I’ve got some really nifty ways to help you defuse stress
that include take-home methods.
Stress: How does it impact the body and brain?
¨Stress gates the brain – closing the doors between the compartments.
It is harder to think clearly.
¨The body contracts and holds itself rigid.
Blood vessels, organs, muscles and bones are all involved in the rigidity.
(Imagine squeezing your fist from now on without letting go.)
¨The sensorimotor system lapses into its dominance patterns*, relying on the dominant side of the body to relay information to the brain. This creates unbalanced brain functioning and physical movement.
Relaxation: How does it impact the body and brain?
¨The brain degates – opening the doors into all thinking centers.
Thinking becomes more creative, spontaneous and flexible.
We can think new thoughts about life.
¨The body relaxes the squeeze on itself.
The organs, muscles, blood vessels and bones expand slightly.
Circulation can improve, blood pressure can go down. Breathing can be easier.
¨Body symmetry is improved. It is easier to use both eyes and ears together.
We don’t have to revert to our dominance patterns.
Both sides of the body and brain can work together as a team.
*Eyes, ears, hands, feet. We have two and one is dominant. The dominant one will do most of the work when we get stressed out. The neuronal pathways between the dominant one and the brain hemisphere it is connected to are more active than those of the nondominant.