Although I’m a yogini who does alternative healing, my background is in engineering. I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in electronics, so stay with me here.

Humans are electrical beings. Electrical signals travel throughout our brain and down to our muscles, telling them when and how to move. Signals from the brain can easily be measured with an electroencephalograph (EEG), and measured from the muscles with an electromyograph (EMG). Because electricity flows through us, we are conductors.

When electricity moves through a conductor, such as a wire, an electromagnetic field (EMF) is created around it. Because we are conductors, it follows that we have an EMF, a field of energy, around our bodies. This may be what some people call the aura.

If an electromagnetic field enters another, there will be an effect. That’s the nature of electronics. If one person moves into another’s energy field, or aura, a sensitive per-son can feel it. Most people have had the experience of sensing when someone moves close to them without them knowing it. In fact, many people can feel when someone puts just one hand into their field.

Some people are uncomfortable when others are too close. It’s common for people to want others to stay out of their “bubble” of space. Perhaps it’s because we can feel the effects of the other person’s energy mixing with our own.

Energy, as we know it, has different names for different frequencies, or cycles per second. The highest frequency energies are called gamma rays, the next highest are X-rays, then ultraviolet (UV) rays. After that comes visible light, then infrared, and the slowest are the radio waves. The range of visible light is tiny relative to the full spectrum of energy.

Infrared, the energy on the slower side of visible light, can be seen with the use of special sensors. This technology is commonly used in military and other applications for night vision. Some animals, like viper snakes, can hunt at night because they see the infrared spectrum.

On the other, higher energy, end of the visible light spectrum is UV. This is the energy responsible for causing sunburns. Some creatures, like bees, can see this light.

With the use of high definition cameras, we can see that flowers look different when seen with UV. There are patterns on flowers that our human eyes cannot see. An interesting documentary showing this can be found on the Internet at www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoZRDa7Ag2E.

Like the high definition cameras and infrared sensors, human eyes are amazing pieces of equipment, and every piece of equipment has something called a tolerance, “the permitted variation in some measurement or other characteristic of an object or workpiece.”

“Normal” human eyes can see only the so-called visible spectrum of light, although people’s eyes vary quite a bit. In fact, they are so different from one another, that a computer scan of them can be used as identification, just like our finger prints.

What if someone’s eyes varied so that they would be considered “out of tolerance?” Might they be able to see slightly into the UV spectrum, the infrared spectrum, or perhaps both? If they could, might they be able to see an EMF, or aura, around a person? It’s something to ponder.

The holidays are a time when many of us over-consume the wrong foods and drinks. If you’re not one who does, congratulations! If you’re a typical American, though, you’re probably trying to clean up your act about now.

Detoxification is growing more popular, as people are becoming increasingly aware of the toxic buildup that occurs in our bodies when we eat and drink unhealthy things, don’t exercise, are stressed out and are exposed to toxins in our environment.

The way to detoxify the body is to minimize incoming toxins and enhance your body’s natural detoxing abilities. There are numerous ways to do this. Special diets, fasts, saunas, special herbs, exercise that makes you sweat, and yoga are all valid methods. You just need to make sure you’re smart about how you do it.

If you decide to take on some form of detox, make sure you research the method prior to starting.

If you decide to begin an exercise program, start slowly, working your way up as you feel stronger. If you overdo at the beginning, you may wind up hurting yourself or getting burned out, and quickly lose your momentum.

If you choose a special diet or fast, make sure your body can handle it. If your system is already weak, and then you deprive it of the nutrients it needs to function properly, you may be in for trouble. When you complete your diet or fast, make certain you come back to healthful eating. It’s tempting, after depriving yourself of foods, to splurge on things that will put you right back to square one.

The diet I recommend for detoxification is not far from what I recommend as a lifelong diet. This includes organic fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, lentils and nuts — unless you’re allergic, of course. Eliminate processed foods and common food allergens, including gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, sugar and salt.

Another option for detoxifying the body is working the lymphatic system, a fluid system that works right alongside the blood circulatory system. It is responsible for transporting toxins and waste products to the organs that eliminate them from the body. It also is the transport system for hormones and is part of the immune system, so increasing its efficiency can have positive effects on those as well.

The procedure of boosting the lymphatic system is a very gentle and calming hands-on modality called lymphatic drainage therapy. This therapy helps in two ways. It increases the flow of lymphatic fluid, helping to eliminate excess fluid, waste products, dead blood cells, germs and toxins from the body. It also induces deep states of relaxation, calming the flight or fight system. This is important because stress also causes toxins to accumulate in the body.

Possible side effects of any detoxing can be headache, dizziness, fatigue, more urine, darker urine, an unusual taste in your mouth, nausea, and similar types of things. You may not want to start a detox if you need to be 100 percent productive at home or work. Instead, choose a time that you can rest if you need to.

I highly recommend doing some form of detoxing once a year, but choose your method wisely. If you’re not sure what to do, research the subject and ask your health care provider. It’s a great way to start the year.