The endocrine glands are a system; Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen repeated the glands’ significance as a system a few times during the workshop and I have made several parallels between this observation and her unique teaching style.

I heard BBC say that each member of the group must be ready before the community as a whole can move forward. Does the health and wellbeing of one endocrine gland strengthen or compromise the others? If so, how does chemical regulation of an under or overactive thyroid for example, interfere with the functioning of the nearby thalmus? The pineal gland, a pine cone shaped gland located in the midline of the brain releases melatonin into the blood. This release will not occur in daylight- hence BBC’s reference to the pineal gland as the “gland of darkness”. If a person is denied of dark night hours, in the case of a jet lagged traveller or night shift worker, does the inhibited release of melatonin affect other glands?

BBC’s teachings do not aim to answer questions but rather they prompt students to use her work to find their own answers.

Written material provided before the commencement of the class described the particulars of a glands function, location and size; the fun and empowering part of the workshop was finding these glands in one’s own, or another’s body. Through specific movement patterns taught in BMC (Body Mind Centering), we learned how to be present in our own endocrine system. The pineal gland was the most challenging gland for me to find. I look forward to further exploration of this special place 😉