches with a mind/body/soul approach to help you Live the Life You Were Born to Live.

86. Reflections Yoga Studio The Reflections Center for Conscious living is a great place for practicing yoga and meditation in New York City. Home to teacher trainings and other Rad Workshops. Definitely worth a look.

87. Body Divine Yoga Written by a certified yoga instructor and therapist, Body Divine Yoga is a wonderful look into yogic philosophy at work in the modern world, or as guru B.K.S. Iyengar put it, discovering that: the needs of the body are the needs of the divine spirit which lives through the body.

88. Yoga Earth This collaborative community of health-conscious consumers and ambassadors exists in the world to share the best in nutrition, yoga, and eco-design. Their blog hosts great interviews with yoga practitioners all over the world.

89. Do Yoga With Me! This site is dedicated to sharing the gift of yoga with people of all walks of life. They offer full-length yoga classes, as well as yoga poses, and everything is 100% free! Classes include advanced poses, breathing techniques and anatomy videos. They also offer guided audio meditations and great blog.

90. Green Yoga Welcome to the online home of the northern California operation known as the Green Yoga Association, out to inspire eco-compassionate living through yoga. They also offer great getaways and a highly followed newsletter for your enjoyment and education.

91. Kathryn Budig Kathryn trained and taught in LA for 8 years and now travels the globe, sharing her zeal for life, yoga and food as Womens Health Magazines yoga expert. Shes also the co-founder of Poses for Paws, an organization dedicated to raising money for animal shelters through yoga.

92. Marianne Elliot Zen peacekeeper and storyteller, human rights advocate and author, Marianne spent time serving the UN mission in Afghanistan with a focus on human rights and gender issues. She is a profound teacher and advocate for the benefits yoga brings to the body and mind.

93. MindBodyGreen MindBodyGreen has evolved quite a bit in the last three years. While most people know is as a wellness resource, few know how much yoga goes on here! Check out their pose instructions, articles and interviews from best in the yoga world.

Were always open to suggestions. Feel free to email us and post your favorite Raw Food Blogs in the comments below!

Warm Regards,The Institute for the Psychology of Eating Institute For The Psychology of Eating, All Rights Reserved, 2014

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Top 100 Yoga Blogs | Psychology of Eating

This page helps beginners, or seasoned yogis, understand the basics through foursteps or stages, each with a series of three classes. The first stage, Learn the Yoga Basics,teaches the beginner student fundamental yoga principles, such as how to do the most basic yoga poses that are a part ofalmost all classes, including sitting cross-legged (sukhasana), sitting with legs straight (dandasana), sitting on your heels (virasana) and doing a flow called sun salutations (nurya namaskar).

The second stage, Learn the Yoga Fundamentals: Core Stability,teaches you how to properly activate your core(bandhas) and how integrate your breathing (pranayama).

The third, Learn the Yoga Fundamentals: Strength and Stretch,takes you through a series of classes that help you understand how to strengthen your core and maintaing core stability while strething and doing yoga. And the fourth, Learn the Yoga Fundamentals: Take the Next Step,challenges you with more demanding poses and sequences. All four together provide a fantastic foundation for anyone who wants to further their understanding of yoga and their body.

The three videos in this series are either for students who are brand new to yoga or those who have done yoga but would like to learn how to make it more comfortable or understand how to get the best out of a yoga class.

The three videos in this series teach you how to use your breath and deep core muscles to establish stability around the pelvis and lower back, then shows you how to maintain your core connection while doing yoga.

The three videos in this series show you how to progressively strengthen your core muscles, including your pelvic floor, transverse abdominis, multifidus and psoas, while learning how to stretch key muscle groups in the body.

If you choose to spend some of your valuable time doing yoga, you might as well make sure that you are maximizing yoga's benefits. This next series of classes are more challenging, making it harder to maintain the principles that you learned in the earlier classes. If you're ready, go for it! There's nothing like pushing the edge!

Rachel takes you through a more challenging sun salutation, focusing on alignment principles and breath. Her clarity, precision and good nature will help you through this class, and you may learn a few things too!

Anastasia challenges your core stability even more, with a more challenging pose sequence where she mixes quite a few core strength poses with great releases for the lower back and hips. Even though this class will push you, it will be deeply satisfying your whole body over.

Our beginner series ends with a class that will send you off into the yoga world with gusto and all of the tools that you need to practice safely and effectively in whatever class you do. Anastasia works you harder in this full-length class, while also taking you through some nice back and hip releases.

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Two 60-Minute Vinyasa Yoga Classes from Invincible Ark Fitness (33% Off)

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Instructors lead students of all fitness levels through rigorous yoga poses in a heated studio

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Many gyms, community centers, and YMCAs offer yoga classes. Your neighborhood may also have a specialized yoga studio. Some yoga instructors offer private or semi-private classes for students who want more personalized training.

Before taking a class, check whether the instructor is registered with the Yoga Alliance, a certification that requires at least 200 hours of training in yoga techniques and teaching. You may also want to sit in and observe the class that interests you.

You could also try using a yoga DVD. Websites, DVDs, and books can't compare to learning yoga poses from a teacher, but they can help you find out more. They can be especially helpful if you have already taken yoga classes and want to practice at home. And also can try one of the many yoga apps available for smartphones and other devices.

Dress comfortably for your first yoga session in clothing that allows you to move your body fully. Stretchy shorts or pants and a T-shirt or tank top are best. Yoga is practiced barefoot, so you don't have to worry about special shoes.

If you're doing your yoga workout on a carpeted floor, you probably don't need any equipment, although many people like to use a yoga mat or "sticky" mat. This special type of mat provides cushioning and grip while you do your poses. Yoga mats are soldin sporting goods stores, major retailers, and, possibly,at your yoga class location.

What can you expect at a yoga class or when you watch a yoga video? To begin the class, the instructor may lead you through a series of poses like Sun Salutationsto warm up your arms, legs, and spine. After that, you'll concentrate on specific poses that work different areas of your body. Most yoga sessions end with some type of relaxation exercise.

Before you begin any type of exercise program, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor, especially if you have a health problem. Be sure to let your instructor know about any orthopedic problems or special needs you may have before the class begins. A good instructor will be able to provide modified poses for students who are just beginning or who have special needs.

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Welcome to the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas on Paradise Island. We invite you to come for a stay to nourish your body, soothe your mind, and uplift your spirit. We are a yoga education ashram with a mission to spread peace, health, and joy through yoga. People come here from all over the world to discover the benefits of a yogic lifestyle and enjoy an experience of integrated living next to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.4 Ways to Visit

Live locally or visiting nearby? We welcome Day Guests. Please see Day Guest Information

Harmonize with your natural rhythms through our signature ashram experience. Enjoy time away for a full immersion that includes yoga classes, meditation, healthy meals, daily workshops, and inspiring talks and performances with plenty of time for the beach! You choose your dates: the Yoga Vacation Program is available 365 days a year.

Interested? Yoga Vacation Program

Engage in a monthlong teacher-training immersion in a classical yoga lineage. The world-renowned Sivananda training is designed for all yoga practitioners and focuses students on traditional knowledge and personal experience, developing skills for teaching and sharing yoga. Offered monthly November July.

Interested? Yoga Teacher Training Course

Learn and grow in an enriching educational environment that honors mind, body, and spirit. We offer hundreds of courses of year, including yoga and meditation basics, juice cleanses, healing arts trainings, yoga philosophy, and more.

Interested? Explore the Calendar of Courses or find out more about Experiential Courses

Explore the path of selfless service and become a part of the ashram community, working to make everything run smoothly. For the spiritually curious and the spiritually committed, youll experience the joys of coming together to serve a greater good, while enjoying the benefits of a yogic lifestyle. Available year-round for 1 to 3 months or longer.

Interested? Find out more to become a Karma Yogi with us.

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The neocortex, also called the neopallium and isocortex, is the part of the mammalian brain involved in higher-order brain functions such as sensory perception, cognition, generation of motor commands,[1] spatial reasoning and language.[2]

The neocortex is further subdivided into the true isocortex and the proisocortex.[3]

In the human brain, the neocortex is the largest part of the cerebral cortex which is the outer layer of the cerebrum, with the allocortex making up the rest. The neocortex is made up of six layers, labelled from the outermost inwards, I to VI. Of all the mammals studied to date (including humans), a species of oceanic dolphin known as the long-finned pilot whale has been found to have the most neocortical neurons.[4]

Neocortex is Latin for "new bark" or "new rind". Neopallium means "new mantle" and isocortex means "equal rind".

The neocortex is the most developed in its organisation and number of layers, of the cerebral tissues.[5] The neocortex consists of the grey matter, or neuronal cell bodies and unmyelinated fibers, surrounding the deeper white matter (myelinated axons) in the cerebrum. This is a very thin layer though, about 24mm thick.[6] There are two types of cortex in the neocortex, the proisocortex and the true isocortex. The pro-isocortex is a transitional area between the true isocortex, and the periallocortex (part of the allocortex). It is found in the cingulate cortex (part of the limbic system), in Brodmann's areas 24, 25, 30 and 32, the insula and the parahippocampal gyrus.

The neocortex is smooth in rodents and other small mammals, whereas in primates and other larger mammals it has deep grooves (sulci) and ridges (gyri). These folds allow the surface area of the neocortex to be greatly increased. All human brains have the same overall pattern of main gyri and sulci, although they differ in detail from one person to another.[clarification needed] The mechanism by which the gyri form during embryogenesis is not entirely clear, and there are several competing hypotheses that explain gyrification, such as axonal tension,[7] cortical buckling,[8] or differences in cellular proliferation rates in different areas of the cortex.[9]

The neocortex contains both excitatory (~80%) and inhibitory (~20%) neurons, named for their effect on other neurons.[10] The structure of the neocortex is relatively uniform (hence the alternative names "iso-" and "homotypic" cortex), consisting of six horizontal layers segregated principally by cell type and neuronal connections.[11] However, there are many exceptions to this uniformity; for example, layer IV is small or missing in primary motor cortex. There is some canonical circuitry within the cortex; for example, pyramidal neurons in the upper layers II and III project their axons to other areas of neocortex, while those in the deeper layers V and VI often project out of the cortex, e.g. to the thalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord. Neurons in layer IV receive the majority of the synaptic connections from outside the cortex (mostly from thalamus), and themselves make short-range, local connections to other cortical layers.[10] Thus, layer IV is the main recipient of incoming sensory information and distributes it to the other layers for further processing.

The neocortex is often described as being arranged in vertical structures called cortical columns, patches of neocortex with a diameter of roughly 0.5mm (and a depth of 2mm, i.e., spanning all six layers). These columns are often thought of as the basic repeating functional units of the neocortex, but their many definitions, in terms of anatomy, size, or function, are generally not consistent with each other, leading to a lack of consensus regarding their structure or function or even whether it makes sense to try to understand neocortex in terms of columns.[12]

The neocortex is derived embryonically from the dorsal telencephalon, which is the rostral part of the forebrain. The neocortex is divided, into regions demarcated by the cranial sutures in the skull above, into frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes, which perform different functions. For example, the occipital lobe contains the primary visual cortex, and the temporal lobe contains the primary auditory cortex. Further subdivisions or areas of neocortex are responsible for more specific cognitive processes. In humans, the frontal lobe contains areas devoted to abilities that are enhanced in or unique to our species, such as complex language processing localized to the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (Broca's area).[10] In humans and other primates, social and emotional processing is localized to the orbitofrontal cortex. (See Cerebral cortex and Cerebrum.)

The neocortex has also been shown to play an influential role in sleep, memory and learning processes. Semantic memories appear to be stored in the neocortex, specifically the anterolateral temporal lobe of the neocortex.[13] It is also involved in instrumental conditioning; responsible for transmitting sensory information and information about plans for movement to the basal ganglia.[13] The firing rate of neurons in the neocortex also has an effect on slow-wave sleep. When the neurons are at rest and are hyperpolarizing, a period of inhibition occurs during a slow oscillation, called the down state. When the neurons of the neocortex are in the excitatory depolarizing phase and are firing briefly at a high rate, a period of excitation occurs during a slow oscillation, called the up state.[13]

There is still much to learn about the roles the neocortex has in the neurological processes exemplified in human behavior. To further understand the vital role the neocortex plays in human cognition, IBMs computational model of the human brain was created that simulated the electrochemistry of the neocortex. The super computer, the Blue Brain Project, was created to improve understanding of the processes of perception, learning and memory and gain further knowledge about mental health disorders.[14]

Lesions that develop in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, interrupt the transfer of information from the sensory neocortex to the prefrontal neocortex. This disruption of sensory information contributes to the progressive symptoms seen in neurodegenerative disorders such as changes in personality, decline in cognitive abilities, and dementia.[15] Damage to the neocortex of the anterolateral temporal lobe results in semantic dementia, which is the loss of memory of factual information (semantic memories). These symptoms can also be replicated by transcranial magnetic stimulation of this area. If damage is sustained to this area, patients do not develop anterograde amnesia and are able to recall episodic information.[16]

The neocortex is the newest part of the cerebral cortex to evolve (prefix neo meaning new); the other part of the cerebral cortex is the allocortex. The cellular organization of the allocortex is different from the six-layered neocortex. In humans, 90% of the cerebral cortex and 76% of the entire brain is neocortex.[10][17]

For a species to develop a larger neocortex, the brain must too evolve in size so that it is large enough to support the region. Body size, basal metabolic rate and life history are factors affecting brain evolution and the coevolution of neocortex size and group size.[18] The neocortex increased in size in response to pressures for greater cooperation and competition in early ancestors. With the size increase, there was greater voluntary inhibitory control of social behaviors resulting in increased social harmony.[19]

The six-layer cortex appears to be a distinguishing feature of mammals; it has been found in the brains of all mammals, but not in any other animals.[2] There is some debate,[20][21] however, as to the cross-species nomenclature for neocortex. In avians, for instance, there are clear examples of cognitive processes that are thought to be neocortical in nature, despite the lack of the distinctive six-layer neocortical structure.[22] In a similar manner, reptiles, such as turtles, have primary sensory cortices. A consistent, alternative name has yet to be agreed upon.

The neocortex ratio of a species is the ratio of the size of the neocortex to the rest of the brain. A high neocortex ratio is thought to correlate with a number of social variables such as group size and the complexity of social mating behaviors.[23] (See Dunbar's number) Humans have a large neocortex as a percentage of total brain matter when compared with other mammals. For example, there is only a 30:1 ratio of neocortical gray matter to the size of the medulla in the brainstem of chimpanzees, while the ratio is 60:1 in humans.[24]

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Transhumanism is knocking at the door. Dubbed as Humanity+ or H+, the idea to radically revolutionize humanity has emerged in the last decades as a global intellectual movement. With a slogan of melding humans with the machine, it aims to radically alter human nature by means of technological advancement.

Transhumanists ask, 'If humans can interfere with the process of evolution, is it possible for us to create a human being with greater capacities than what we are now?'

Proponents of transhumanism envision a human that goes beyond its current biology and cognition. They are trying to move society into the next stage of human development where man achieves super-intelligence and emotional well-being. Transhumanists ask, If humans can interfere with the process of evolution, is it possible for us to create a human being with greater capacities than what we are now? Can we make a human species without weakness of disease and illness, anger and sadness, and ultimately overcome death itself?

Some see such technologically driven future as not just desirable, but a necessity. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX indicated an inevitability of humans to symbiotically bond with artificial intelligence, if the human species were to remain relevant. This call for humanitys radical makeover comes right at the midst of the digital age, where Homo sapiens, with the progress of science and technology is crossing the Rubicon, challenging physical boundaries and organic biological limitations.

The rapid expansion of technology in this new millennium radically transformed our social landscape. The modern life filled with information has placed everyone behind computer screens and cell phones. As society has become more abstract, it became virtual, fabricated with images that are dissociated from the facts and events of the world.

The beast of neoliberalism that has been devouring victims abroad is now finally coming home to roost. Now, ordinary Americans are suffering from unemployment, homelessness and lack of access to medical care.

In many ways, the recent hype of fake news reflects this counterfeit reality that we are all surrounded by. Waves of whistleblowers in recent years revealed that we live in a kind of simulation intervened by government and corporate media propaganda. The 2008 financial meltdown exposed the global economy, overdriven by the bubble of toxic assets and stocks that were propped up by central banks with their money made out of thin air. This Ponzi scam of financial engineering was further covered up by bank bailouts, creating a fake recovery.

Meanwhile, our democracy has been one big consumer fraud. We have been duped by psychopaths in power who pull the strings of puppet politicians. Civic power has been fragmented by a corporate duopoly, keeping the populace in false hope for change in the electoral arena. With tactics of divide and conquer, monetary elites behind the scenes trigger emotions, stirring conflicts among voters in a national tournament of identity politics. Once people are trapped by fear and hatred that are carefully manufactured, they easily lose sight of reality. Rather than finding commonality and building a coalition to solve problems, many engage in mutually assured self-destruction.

While the American working class is distracted by this political charade, the economy continues to stagnate, making the divide between the rich and poor ever wider. The beast of neoliberalism that has been devouring victims abroad is now finally coming home to roost. Now, ordinary Americans are suffering from unemployment, homelessness and lack of access to medical care. Young people are burdened with predatory student debt, where despite the promise of college recruiters, there are few viable jobs for them. Social services are defunded, throwing away elders, while a military budget gets fatter and fatter, with increased defense contracts for the never ending wars.

While political corruption is deepening the crisis of institutions and governments, Silicon Valley tech companies through lobbying have steadily gained influence in Washington. Now, technological innovation is pushed forward as a solution to the breakdown of social systems. From Apple and Google to Facebook, giant tech companies put a monopoly on AI, trying to control its development, so to dictate the course of our future. With the initiative of universal basic income (UBI), wealthy and elite technologists advocate for the creation of a robot economy where labor is replaced by automation.

This techno-utopia does not come for free. One has to pay a heavy price for the ticket to this supposed heaven on earth.

Here the radical vision of humanity 2.0 arises. The coming of a post-human era promises to alleviate suffering, make us stronger, more intelligent and godlike. Transhumanists try to bring eternal life through insemination of machine intelligence into the human body. By combining big data with AI software, the idea is already there for humanity to attain digital immortality, where one can develop mind clones of oneself that has its own life on the web. Dr. Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist and futurist shares his aspiration of uploading a digital memory, creating a new pill that slows down peoples perception of time and drugs that can eliminate painful memories.

The idea of fusion with technology as a next stage in human evolution can speak to our own narcissism induced by social media attention culture. The H+ agenda can be marketed by appealing to ones desire for recognition, to be boundless and to attain mastery of oneself. Through social engineering, it will corral the herd and achieve mass adoption. Yet this techno-utopia does not come for free. One has to pay a heavy price for the ticket to this supposed heaven on earth. In the exchange to transcend human limitations, we are asked to give up the essence of being human. What are we expected to sacrifice on this altar of transcendence.

Humans are endowed with subjectivity that places them in relationship with the world. With this self-awareness, we are given freedom to determine the course of our own actions. While machines can only do what they are programmed to do, humans with intention can choose their actions and alter the situation through insight and creativity. This freedom releases spontaneity and variation, making the environment not fixed and unpredictable. At the same time, out of this comes the potential for errors. Choices expose men to the propensity for mistakes and make them fallible.

The AI trend of technological intervention of humanity now threatens this ability to make choices.

The AI trend of technological intervention of humanity now threatens this ability to make choices. Automation narrows and eliminates the space for humans to make their own decisions, locking society into a deterministic future. Through scientific and mathematical precision, the force of mechanization tries to remove possibilities for errors and by doing so, it deprives something essential about human beings.

What make us different from these artificial beings is our free will and unique learning processes that are associated with it. Our connection to the world binds us deeply to the consequences of our own choices. In a moment we make a mistake, reality blows up in our face and we are forced to see the results of what we have created. The feeling of shame and guilt that overwhelm us can break the heart wide open. The unbearable pain awakens ones moral sensibility. With these burning sensations, we directly experience our own actions and the effect they have on others lives.

When we confront our own mistakes with honesty, we can transform this sense of humiliation into humility. We learn to become humble. This connects us to other human beings, allowing us to see reality from their perspectives. This empathy makes us strive to mend our actions. It is the foundation of conscience that makes humans acknowledge their errors and inspire one another to repent, undo wrongdoing and learn.

It is this morality rooted in our relationship to the environment that corporate culture has been trying hard to eradicate. Agendas behind transhumanist movements can be seen as the ultimate goal of transnational corporations. The rise of corporate power turned civilization against nature. Multinational agricultural biotechnology corporations like Monsanto have assaulted life by monopolizing seeds and poisoning food with GMOs.

Corporations as artificial entities bring the force that hardens the heart. They assert themselves in society through the legal fiction of corporate personhood. The theater of the American Dream managed by big business has turned citizens into consumers, who are directed to find happiness in consumption and material acquisition. Unbridled greed of capitalism bombards all with ads and commercials, 24 hours 7 days a week, making us chase after products that we dont need and to be always cheerful, while suppressing sadness and deep dissatisfaction of life with antidepressant drugs. Ensnared by glamorous Hollywood life and a culture that worships youth, many engage in a pathological pursuit for perfection, to be beautiful, thin, and ageless.

In this fictional world, we are not humans. Workers are exploited, being treated as disposable with no benefits, while mega corporations look for the next cheap labor to exploit and new markets to make a killing. The merciless cyborg with its callous skin controls world finance, turning all living beings into caricatures in their tyrannical fantasy. In this artificial natural selection pushed forward by the invisible hands of the market, the cold algorithm enacts financial terrorism, dictating who should survive and who should die.

Now, in Trumps America, the fiction of corporate personhood finds a new iteration to make its dream great again. As the nation consolidates power with the new administration, we all become contestants in The Apprentice. In this grandiose Reality Show, we are told to mimic corporate personhood, to be cunning and self-serving or we will be fired. The world of Wall Street entices all to a path of personal power, filled with ambition, vanity and pride. Plundering through exploitative business practices and addictive gambling of high frequency trading becomes a way of life. Corruption is rife with rampant greed and sexual conquest.

Inside 9-5 office hours of white collar jobs, relationships became impersonal and transactional, where people are forced to hide real emotions behind professional masks. In this supposed free market competition that bars entry to immigrants, people of color and transgenders, workers are trained to mind their own business by climbing up the ladder of success in a rat race of profit at any cost. Deep inside the labyrinth of organizational hierarchies, we are cut off from our own authentic feelings and lose the ground of consensual reality. We no longer are held accountable by feedback of others.

The goal is no longer just total control of the world to create an ever more perfect world, but to control human nature itself by reprogramming our biology to create a perfect self.

Now, with depletion of resources and environmental destruction, the life of the American dream is becoming unsustainable. As the fantasy of corporate personhood is losing its fuel, it seems to be carried into a vision of techno-utopianism. Through mass surveillance and authoritarian use of police force, the corporate state has been attacking privacy and autonomy of individuals. From face recognition technology and biometrics used at borders to AI augmented cyber-security and auto flying drones, it further mechanizes this world. The goal is no longer just total control of the world to create an ever more perfect world, but to control human nature itself by reprogramming our biology to create a perfect self.

As the disfranchised middle class is slowly waking up from their insulated reality and starting to face their broken life, transhumanism offers all a short cut to nirvana. From the magic of genetic modification to the creation of the mind file, through making humans directly interface with the net, technology is presented to rescue us, trying to numb throbbing aches in the arteries that carry the ebb and flow of our human experience.

Transhumanist thinkers with technological enlightenment ideas declare the liberation of humanity from a cog in the wheel of the corporate machine, only to once again ensnare all in their Sci Fi illusory future. From self-driving cars to androids, robots that are designed to look and act like a human, artificial intelligence is here in everyday life, promising to make our life more convenient, efficient and safe. With a gospel of machine supremacy preaching perfection, increased dominance of technology can annihilate our free will that is a prerequisite for developing conscience.

With artificial nerves that cant carry the warmth of blood, robots mimic life in their synthetic existence. They are the phantoms that claim immortality, when they never even had a chance to truly live. These ghosts in the machine make us sever our ties to the world, by turning the heart into a pump that pushes out the pain of our mother in her giving birth to a child.

Our remembering of her pain that brought all of life makes us remain connected to her world. We are living in a fake world; we are watching fake evening news. We are fighting a fake war. Our government is fake, said renowned Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. He continued:

But we find reality in this fake world. So our stories are the same; we are walking through the fake scenes, but ourselves, as we walk through these scenes, are real. The situation is real, in the sense that its a commitment, its a true relationship.

Our ability to feel is a testimony of being human, allowing us to be a real person in this fake world. To be human is to live among flesh, being audaciously flawed. Our striving to bear our own pain awakens compassion. We are able to forgive ourselves and others. We find strength to love one another in our authenticity found in each others imperfection. This total acceptance of human errors connects us to potent creative power within that resists rigidity, mechanization and all stagnation, keeping the world alive through our relationship with her.

Humanity is now at a crossroads. With the exponential growth of technology, we have the capability to bring a great turning or destroy the world.

Humanity is now at a crossroads. With the exponential growth of technology, we have the capability to bring a great turning or destroy the world. Branches of science; technology, engineering, chemistry and medicine helped mankind overcome natural disaster and disease and live more comfortably in this harsh physical environment. Renewable energy technologies can help us create a sustainable future. These are tools that can be used for the good. They can reduce poverty and enhance the quality of our lives. But they can be also used against us and our ability to make choices needs to be preserved to determine which path we will take.

Transhumanism is marching on into our society, showing its footsteps everywhere. With iPad and Android, talking gadgets are entering into the crib, hijacking childhood imagination. Day and night technology snatches youngsters attention, plugging them into Instagram and Snapchat. As the expansion of this machine world accelerates, our life gets faster and faster, making it harder for us to be present in our own bodies.

We need to stay awake and not sleepwalk through this time of decision. Reality may be painful, but if we lose our own sense of reality by giving up what feels at the center of our hearts, it will be the death of our own selves. Such is a tragic loss of what it means to be human and the life of all on this planet that we are meant to steward.

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Transhumanism: A Final Corporate Takeover of Humanity

Sajah Popham, founder of Organic Unity and The School of Evolutionary Herbalism, is a student of the universal truths found within both ancient and modern herbal traditions from around the world. The focus of his work is on integrating ancient teachings for a new paradigm of plant medicine, one that is truly holistic in its honoring of the spirit, energetics, and body of both people and plants. His unique synthesis bridges herbalism not only east and west, but north and south, above and below, into a universal philosophy that encompasses indigenous wisdom, Ayurveda, western Alchemy and Spagyrics, Astrology, clinical herbalism, and modern pharmacology.

Sajahs vitalist approach utilizes plants not only for physiological healing and rejuvenation, but for the evolution of consciousness, for a truly holistic practice of plant medicine. Sajahs teachings embody a heartfelt respect, honor and reverence for the vast intelligence of plants in a way that empowers us to look deeper into the nature of our medicines and ourselves. He lives in southern Oregon with his wife where he teaches at his school, makes spagyric medicines, and practices his art.

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