There’s a reason yoga instructors ask you to focus on your third eye…and it’s based on science. The pineal gland lives there, about the size of a grain of rice, it control melatonin levels in our body. Combine that with the pituitary gland that lives a little further back at the base of our brain and the hypothalamus that sits in there as well – and well – you have the control center to our endocrine system and the workings of all our organs and bodily functions.That says quite a lot, friends. If you can focus and bring your attention to these control centers, you will find that you are better able to regulate these functions, balancing them and bringing them to optimal efficiency. A happy working body friends – ask someone whose body isn’t working optimally and you may realize the value of that instantly. Think paper cut – we feel so ludicrously disabled by such a simple thing – so you can imagine now how a thyroid that doesn’t function can affect your daily life.
So when you are practicing asanas, when your are meditating, when you are chanting or practicing pranayama is a wonderful time to focus your attention to your third eye, or to a light at the back of the head. Allow yourself to envision the entire skull to be filled with light – it is our connection to the soul. If you don’t believe me…just ask
Rene Descartes. What are hormones?
Hormones are chemical substances created by the body that control numerous body functions. They actually act as “messengers” to coordinate functions of various body parts. Most hormones are proteins consisting of amino acid chains. Some hormones are steroids, fatty cholesterol-produced substances. Functions controlled by hormones include:
- activities of entire organs
- usage and storage of energy
- levels of fluid, salt and sugar in the blood
Hypothalmus
The hypothalamus is located in the brain, at the base of the optic chiasm. It secretes hormones that stimulate or suppress the release of hormones in the pituitary gland, in addition to controlling water balance, sleep, temperature, appetite, and blood pressure.
pineal body
The pineal body is located below the corpus callosum, a part of the brain. It produces the hormone melatonin.
pituitary
The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain. No larger than a pea, the gland controls many functions of the other endocrine glands.
thyroid and parathyroids
The thyroid gland and parathyroid glands are located in front of the neck, below the larynx (voice box). The thyroid plays an important role in the body’s metabolism. Both the thyroid and parathyroid glands also play a role in the regulation of the body’s calcium balance.
http://www.umm.edu/endocrin/anatomy.htm
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