Resilient Breathing for Calming the Fearful Mind

Our Nervous System can get turned on in times of stress and stay in a state of prolonged activation. We may feel anxious, tense, unable to sleep and our digestion may be thrown off.

Our fight or flight system isn’t designed for prolonged periods of stress. This may result in high cortisol levels, which leads to high blood pressure, inflammation, digestive disturbances, depression and a lowering of our Immune system’s response.

The muscles of our breathing (our diaphragm and ribs) helps us “to be” with our emotions. To contain them and express them appropriately.

By making space within ourselves through the breath, we can activate our thinking brain (the prefrontal cortex) and inhibit the fear-based part of our brain (the amygdala).

By not reacting instinctively, we can provide safety to those around us, instead of reacting angrily with anger and frustration and even rage.

Fuller breathing helps to regulate our Nervous System, which is so important if we are to keep our stress hormones in check, and prevent the cortisol that gets released when we go into a highly Activated state.

(Adapted from a recent “Bodynamic”  webinar with Ditte Marcher.)

Video Lesson: Resilient Breathing for Calming the Fearful Mind

Please try this lesson (adapted from Feldenkrais Treasury) as a way to help your Nervous System to return to baseline.