an ode to that nasty "fight or flight"
"Brainy What-Why-How"
Your weekly nibble of brain-based tips to help you move and feel great!
🧠
What:
The sympathetic nervous system (often called "fight or flight") has been given a bad rap,
and it's time we appreciate it for its beneficial qualities!
I call it "focused and alert" because, realistically, that's what it does for us more than fighting and fleeing.
Why:
Yes, many of us spend too much time with our sympathetic tone dialled way up 🥵
That's called chronic stress. And especially if you perceive that stress as negative*, it will have a negative effect.
But ideally we toggle in and out of more or less sympathetic or parasympathetic ("rest and digest") activation depending on what we're doing.
This is because that "focused and alert" part of you is necessary and beneficial for when you need to...well...focus and be alert!
I dunno about you, but I want some of that good old sympathetic tone if I'm about to do something like a handstand, an arm balance, or a deep backbend in my yoga practice!
How:
One cool way you can get your sympathetic tone increased is to cross your eyes, like you're looking at your nose!
Take it step by step:
1️⃣ notice how much you feel that nice "focused and alert" feeling (maybe don't do this if you're already super stressed!)
2️⃣ take your thumb out in front of your face 👍
3️⃣ focus on the tip of that lovely thumb ya got there 👀
4️⃣ keep it in focus as much as possible as you bring it to the tip of your nose 👃
5️⃣ hold for 5 - 10 seconds 🕟
6️⃣ lower your thumb and close your eyes for ~2 seconds
7️⃣ notice how you feel now!
This may especially come in handy before you give a crow pose or press handstand a go!
Join the waiting list for my next
Functional Neurology for Yoga Teachers training
Click here
Let's be calm AND focused,
Adell xoxo
Want to go way deeper on all of this geeky brain stuff?
• Join my next Handstand Retreat -- we blend neurology with handstands and delicious Moroccan food!
• Check out the courses from Z-health, where I started my education in brain-based approaches: Click here for my discount codes on their first 3 courses!
• Practice with me on MOVE with Adell where I blend yoga + neurology to help you acquire skills, feel great, and grow older with resilience!