Stress. We all experience it. In fact you could go so far as to say in our modern world, many of us experience it as an inevitable part of this human journey. That sounds a little depressing until we realize that there is a slice of empowerment in the fact that the struggle from stress is optional. How do we make the struggle optional you ask? We learn ways to navigate this stress response.
So what really happens in our bodies when we get stressed? It goes into action – sensing a threat, we go into fight, flight or freeze mode. This is our dominant biological response designed to save our lives. Which is a really good thing if you actually fight or run. But what happens when we are not physically threatened and instead get triggered by an email or traffic or a person? We sit in that stress and soak it all up. One of the main body responses to a stressful state is the releasing of the stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for preparing the body for our fight or flight response. But when we are not actually physical threatened, “elevated cortisol levels can interfere with learning and memory, lower immune function and bone density, increase weight gain, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease… The list goes on and on” says Christopher Bergland. He even refers to cortisol as “public health enemy number one.”
So what can we do to reduce the sometimes chronic levels of cortisol we experience? Let’s look at the mind-body connection.
First the Mind
A new study in the journal Health Psychology shows an association between increased mindfulness and decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Mindfulness practices like Neurosculpting® can have a direct impact on our stress levels. According to founder Lisa Wimberger, “Neurosculpting® was developed as a method to support self-directed neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to transform, through the union of neuroscience and meditation practices to aid in the down-regulation of chronic CNS (Central Nervous System) arousal states. Unique to the Neurosculpting® methodology is its methodical structure and intentional whole-brain engagement designed to support the management of stress through specific languaging, and simultaneously up-regulate focused attention through life practices including brain-specific nutrition.”
Now to the Body
Did you know that one of the ways to manage cortisol levels in the body is with massage? According to Dr. Joseph Mercola massage “releases endorphins, which help induce relaxation, relieve pain and reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline – reversing the damaging effects of stress by slowing heart rate, respiration, and metabolism and lowering raised blood pressure.”
So give up the struggle. Find a quiet space every day for mindfulness and go book that massage!
Tamme Buckner
Tamme Buckner believes that every individual has the innate ability to balance Body, Mind and Spirit. As a Certified Neurosculpting Facilitator, Certified Vedic Astrologer, 200 hour Certified Yoga Instructor and Certified Reiki Master she possesses many skills to help create and maintain this delicate balance in this often fast paced, stressed and chaotic world we all live in today. Tamme has always been a seeker and walks this path with a smile guided by her heart. She wholeheartedly believes meditation is one of the greatest tools to help create the space that encourages the ability to flow through the highs and lows of life with grace and ease. She is honored to be able to share and facilitate the Neurosculpting classes in a group setting and is also available for private consultations for Neurosculpting as well as Vedic Astrology readings. Find out more at TammeB.com
