“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! 😀
:+) Laughing is GOOD.
gonna share this on my FB page
THANKS!
Hahaha! I had no idea a head could weigh that much! That’s probably why my neck and shoulders constantly ache! 🙂
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!
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”!
You are right!!! I’m heading toward the freezer right now….
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.
Or at least yoga and meditation can lighten up the ‘junk’ for awhile!
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…
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
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/
Ah yes, loved your 21 grams post! I suppose we shall always ask these ‘soul-full’ questions
Hi,
Loved the post, who would of ever guessed that our brains weigh that much, that is astonishing.
I was surprised too, but then when I think about it, a lot DOES go on up there!!
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?
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…
Oops. “best” 😉
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? ; )
Exactly, although I still haven’t found a scale that weighs just the head!
you are sooo funny – Marcia –
you are soooooo great. :+)
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….
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!