Why we should relax

cconvThe nervous system is like the body’s inner communication system or control switch.

We rely on it every day to stay healthy and safe.

It responds to the environment around us. Things like heat, touch, sound, and sight and sends messages to the brain. The brain processes this sends messages back to the body using different nerves. These nerves are what control reactions such as walking, talking and doing Pilates!

The nervous system is quite complex. Today I’ll just explain parts of it to help you understand why our yoga, mediation and stretch classes are so important.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS – just part of the nervous system) controls the internal responses, things like heart rate, breathing, digestion, salivation, perspiration, urination and sexual arousal. Many of the actions of the ANS, such as heart rate and digestion, are automatic and out of our conscious control, but others, such as breathing and the sexual organs, can be controlled and influenced by conscious processes.

The ANS can be subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

The sympathetic system – Is a bit like the accelerator pedal on a car. It prepares the body for fight and flight response.  Particularly in response to stress, by activating the organs and the glands. Imagine you see a tiger, your body naturally will either freeze as it fears death, or (hopefully) run, so it can survive. Either one of those responses would require many hormones to flood the body to ensure the body reacted to keep it safe.

The parasympathetic system – Is a bit like the brake on a car. It restores the body to a calm and composed state and prevents it from overworking,  It helps to calm the body by slowing the heart and breathing and by allowing the body to recover from the activities that the sympathetic system causes. It is what is often referred to as the rest and digest mode. When the body is relaxed it can recuperate and if it’s eating, properly digest food.  

In our modern day society, we are rarely faced with a tiger to run away from, but instead, we have things like, our phone notifications, stresses at work, relationship stresses or as all of us have faced together of late, pandemics.

These are things that will cause our sympathetic nervous system to respond. When we are over stimulated in the sympathetic nervous system, we are putting more stress on the body. It can cause hormonal imbalance, insomnia, over eating, emotional eating, digestive issues, weight gain, infertility, anxiety, lack of self esteem, irritability, headaches and so on.  

There are ways in which we can help our body relax, and I will giving more in future blogs, but one way is by doing the Pilates, Yoga, Stretch and mediation classes in the Core Fit Club. These all help to focus on deep breathing, relaxation & concentration. 

I want you to start to notice, how stressed you’re feeling during your day. It can be little things, like shoulders tightening, stopping breathing while you type on your phone, rushing around. Tune into your body in those moments. See how it feels. 

Notice what it needs. If it needs a rest day, or a slower class one day instead of a more strenuous class.

Exercise is a form of stress on the body.  So if you’re already feeling stressed, choose a gentler class for that day. 

Sometimes exercising is a good stress, and what we need, especially if we’re sedentary, or if we have energy. However sometimes it’s not good to stress the body more, if we’re already stressed in other areas of our life.

Start to pick and choose what classes you do, (if you haven’t already), after you notice what your body is asking for. 

The monthly calendar is there as a guide. I program to give you variety, and teach you new things, however I can’t always (sometimes I get it right – so I hear 😉 know what your body needs. Only you know that on every given day.

I know I personally need to follow this advice and relax more. It’s something I have to always be mindful of.

I’ll discuss more on this topic in our next monthly focus. 

As always, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.

Lots of love 

Em xo

PS: this discussion will continue in more depth in the following monthly focus called “The Vagus Nerve” 

‘It’s time to relax when you don’t have time for it.’ – Sydney J. Harris

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