Meditation and yoga at high altitude
The number of enthusiasts who choose La Thuile to practice the most wonderful yoga positions at high altitude is constantly growing.
Not many people know this, but when our brain is in a state of rest, that is, not engaged in any particular activity, it is actually not really doing anything, because a brain circuit that neuroscientists call the Default Mode System (DMS) remains active.
In practice, they have the function of reviewing possible future scenarios in search of possible dangers or difficulties. It is as if the brain uses moments of relative quiet to imagine possible scams around the corner and therefore prepare for the occasion. This is probably an evolutionary residue from prehistoric times when we took refuge in caves and needed to always remain vigilant and check that no hungry predators were appearing at the entrance.
Today, despite the absence of threatening predators, our brain continues to ruminate and generates a lot of unmotivated anxiety. We could sit there and enjoy life and instead we continue to speculate, imagining situations that are more catastrophic than the other… Does this remind you of anything?
Thanks to some serious neuroimaging experiments, an American neuroscientist named Judson Bruwer has discovered that those who seriously practice meditation (yoga or otherwise) have the ability to ‘turn off’ or at least reduce mental rumination and the rampant anxiety that comes from it. This is why the Buddha and all his followers throughout the centuries are always portrayed with that blissful expression painted on their faces… Of course, meditation practices are much more than this, but their ‘worry-chasing’ effect is undeniable. To be effective, however, meditation needs tranquility, silence, oxygen-rich air and above all a lot, a lot of distance from annoyances and annoyances.
Well, where can you easily find all this? Of course, at high altitude!
It is not for nothing that Tibet and Nepal are famous for their mountaintop monasteries where the most ardent meditators on the planet have taken refuge. The good news is that today you don't have to go that far to find an environment suitable for meditation: La Thuile is home to many yoga and meditation enthusiasts, and many courses, internships and events are organised there.
In particular, the La Remise en Forme centre is available to provide information on the opportunities available in and around La Thuile (tel. 348 314 2451)