Rewiring the Mind Through Yoga
“Yoga isn’t about twisting yourself into a pretzel — it’s about untangling the knots in your brain.”
If we know what yoga is not, the question becomes, What is yoga and how can we use it to rewire our mind, to heal it, to build new pathways, and to create harmony in body, mind, and soul?
It begins with meditation. Yoga was originally created as a practice of meditation and self-realization — essentially, a way to rest the mind. The earliest poses were minimal, usually seated, and meant to support deeper meditation.
When you start at the foundation of yoga, you discover the real possibility of inner work.
The CyberVision Years
I remember in the 1980s, a video series called CyberVision came out. Athletes watched these tapes to improve their performance. I was in high school then, and at weekend parties the golf team (myself included) would have CyberVision for Golf playing on the TV — hoping it might improve our putting skills, all while swilling keg beer.
Around the same time, studies began comparing test groups of athletes. I remember reading about a study of basketball players. One group practiced free throws for hours. The other group only visualized themselves making perfect free throws. In the end, the group that only imagined the practice actually scored better than those who physically practiced.
That was the first time I realized: the mind can shape physical outcomes.
Building Pathways
We’ve all heard the advice to make your child learn piano. Why? Because playing an instrument opens pathways in the brain that might otherwise remain closed. In other words, it promotes the growth of new neural connections and strengthens existing ones.
Throughout the years, we’ve seen research show that mental practice and learning new skills benefit both mind and body. But is there an age limit to neuroplasticity?
I can say with certainty — it’s not before 57. I’m still learning, still forming new neural connections. I believe that if I ever stopped, those pathways would become lazy and dormant. So I refuse to stop.
Take language learning, for example. I’ve studied Spanish on and off my whole life. And yes, the saying “use it or lose it” feels true. But every time I return to practicing, the words and rhythms come back. I don’t think they ever fully disappear — I’m simply re-firing old pathways, bringing them back to life.
The Yoga Connection
This is the heart of yoga. The breathwork, meditation, and postures aren’t just about flexibility or strength — they’re tools for shaping the mind. Each time we sit in stillness, breathe with intention, or visualize ourselves in balance, we are literally creating and reinforcing new neural pathways.
Yoga teaches us that change doesn’t stop at a certain age, nor does healing. Every moment on the mat is an opportunity to rewire the mind, to restore balance in the body, and to reconnect with the soul.
So, if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to grow, to learn, or to heal — yoga’s answer is simple: it’s never too late.
“Yoga: because sometimes the best way to move forward is to just sit down.”
Share the Light.
Christi
PS. I am sharing a Fire Flow at Sunrise. My practice is not perfect. It is real. And I have no idea why I am not smiling :)