The Skin

The last, and largest sense organ is the skin - giving us the sense of touch and also our outward form.
As Prashant Iyengar says in his article, Functionality and Emotionality of the Senses, "The main function is to provide vitamin D. The skin controls and activates hormones that are necessary for the growth and nourishment of the body.  It controls blood pressure.  It throws out surplus water from the body.  It gives us sensation of pain through our nervous system. It detects pain and because of this feeling of pain we can protect ourselves.  It gives us the sensation of cold and heat.  This defensive wall prevents infections of many kinds."

Our skin also is renewed almost every 27 days - so even as we age - we are like snakes, shedding our skin with new skin cells.

That is some of the skins functions - how does that relate to emotions?

We may not always notice but think of how the blood vessels of the skin change when angry, embarrassed, nervous, anxious, scared, excited, happy and calm. 
Each emotion will be reflected in our skin!

Yoga is about practice and detachment..so that we can remain in a calm state to work through any emotion we are going through.  When the nervous system is balanced, the blood pressure remains balanced and so too will the skin.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.vpweb.com