“Breathe in! Breathe out.
Breathe in and slowly move your chin to the right.
Exhale, back to center. Inhale, chin toward the right.”
I slowly lead my chin, and my mind, into a trance. I’m so ready to leave this world and get transported by the words of my yoga teacher.
“Now inhale, move your head down, toward your chest.”
Ahhhh, I sigh. God that feels good.
“After all,” the teacher explains soothingly, “the head weights 15-20 pounds. That’s….”
WHAT? My eyes pop open as they reach for the yogi’s eyes. Is she kidding?
“Yes, yes,” she says gently. That’s a lot of weight we carry on our neck.”
I stop inhaling.
I stop exhaling.
My brain races with the thought. Twenty pounds? No wonder I can’t lose weight. Those 20 pounds of pure brain tissue are keeping the scale unmoving, no matter that I gave up ice cream.
My body lists to the left. Oh shoot, I’m almost fainting because I’ve stopped breathing.
Inhale, Pam. Inhale.
But 20 POUNDS of brain? Why had I not considered this before? All the dreams and wishes and worries in there. All the love and hate (not much hate, but I really do dislike baked ham) in there. And the conversations – internally and then externally.
The soul – how much does the SOUL weigh, compared to the brain?
“Pam. Pam,” the teacher looks grieved. “Where are you?”
I stand up straighter, swaying a bit from the lack of oxygen.
“I’m leaving,” I announce.
I need to find someplace to weigh my head.
I float out the door, my head trailing behind, feeling heavier than ever before.
The soul releasing its weight.
o m g ! I love this post so much! *laughing* LOVE IT!
By: katmagendie on June 22, 2012
at 1:56 pm
:+) Laughing is GOOD.
By: roughwighting1 on June 22, 2012
at 2:50 pm
gonna share this on my FB page
By: katmagendie on June 22, 2012
at 1:57 pm
THANKS!
By: roughwighting1 on June 22, 2012
at 2:50 pm
Hahaha! I had no idea a head could weigh that much! That’s probably why my neck and shoulders constantly ache!
By: mywithershins on June 22, 2012
at 2:25 pm
Yes, we have a lot of important ‘things’ going on up there. Makes you realize why our neck and shoulders should be massaged more often!
By: roughwighting1 on June 22, 2012
at 2:51 pm
Really? Really, 15 to 20 pounds??? If I were you, I’d just go back to eating ice cream because at least it’s not “brain food”!
By: soonie2 on June 22, 2012
at 2:27 pm
You are right!!! I’m heading toward the freezer right now….
By: roughwighting1 on June 22, 2012
at 2:53 pm
Thanks for the excuse. I knew my brain was heavy but never imagined 20 lbs. I wonder if yoga is supposed to help us get rid of all the unnecessary junk we carry around up there.
By: Lillian Rea on June 22, 2012
at 3:36 pm
Or at least yoga and meditation can lighten up the ‘junk’ for awhile!
By: roughwighting1 on June 22, 2012
at 9:15 pm
Very enjoyable, cute story, but I have to let you know that the brain only weighs about 3 pounds, and you need to keep each and every little wormy twist and turn of it from getting away from you! Fat brains – good. The head, with brain in tact, still only amounts to about 10 lbs. topping you off, So all I can say is that your yoga teacher has a big head! Keep breathing…
By: thestorywoman on June 22, 2012
at 5:43 pm
Interesting! I looked up and many sources say average 12 pounds, but some say up to 20. Maybe depends on how much you have stored in there? :+0
By: roughwighting1 on June 22, 2012
at 9:16 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging post! A little over a years ago I wrote a post titled “How Much Does Life Weigh?” Here’s a link if you’d like to read it: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/how-much-does-life-weigh/
By: Laurie Buchanan on June 22, 2012
at 7:59 pm
Ah yes, loved your 21 grams post! I suppose we shall always ask these ‘soul-full’ questions
By: roughwighting1 on June 23, 2012
at 7:02 pm
Hi,
Loved the post, who would of ever guessed that our brains weigh that much, that is astonishing.
By: magsx2 on June 22, 2012
at 10:29 pm
I was surprised too, but then when I think about it, a lot DOES go on up there!!
By: roughwighting1 on June 23, 2012
at 7:09 pm
Oh my gosh. You’ve got the bet sense of humor.
I’m sure it’s mostly brains, in your case. Vital stuff, you know?
By: Writerlious on June 23, 2012
at 12:41 am
Thank you for appreciating my sense of humor – I get in trouble sometimes when friends/co-workers don’t realize I’m being FUNNY :+). Ha Ha. Yes, brains are vital, thus I’ll allow them to add weight on the scale…
By: roughwighting1 on June 23, 2012
at 7:05 pm
Oops. “best”
By: Writerlious on June 23, 2012
at 12:41 am
Well, that explains a LOT! So, if I subtract that weight from the number on the scale in the morning, then I’m really where I was before I had kids. Sweet! Who needs Weight Watchers? ; )
By: Kate on June 28, 2012
at 11:55 pm
Exactly, although I still haven’t found a scale that weighs just the head!
By: roughwighting1 on June 29, 2012
at 1:30 pm
you are sooo funny – Marcia -
By: Anonymous on June 29, 2012
at 1:23 pm
you are soooooo great. :+)
By: roughwighting1 on June 29, 2012
at 1:30 pm
Love your sense of humor, Pam! Many years ago I sprained my neck and had to wear a neck brace for a while. The doctor told me that the neck muscles do work the equivalent of supporting a bowling ball on the top of a broomstick. That image has stuck with me ever since….
By: Barbara Rodgers on July 3, 2012
at 5:46 pm
Oh my gosh – what a disturbing image!! But really makes us appreciate our head, doesn’t it? Or,maybe even more so, the broomstick of a body that’s holding it. Thanks for sharing!
By: roughwighting1 on July 3, 2012
at 9:11 pm