• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Amy Hoogervorst

Integrative Health and Wellness Coach

  • WHAT IS HEALTH COACHING?
  • ABOUT AMY
  • SERVICES
  • BLOG
    • FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY
    • MIND-BODY CONNECTION
    • MOVEMENT, EXERCISE AND REST
    • NUTRITION
    • PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
    • RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION
  • GET STARTED
    • SCHEDULE A FREE CALL
    • ACCESS FREE RESOURCES
    • VIEW ARCHIVED VIDEOS

May 6, 2022
MIND-BODY CONNECTION· SELF CARE

Mind-Body Practices to Complete the Stress Cycle

Mind-body practices such as yoga and meditation help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, including the vagus nerve. Image is of young woman meditating.

Mind-body practices strengthen our parasympathetic nervous system, which tells us to relax after a threat is past. And when this system operates effectively, we complete the stress cycle. We relax.

But what happens when chronic or severe stress prevents that “rest and digest” system from kicking in?

Over time, it can harm our health.

Research indicates that our thought patterns and emotions affect nearly every illness we can get, from the common cold to cancer. Your mind, brain, and body all communicate with each other. And it’s possible to help them communicate in healthy ways.

The parasympathetic nervous system, one half of the autonomic nervous system, balances out the other half – the sympathetic nervous system. It’s the sympathetic nervous system that initiates the fight-flight-freeze response to stress. And it’s often overactive and overworked.

So by helping our parasympathetic nervous system kick in, we can complete the stress cycle. We can relax, rest. And digest.

How might we aid this process?

Changing How We Relate to Our Stress

First, we need breaks and relief from our stressors.

It’s important to identify those primary stressors. Then to drop any that we can. Modify those we can’t. And figure out how to accept the rest.

So what are your primary stressors? If you were to make a list, what would be on it?

Sometimes, it’s current events. How much do current events stress you out? If it’s a lot, when might you unplug from the news cycle and social media strategically? What break might that give your mind and body to remove yourself even briefly from news of events beyond your control?

Often, we also face personal and professional stressors. A challenging relative or colleague. An important deadline. Or an unexpected situation. What in your personal or professional life stresses you?

As you consider that, what would taking a break, even a brief one, from that stressor look like? Who can assist you? What else can help?

And while we may not be able to change some of our stressors, we can change how we relate to them. That can help us move through our stress response and complete the cycle.

Mind-Body Practices Worth Trying

Stressors can be physical, psychological, or social. Physical stressors include medical procedures or conditions, or environmental factors such as noise or pollution. Psychological stress can come from deeply held beliefs about yourself and others. (Politics, anyone?) And problems with loved ones, neighbors, or co-workers can equate to social stress.

No matter its source, stress can make unhealthy behaviors worse. When you’re stressed do you eat more poorly, drink more, and exercise less? If so, you’re not alone.

But with increased awareness comes change.

Mind-body practices have proven health benefits. Whether it’s progressive muscle relaxation, conscious breathing, or journaling, these exercises help stimulate the vagus nerve, part of the parasympathetic nervous system. Other vagal toning exercises – including sound therapy, grounding, breathwork, doodling, EFT tapping, guided meditation, yoga, and journaling also can flex and strengthen your parasympathetic nervous system.

So what different options might you want to explore?

You don’t have to do them all, but it can be useful to try several to see which one resonates most with you.

And once you’ve picked something to practice, the best results come from using the focused technique consistently.

In addition, continue to focus on daily stress-relief strategies such as prioritizing sleep and exercising.

What are some changes you might want to make? Share in the comments below, or contact Amy with your thoughts on how you’ll support your parasympathetic nervous system so it can do its job better.

As a national board-certified health and wellness coach, Amy Hoogervorst offers grace and space for a healthier you. If you need help reducing stress and fitting healthier habits into your life for more energy, focus, and fun, schedule a free discovery call to explore how health coaching might benefit you.

Tweet
Share
Pin

Don’t Miss out

Join our newsletter to get all the latest!

Previous Post: « This is Your Brain On Stress
Next Post: 3 Questions I’m Constantly Asked about Coaching »

Primary Sidebar

MEET AMY

Hi! I'm Amy Hoogervorst, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, integrative health coach, and creative entrepreneur offering grace and space for a healthier you. Read More…

Latest on the Blog

A Bredesen ReCODE coach helps people concerned about or living with cognitive decline implement lifestyle changes that are part of the Bredesen protocol. Colorful image depicts a brain with many synapses and activity

Recently I trained as a Bredesen ReCODE Coach, adding to my professional knowledge base and credentials as I look to help anyone concerned about their brain health. But my desire to prevent and reverse cognitive decline goes beyond a professional achievement. It’s deeply personal, too. About five years ago, someone close to me received a […]

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Latest on Instagram

Wait. Pause. Notice. Be still. That's the message Wait. Pause. Notice. Be still.

That's the message I got this afternoon, when I looked up and noticed I'd been sitting in my parked car in front of this bush for a full five minutes. And I hadn't seen it.

I was absorbed by something else. My mind elsewhere, making a list and checking it twice, so to speak. And when I looked up, the beauty of this holly took my breath away. The way the light was hitting the leaves and berries at that moment, I had to get out of my car and snap a pic.

Almost immediately, I felt my shoulders relax, my heart open, my mind clear, even if only for a moment.

'Tis the season. For the hustle and bustle. Life on the hamster wheel. Automatic pilot. The checking off of lists. But that doesn't have to be the only way.

What's helped you - wait, pause, notice, be still - lately?

#gratefulforapause #breathe #graceandspaceforahealthieryou 
#mindfulawareness #pause #nature #notice #lifepractice #spiritualpractice #bestill #integrativehealthcoach
Been a while since we've done this together ... Wo Been a while since we've done this together ... Women's Wellness Walk in the Woods, this Saturday morning - who's interested? Send me a DM if you're in central NC - Durham, Chapel Hill area - and would like to get outside this weekend and explore an area trail in a small group. Nothing strenuous, and nothing boring. 😁 

#graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach #letsgo #wellnesswalk #getoutside #autumninnc #chapelhill #durhamnc #durm #trailwalk #freshair #movement #physicalactivity
"There are steps we can all take now to prevent th "There are steps we can all take now to prevent the cognitive decline that experts have long believed unavoidable and irreversible."
-Dale Bredesen, M.D.

If you're a subscriber to my Well Check e-letter, in your inbox this morning, you'll see this quote and a way to learn a bit more about why I trained this year as a certified Bredesen ReCODE health coach (and what that means.)

To subscribe, visit the link in my bio or amyhoogervorst.com/subscribe; I'll be sharing more about brain health in upcoming emails and articles.

September is World Alzheimer's Month, and this past Wednesday marked World Alzheimer's Day -  making this the perfect time to share both this update and my professional and personal desire to help make Alzheimer's a rare disease.

#quotes #worldalzheimersmonth2022 #worldalzheimersday #lifestylechange #bredesenprotocol #brainhealth #cognition #thewellcheck #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach #nutrition #exercise #sleep #stress #detox #braintraining #supplements
Before the autumnal equinox at 9:03 pm, I've been Before the autumnal equinox at 9:03 pm, I've been taking a look back at some of the beautiful moments of my summer, 2022. Here's a tiny, tiny sliver. There will never be another season quite like this one.

#summer2022 #pause #reflect #snapshots #noticethelittlethings #spiritualpractice #gratitude #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #stressrelief #integrativehealthcoach #mindbodysoul #attention #intention
Follow on Instagram

Tags

accountability anxiety best self books challenge choices coaching dreams exercise faith faith and sweat fitness friends goals grace and space for a healthier you habits health health coaching healthy eating healthy food healthy lifestyle holidays inflammation memories mindfulness mindset movement nutrition perseverance personal growth PhotoOrganize Me photos recipes resources rest self-care sleep social media stewardship stories stress sugar wellness what i learned Youngevity
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • DISCLOSURES
  • CONTACT
© 2023 Amy Hoogervorst - All Rights Reserved

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Amy Hoogervorst
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.