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The social engagement system,

Embodiment as collective wisdom

The human species is poised at an evolutionary threshold as vast as the shift from single to multi-cellular organisms, at a higher and wider point on the evolutionary spiral. It is imperative that we, en masse, recruit the internal resources necessary to re-enter the evolutionary mainstream and initiate a new phase in true social creativity, one that embodies the awakened intentional qualities of collective wisdom. We must find it in ourselves to turn away from competitive and exploitive social practices to those of cooperation and nurturance. Because this shift to open-heartedness is essentially a transformation of consciousness, perhaps the most useful resource we can have would be a simple and effective tool to put people in their "highest mind" in the course of daily living. This essay introduces a simple and elegant process to do just that—"Top-Down Yoga." (T-D Y)

T-D Y—so named because it involves subtle and powerful exercises "from the neck-up"—activates certain neurological pathways or what is called The "Social Engagement System." Identified by Dr Stephen Porges www.stressrelease.info and http://www.nexuspub.com/articles/2006/interview_ma.htm, as the most advanced human brain organization, the Social Engagement System makes people intelligible to each other and helps regulate the autonomic nervous system away from excessive reliance on the mechanisms of arousal and fear. Not only does this system "allow" us to read the facial expressions and other subtle cues in human communication but it acts as a gateway for the kinds of deep meditation and abilities that have long been the province of yogis and other spiritual adepts. The beauty of T-D Y is that anyone can do it and anyone can instantaneously benefit. T-D Y is an un-elaborate, subtle alchemical system of self-regulation which unifies the cerebro-spinal and autonomic nervous systems. It is an embodiment practice which can be performed sitting in a chair, standing or lying down

The most direct and immediate way to tune-in to the evolutionary mainstream, and catalyze a functional shift in the social field, is in the embodiment process itself. The "social field" is a component of the evolutionary 'body' of our humanity. Clearly, if we are to make the individual, educational, social, environmental, political and economic changes necessary for our survival, we must change the way we see ourselves, each other and the world we live in. For significant change to occur we must transcend the moment in our collective evolution when apparent individuality and objectivity emerged to dominate human consciousness. Now is the time for us to use our body, mind and spirit in secure connection with each other and explore the evolutionary learning process of exaptation.

 The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the progeny of millions of years of evolution. Amazingly, it is simple to recruit this basic knowledge, this aspect of evolutionary knowing. The phylogenetic adjustment of the ANS represents an exaptation; a shift in function of structures to express emotion and adapt to the complex environment. In exaptation, the organism co-ops and synthesizes pre-existing anatomy and physiology for new purposes. The evolutionary learning process of humankind-at-large is an exaptation unifying the primary 'body' consciousness, which is an openness, with the most evolutionary advanced component of human being, the Social Engagement System, genuine care and concern. The recombination of these components circumvents the dichotomy of "us and them" because its nature is beyond the consciousness of apprehending-subject and apprehended-object. In meta-evolution, the nurturing essence of social engagement is unified with the basic knowledge of the 'body' consciousness. Their autopoeitic unity is the emergent manifestation of the evolutionary 'body' of our humanity.

Here is a sequence of exercises to explore exaptation;

With the index fingers and thumbs, take hold of the connective tissue at the bottom of the chin just a few millimeters from the center point. Apply some pressure and let the jaw remain open, with no nerve force. Roll the tissue up and down, then left and right, also explore circular movements. Take a few minutes, don't be in a rush; allow awareness and feeling, instead of thinking and emotion, be the primary mode of support. To unify breathing and awareness it is crucial to relax the chin and jaw.

To locate the TMJ, place the tip of the index fingers in front of the flaps, by the openings of the ears. Move your hands and arms so that the index fingers become perpendicular to the side of the head, and you are there. The fingers are relaxed, exerting absolutely no pressure. Inhale opening your mouth and jaw as if yawning in slow motion. This may in fact trigger a yawn, if so, begin again afterwards. As the jaw opens wider, the TMJ opens and the tip of the fingers enter its interiority, like snow falling on water. As you exhale and slowly close the mouth, the finger tips will be gently be pushed out. Relax and participate with such attentional vividness that there is nothing left "outside" (the direct experience) to watch or analyze. Repeat the movement 3 times, synchronizing the breathing, movement and bio-energetic input. Allow at least 5 seconds to close the mouth. Try to maintain a seamless and even movement throughout.

Afterwards, lie down, placing the index fingertips at the gate of the TMJ, relax your jaw and chin, gently breathing from the nose and mouth into the lower belly. Settle the light of awareness in the matrix of connective tissue regulating the movement of the eyes.   Each eye has four muscles that connect directly to the back of the eye, or more preciously, to the fibrous tunic, a sheath of connective tissue that forms the outer surface of the orbital cavity. There are an additional two muscles which attach across the top and bottom of the orb from oblique angles.

Intensify awareness in the eye muscles by very gently drawing them straight back, and holding them still, immobilized. Unify awareness with the still-point behind the eyes and settle in the region of the heart, for 30 seconds or more. Aim toward unifying the breathing with holding the eye muscles still and resting in the heart-centric spiraling vortex " returning to origin", receptive to each emerging moment-as it is. Love is immobilization without fear. This warm subtle current is supported by noiseless intercommunication, cascades of oxytocin neuropeptide awakeness, regenerating with self-soothing and calming behavioral states. There are many methods working with the matrix of seeing to develop primordial wisdom. Holding the eye muscles in, and still for 30 seconds, then thoroughly relax the eye muscles, and take a nap. Rest in a profound state of non-activity for 3 minutes or more.

Sitting, focus at the point where palate meets the back of the throat. Inhale into the lower abdomen, lifting up from the palate while slowly drawing the throat and cervical spine back, aligning spinal-field awareness, from the crown-down to the tip of the coccyx, with the gravitational axis of the earth. This synchronized gesture coordinates breathing with the movement of the deep, small muscles of the head, neck and spine, naturally uncouples neurological and chemical patterns of fear and hostile arousal (mobilization). It awakens a regenerative central algorithm of loving love in the CNS. Exhale inward and upward.

On the next breath, lift the palate, draw the throat back and turn the head to the right as far as you are able without signals of stress or anxiety. After a few breaths, slowly rotate the skull so that the face turns upward. This will generate a gentle state of isometric pressure in the sub-occipital muscles at the base of the skull and return the weight of the head to the big trapezes muscles of the back, and chest. In this mudra, the deep muscles of the neck can learn to relax. Hold the position for 15 seconds or more, then slowly rotate the chin toward the spine and very slowly return the face forward. Inhale into the abdomen and so on… for a few breaths then repeat on the left side. Afterwards, if possible, lie down and take a nap, rest in a profound state of non-activity for 3 minutes or more.

Sitting, focus at the point where palate meets the back of the throat. Inhale into the lower abdomen, lifting up from the palate while slowly drawing the throat and cervical spine back, aligning spinal-field awareness from the crown-down to the tip of the coccyx, with the gravitational axis of the earth. On the next breath, turn the head to the right as far as you are able without signals of stress or anxiety. After a few breaths, rotate the skull so that the face turns downward. Maintaining vivid awareness of the tactile felt sense of the subtle geometry of pressure in the muscles of the eyes, guide the gaze directly down to the top of the shoulder and GENTLY hold for 15 seconds. Relax the eye muscles but hold the position of the head and neck. Direct the eye muscles upward and relax in the tactile bodily felt sense of simply being. Once you are comfortable with the basic procedures, on the inhale draw your cervical spine back and engage the organism as a whole while holding the positions of the head, neck and eyes. Come slowly back to center, perform a few breaths in the idling frequency, and then proceed to the left side. Afterwards, nap. Resting, doing nothing is one of the most important, if not the most important task employed in T-D Y. Just as emptiness is a plenum and not a vacuum, so also, in "doing nothing" we discover total participation with the formative processes of life itself. We get to be "the real deal", top-down and inside-out, all alone and together.

T-D Y draws from many established systems, both ancient and modern for its unique synthesis. It is practical and nearly effortless in its simplicity, making it useful for children, adults and seniors, alike. It can be performed by anyone, despite their position on the wellness spectrum, with or without comprehending its treatment philosophy and scientific basis. T-D Y is an important part of an emerging, scientifically grounded spirit-based participatory knowledge system.

Lorin Kiely has been developing T-D Y for almost three years. His mentor for the classic exercises around which T-D Y has evolved is Stanley Rosenberg. http://www.stressrelease.info/artikler_eng.html and http://stanleyrosenberg.com/english . Stanley entrusted Lorin to develop his original work into a practice and introduce it to the world. Having chosen NYC to develop a prototype for passing it forward, Lorin is actively seeking collaboration for establishing a replicable model that serves all spectrums of civil society. He is working in close collaboration with Steve Bhaerman, aka, Swami Beyondananda, to initiate a series of Harmonic Continuum ceremonies. An event in NYC is being planned for next spring or summer.

Lorin recently attended the Symposium on Longevity co-sponsored by Tibet House, The NY Academy of Science, and Columbia Integrative Medicine Program.   He has been invited to train the staff at the Integrative Medicine Program, and present at Tibet House, (Nov 9^th at 7pm), and at the NY Academy of Science.

Top-Down Yoga is a precise tool for learning and practicing the fine art of mediating our morphic potentials as an aware and sensitive species-organism. When learned and practiced together, it fosters an open-ended, heart-centric context to explore emergent new social applications embodying collective wisdom.

Please explore www.topdownyoga.50megs.com , www.harmoniccontinuum.50megs.com, and, in construction, www.tdynyc.50megs.com, Contact Lorin at topdownyoga@gmail.com, or 805 252 0244

Please explore www.topdownyoga.50megs.com , www.harmoniccontinuum.50megs.com, and, in construction, www.tdynyc.50megs.com, Contact Lorin at topdownyoga@gmail.com, or 805 252 0244