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Friday, September 2, 2016

Is Yoga Hereditary?



My first exposure to yoga was about 26 years ago, when my mom brought some videos home, and I decided to give it a try.  I didn't know why, but I really enjoyed it.  My practice over the following decades would be hit or miss, but I always knew I felt better after a yoga practice.  I explored different studios, teachers and videos.  As with anything, some I liked, others not so much.  It wasn't until my late 30's, when my mom encouraged me to look into a yoga teacher training program, that I finally got it, realizing just how good it felt when I was diligent in practicing yoga more regularly.  This doesn't mean I'm on my mat doing hour long practices every day, but it does mean I'm doing something, even if it's ten minutes.  I've noticed if I skip a day, I feel off.  I can't even fully describe it, but I just do not have that same lasting inner calm that daily practice brings to me.

I've made a commitment to myself to do some sort of practice every single day.  I've also made a commitment to myself to do some form of breathing/meditation every day, again, even if it's only five minutes. Doing this brings me more balance and healing on all levels (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual), and has prevented me from some possible jail time when it comes to dealing with my family :).

Through my yoga journey, it's only natural that it has trickled into my family's life as well.  Because yoga is such an integral part for me, my children and husband have been exposed to yoga too.  Whether it was because they really wanted to, or maybe it was just to appease me at first, they have been on their own yoga journey as well over the years.  Each of us has our own process, our own experiences from day to day, and only the Self can truly know what something is doing to all levels of our being, so I can't speak for them and say that yoga does this or that.  What I can say is what I notice in their interactions with others, and how they treat themselves when they commit to a regular practice, which is that I see and feel a positive shift in them.

Knowing all the benefits yoga offers, both on and off the mat, my family has gone deeper into yoga than I could have ever imagined.  Although my kiddos have been practicing yoga for years, my older two children completed a 200HR yoga teacher training program this year.  My youngest, not even a teen yet, has not gone through the training, but she can tell you all about the postures, and teach you a thing or two about the Chakras!

So, this brings me to my question, do I think yoga is hereditary?  Well, I can't say for sure, but it would certainly make for an interesting study. What I can say is that the quest for yoga knowledge, and the positive experience that yoga brings, seems to alter DNA and negative habit patterns.  I've seen this first hand for myself and my children, which is why I became a certified Y12SR leader a few years ago.  Studies show that repetitive practices, whether positive or negative, create grooves in the brain.  This groove then becomes our habit, which makes things either harder or easier for ourselves.  If you're looking to adjust a negative habit then you first need to realize that, just as it took time to create the groove of that habit, it will take time, patience and persistence to alter it to a new, positive, groove pattern.

I've found that when working on adjusting a not-so-wonderful groove pattern, this is where some genetics, environment and support come into play.  I am not a doctor, this is solely based on my own experience and observation of others.  While it's true that some are predisposed to certain disease or illness, it is equally as true to be an active participant in whether or not those genes get flipped on (as we've learned through The China Study).  I believe yoga plays a vital role in helping us keep ineffective genes off.  Why?  Well, beyond the physical, yoga creates healthy behaviors that extend off the mat and into our daily lives.   Being mindful, living compassionately towards ourself and others, being aware of our impact in the world, being more present instead of living totally in the past or future, and connecting with others are just a few of those benefits extending off the mat and into daily routines.  All of this translates to increased health, immunity, inner strength, supportive nature, self love, love for others, and awareness in how we act, speak and eat.  

All these new grooves start forming, erasing the negative patterns, shutting down the destructive genes, and forming a more meaningful life.  The quest for yoga knowledge may come into our lives for varying reasons. For my family it feels almost as if it were a genetic trait, beginning at least as far back as three generations ago with my mom, and who knows what drew her to purchase that first yoga video.  Whether it was ancestry imprint, Divine intervention, or a random act, I know that yoga has brought healing to my life in more ways than I can describe, and I'm grateful for the chance to pass that on to my children, and hope that one day they will do the same.