By Bernie Clark
October 15, 2023
We all stood in a circle, hand in hand, as John Sharkey held a small, plastic tube. There was about 30 of us in the room, all attending a biotensegrity conference in Vancouver in April of 2019. John is a clinical anatomist who works out of the University of Dundee. The tube contained, he explained, some LED lights, a little microphone and a tiny battery. However, in order for the electricity to turn on the lights and sounds, the circuit must be closed. He held one end of the rod in one hand and then joined the circle with his other hand. Once the person standing next to him reached out and held the other end of the tube, the lights lit up and a sound was heard. The electricity from that tiny battery flowed through each one of us and completed the circuit. This simple demonstration showed that we are electrical beings.
The Spark Within
In the world of yoga, we often speak of energy, the flow of prana, and the vibrant life force within us. These terms may seem metaphorical, but they point to a profound truth: the human body is, in fact, an intricate electrical system. Just like the currents of a river, the human body conducts electricity naturally, thanks to our watery nature and the presence of electrolytes. However, the true wonder lies in the fact that our cells not only respond to various forms of electricity but can also generate it.
Our bodies are a symphony of cells, each with a cellular membrane that acts as a gatekeeper, allowing ions to move in and out. Ions are charged particles, and this movement of ions across the cell membrane is where the electrical magic begins. When cells need to communicate, among other processes, they use electrical signals.
Think of it as a dance of positive and negative charges. When a cell receives a signal, it opens an ion channel, allowing specific ions to rush in or out. This movement creates an electrical current, a tiny spark of life, essential for muscle contractions, nerve impulses, and countless other bodily functions.
The key players in this cellular ballet are sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and chloride (Cl-). (A + sign indicates a positive charge; a – sign indicates a negative charge.) These electrolytes move strategically to maintain a delicate balance, and their choreography is controlled by the body’s own electrical circuitry.
Polarization and Depolarization
To understand this dance better, let’s delve into the concept of polarization and depolarization. In its resting state, a cell’s membrane is polarized, meaning there’s a difference in electrical charge across it. This difference is maintained by the unequal distribution of ions, with more positive ions outside and more negative ions inside.
When a signal arrives, the cell depolarizes. It temporarily flips the charge difference, allowing an electrical impulse to travel along the cell membrane. Once the message is conveyed, the cell repolarizes and returns to its resting state.
This rhythmic cycle of polarization and depolarization is the language of our nervous system, the pulse of our heart, and the secret behind muscle contractions. It’s the electric symphony that keeps our bodies in harmonious motion.
The Power of Biomagnetic Fields
But the story of our electrical nature doesn’t end here. We’re not just individual cells; we’re part of a greater whole, and this interconnectedness is where things get even more fascinating. Each of our cells generates a tiny electrical field, but together, they create something more significant—an intricate biomagnetic field.
This biomagnetic field envelops us, extending beyond our physical bodies. It’s an invisible, radiant tapestry that connects us to everything and everyone around us. Think of it as the energetic web that yogis tap into during meditation and mindfulness practices.
The Bioelectric Heartbeat
One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of our electrical nature is our heartbeat. The heart is not just a mechanical pump; it’s an electric dynamo. Electrical signals generated by the sinoatrial (SA) node initiate each heartbeat. These signals travel through the heart’s specialized conduction system, causing the muscles to contract and pump blood throughout the body.
We can visualize this electrical activity using an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). The ECG measures the electrical impulses of the heart and provides valuable information about its health and rhythm.
Harnessing the Power of Electric Yoga
As yogis, we can harness the body’s electrical currents for our well-being. Yoga and meditation practices can help balance and optimize our bioelectric and biomagnetic fields in many ways:
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- Pranayama (Breath Control): Pranayama practices influence the body’s electrical currents. Deep, controlled breathing can calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and enhance the flow of prana, optimizing our internal electrical dance.[1]
- Asana (Physical Postures): Yoga postures stimulate muscles and nerves, facilitating the flow of electrical signals. They also help release tension, allowing energy to flow freely through the body’s energetic pathways.
- Stress Generated Electrical Potentials (or SGEP): Specific yoga asanas and movements generate piezoelectric currents within our bodies. This piezoelectric effect, a phenomenon where materials (like our body’s tissues) produce an electrical charge in response to mechanical stress, holds promise for self-healing.[2] When we stretch, twist, or apply pressure to certain areas during our yoga practice, we’re generating stress-induced electrical potentials. These electrical signals, born from the stress and movement, can stimulate cells to commence the healing process. This healing isn’t limited to where the movement occurred. Due to our watery constitution, these currents can be conducted to more distant parts of our bodies.
- Fascial Conduits: the Meridian Connection): The notion of electrical currents traveling throughout our body aligns beautifully with the concept of meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Several contemporary researchers have turned their attention to the body’s fascial interfaces. These water-rich spaces, speculated to be the conductive pathways for these electrical currents, curiously align closely with TCM meridians. Our fascia, a web of connective tissue that envelopes our muscles and organs, is rich in water, making it a likely candidate for conducting bioelectric signals. The parallels between these fascial conduits and the TCM meridian system hint at a deeper, ancient understanding of our body’s electric nature.[3]
The Healing Power of Nature
Connecting with nature is another way to tap into our electric essence. The Earth itself carries an electrical charge, and when we walk barefoot on the ground or touch the soil, we absorb these earthy electrons. This practice, known as earthing or grounding, can promote relaxation, reduce inflammation, and enhance overall well-being.[4] Doing yoga on grass or sand with bare feet and no plastic or rubber yoga mat (a cloth mat is okay) is a great way to connect to the earth’s energy.
In the grand scheme of existence, we are beings of light and electricity, intricately woven into the cosmic web of energy. By understanding and honoring our electric nature, we embark on a journey toward greater vitality, health, and spiritual awakening. Through the practice of yoga, meditation, and a profound connection with nature, we can harmonize our internal currents with the universal flow, embracing the electric yogi within us all.
So, the next time you step onto your yoga mat or simply walk upon the Earth, remember: you are part of a vast, electric symphony—a living testament to the magnificent dance of life. Embrace your electric nature, and let it light the path to a more vibrant, electrifying existence.
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[1] Lehrer, P. M., & Gevirtz, R. (2014). Heart rate variability [HRV] biofeedback: how and why does it work? Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 756. This study reviews and describes mechanisms by which HRV biofeedback, which often uses deep, controlled breathing, can affect physiology and psychological health, providing support for the calming effects of such practices on the nervous system.
[2] The piezoelectric nature of our tissues has been recognized for decades. The term was coined by the Curie brothers in the 1880s. (Along with his wife Marie Currie, Pierre Currie became most famous for his co-discovery of radioactivity.) See Mould RF. Pierre Curie, 1859-1906. Curr Oncol. 2007 Apr;14(2):74-82. doi: 10.3747/co.2007.110. PMID: 17576470; PMCID: PMC1891197. Since then, biological piezoelectricity in a variety of tissues was researched. For one example, see Shamos MH, Lavine LS. Piezoelectricity as a fundamental property of biological tissues. Nature. 1967 Jan 21;213(5073):267-9. doi: 10.1038/213267a0. PMID: 6030604.
[3] Langevin, H. M., Yandow, J. A. (2002). Relationship of acupuncture points and meridians to connective tissue planes. The Anatomical Record, 269(6), 257-265. This paper explores the anatomical relationship between acupuncture points (which lie along TCM meridians) and the body’s connective tissue planes, suggesting a connection between fascia and the traditional understanding of energy flow.
[4] Oschman, J. L., Chevalier, G., & Brown, R. (2015). The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Journal of Inflammation Research, 8, 83–96. This study reviews the mechanisms by which grounding can influence health, suggesting that direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the Earth’s surface can have beneficial effects on inflammation, immune responses, wound healing, and more.