Mammals are wired for play. In fact, play which allows us to make eye contact and read each other’s relaxed and joyful facial features is one way the ventral vagal pathway is stimulated.
Our dear Certified Instructor, Laurie McCracken shot this video of me and Bini playing in the waves together. Bini is one of my favorite people to play with because he LOVES face-to-face contact and I LOVE reading his cute facial expressions as he gets barrelled by waves 🙂 In this video, I’m trying to show Bini how to body surf…. After a few tries he’s decided he’s more of a wave jumper than a wave surfer 🤷🏽♀️
For those who enjoy having their intuitive wisdom verified by Northern European scientific methods, Western research has found that play is a fundamental human need.
Humans actually have a biological drive to play… in fact, according to experts, the drive to play is as fundamental as our drives for food and sleep.
Play improves our cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being.
Play activates the whole neocortex or front part of the brain and builds new circuits in the prefrontal cortex leading to;
- More creativity
- Greater appreciation for beauty
- Feeling excited and energized
- Restores hope
- Inspires humour and joy
- Helps you cope with stress
- Boosts your physical health
From the perspective of Tibetan Medical Tantra, playing in and with the elements helps balance and nourish the elemental energies in your body and mind, leading to greater expression of the qualities of bliss, equanimity, openness, joy, and clarity.
This weekend, may you be surrounded with those who inspire you to play 🙏🏽🥰
