No-pain tongue piercing

Abstract from Tongue Piercing by a Yogi: QEEG Observations, Peper et al., Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2006 Nov 3; (via Positive Technology Journal):

This study reports on the QEEG observations recorded from a yogi during tongue piercing in which he demonstrated voluntary pain control. The QEEG was recorded with a Lexicor 1620 from 19 sites with appropriate controls for impedence and artifacts. A neurologist read the data for abnormalities and the QEEG was analyzed by mapping, single and multiple hertz bins, coherence, and statistical comparisons with a normative database. The session included a meditation baseline and tongue piercing. During the meditative baseline period the yogi's QEEG maps suggesting that he was able to lower his brain activity to a resting state. This state showed a predominance of slow wave potentials (delta) during piercing and suggested that the yogi induced a state that may be similar to those found when individuals are under analgesia. Further research should be conducted with a group of individuals who demonstrate exceptional self-regulation to determine the underlying mechanisms, and whether the skills can be used to teach others how to manage pain.

Any yoga studios that do tongue piercing? Could be a hot business trend. Ohm...stab...didn't feel a thing!

[Poor Al, creator of the Yoga Bot pictured above doing Dancer's Pose, also made this great clock]