The Importance of a Calm Nervous System

By Jennifer Kelleher

I invite you into the present moment. Close your eyes and take a few conscious breaths. Let your mind completely rest on a series of unhurried inhales and exhales. Can you experience the breath now as luxurious and leisurely? Stay with this simple exercise and feel your nervous system begin to calm.

Perhaps my favorite part about yoga is the positive effect it has on my nervous system. For many years, I thought that if I was going to exercise, I may as well push myself to my edge in order to optimize my time and get the most effective results. But it turns out that harder is not always better. What I didn’t realize at the time was that my actions were actually sabotaging my health, making the results I wanted impossible to achieve.

After so many years of pushing and grinding, slowing down felt scary, and honestly, I don’t know if I would have done it if I weren’t forced into it. When I was 30 weeks pregnant with my son, I was put on modified bed rest and obligated to stay still. I must admit that I was a bit devastated at first, but as the days and weeks passed, I began to enjoy the time of rest. After giving birth, I continued at this slower pace. I walked instead of ran, I practiced yoga and Pilates, and I became more concerned with listening to my body and giving it what it needed to feel good instead of doing what my mind thought I should do.

As I continued to listen to and honor my body, I started to feel better and better in it, and my body began to take the shape of that. I worked on healing my nervous system and helping my body feel safe, and as a result it began to function much more effectively. I also began to learn the importance of fueling my body properly to support my lifestyle.

Instead of fasting all day, only to eat whatever was in the refrigerator, I realized that I felt much better eating three high-protein, low sugar meals per day with protein-dense snacks when necessary. In a short time, my mood and energy brightened and stabilized, and my body found its natural, healthy shape.

This experience showed me the importance of having an open mind and trying new ways of doing things, even if it feels scary. We are constantly evolving, so it makes sense that our habits and lifestyles evolve with us to support us in our growth. This experience also taught me that the best way to do something is not always the most obvious. We reach our health goals by eating and moving smart, rather than eating less and exercising to fatigue.

All of that being said, I have been an athlete my entire life and I do enjoy pushing my body and seeing how far I can take it. In order to do that safely, I make sure to eat properly for the type of physical exertion I am doing, and I balance with yoga and rest. This keeps me in a calm state, even through the more stressful forms of exercise.

I invite you to take a look at your own way of moving and feeding yourself. Is it keeping you healthy and giving you the results you want? If your answer is no or not really, I encourage you to open your mind and try something new to bring more balance into your routine. Join us at Ocean Bliss Yoga for a variety of classes that will help you reach your health goals. Find our schedule at oceanblissyoga.net.