This episode looks at some of the ways that stress can impact the brain. In the interests of full disclosure - this episode might seem a bit doom and gloom, as it focuses on the impacts on the brain of stress. However, if you join the free workshop: Understand WHY yoga works: Yoga's role in stress reduction - that’ll be the light at the end of the gloomy tunnel!

In this episode, we cover:

• A brief recap of what stress is
• Then we’ll look at three main areas 1) the pre-frontal cortex 2) the amygdala and 3) the telomeres

All of this information is taken from, and inspired by our Yoga and the Neurobiology of Stress module coming up in June 2025 - so if you’ve had your eye on that training, or you wish you could have a sneaky peek in to our 300 hour training - well there you go!

See the shownotes here

The pre-frontal cortex

The pre-frontal cortex is a major brain structure that affects thought, insight and emotion. When it’s in full working order it helps to assess situations and suggest useful ways to plan and respond to these situations. However being in a stressed state can take the pre-frontal cortex offline, and even reduce the size of it.

Amygdala

You might have heard the of the amygdala as the brain’s smoke detector and that’s exactly right. When a smoke detector detects smoke, it sets off an alarm. When the amygdala detects danger; i.e. a stressor, it sets of the internal danger alarms; the Sympathetic Nervous System and the HPA axis.

In anxious states, and this is super important - the amygdala becomes enlarged and hypersensitive.

Telomeres

Our genetic information is stored in chromosomes, which duplicate again and again and again. At the end of the chromosomes are telomeres, which are there to protect the information. The thing is that stress can cause the telomeres to shorten, which then means that the information in the chromosome might be copied incorrectly, and the impact of this on a person’s health could be huge.

So I did say that it might be a bit doom and gloom, so please yoga teacher, come join me for the light at the end of the tunnel - I promise it’s just absolutely inspiring HOW MUCH yoga helps mitigate the impact of stress.

See you ther

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🤝 The Base
A community for yoga teachers Take a look

📚 Training for yoga teachers
Yoga Nidra & Yoga Wisdom Sept 24
Restorative Yoga & Polyvagal Theory Nov 24
Yoga & the Neurobiology of Stress Jan 25
Myofascial Release, Energetic Anatomy and Yoga Mar 25

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As yoga teachers, we know that stress is an epidemic; it affects almost everyone we meet, and it has a profound impact on their lives.

We so often talk about the sympathetic nervous system; the fight or flight response and how that impacts physical and mental health, but we don’t often talk about the HPA axis, and its profound impact on health…

It got me thinking - why is that?

After some informal research, I realised that this is because yoga teachers don’t really understand what the HPA axis is, or why it’s important to understand as a yoga teacher.

So - this episode is all about why it’s important to understand the HPA axis as a yoga teacher.

We’re starting with an overview of what the HPA axis is; and don’t forget I’ll go into more detail on our free workshop, we’ll look at what cortisol is and take a quick look at the impact of cortisol on the body, and finally, we’ll investigate why yoga is such a powerhouse in managing the impact of stress on mind and body.

Coming up: super duper free workshop:

Un-stress: The yoga tonic

This workshop is part of my mission to educate yoga teachers to understand WHY yoga works. Why yoga is helping people manage their autoimmune disorders. Why, people say, I always sleep so well after yoga! Why the Washington Post said yoga may help protect against cognitive decline. I think as yoga teachers, we know it works. We know why we practice yoga, and why we teach it.

And - wonderfully - the evidence base is starting to catch up, and I’m really really exciting to share this with you.

There will be some science, but my style of teaching is to make sure I’m only teaching what I really truly believe is useful, I break it down into manageable chunks, and I repeat it so you can be sure it goes in.

So, whether you’re deeply in love with internal human anatomy or it quite frankly scares you, I promise, this workshop is for you!

I can’t wait to see you there.

Big love,
Holly

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🤝 The Base
A community for yoga teachers Take a look

📚 Training for yoga teachers
Yoga Nidra & Yoga Wisdom Sept 24
Restorative Yoga & Polyvagal Theory Nov 24
Yoga & the Neurobiology of Stress Jan 25
Myofascial Release, Energetic Anatomy and Yoga Mar 25

--

Follow @foryogateachers

Struggle with low confidence and self-doubt? Try the free Shatter Imposter Syndrome challenge

Our 300 hour training is underpinned by three golden rules:

1. Everything you learn will be inherently useful, immediately usable, or both
2. All bold claims will be backed by research
3. The entire training will stay true to the roots of yoga

Enjoy!

Take a look: Yoga Hero's 300 hour yoga teacher training

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🤝 The Base
A community for yoga teachers Take a look

📚 Training for yoga teachers
Yoga Nidra & Yoga Wisdom Sept 24
Restorative Yoga & Polyvagal Theory Nov 24
Yoga & the Neurobiology of Stress Jan 25
Myofascial Release, Energetic Anatomy and Yoga Mar 25

--

Follow @foryogateachers

Struggle with low confidence and self-doubt? Try the free Shatter Imposter Syndrome challenge