April 2022 Newsletter | Stress Reduction and Self Care
My mission is to be the first woman in 4 generations to not develop Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). On my journey of discovering ways to mitigate my risk, I pass this information on to you in this Brain-Body-Health (BBH) Newsletter.
"Help yourself as if you are helping other people. Help other people as if you are helping yourself."
—Yuan Tze
LESSONS FROM LIFE
The pillars of BrainBodyHealth use the acronym SLEDS to describe the importance of sleep, learning, exercise, diet, socialization, and stress awareness. Last but not least, stress wakes us up to life’s challenges while at the same time providing access to antidotes within our very own body to alleviate its surge. The remedies I am referring to, breath and movement, are rooted in ancient practices to help calm the nervous system and enter a meditative state. Wendy Suzuki a neuroscientist modifies these breath and movement techniques making them applicable in our daily lives. She describes ubiquitous worry as a “good anxiety” that we can learn to modulate thereby creating more peaceful and resilient lives. Her approach is called “box breathing”, inhaling on a four-count, holding at the top for four counts, exhaling on a four-count, holding at the bottom for four counts. This works because it activates the parasympathetic nervous system our automatic braking system in the body and can be done without anyone noticing you are doing it. Next is moving your body. For example walk around the block, or in your home. Moving the body activates neurochemicals released in your brain including dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Remember how good it feels when you go for a walk or go outside you are literally changing your brain. There are many practices to reduce stress and change our thinking, becoming more body-focused. For more information check out BBH Spirituality Resources.
LESSONS FROM THE HEART
"We have to keep our hearts open, be inspired by the innate goodness of human beings, but also be aware of the contradictions we hold.
I don't know any other way to be."
—Gabor Mate
When I first went to Thailand with ten women in 2012, I found myself overwhelmed with the humility and generosity of the Thai people. Just before the pandemic, I returned in January 2020 with most of the same ten women to continue “exploring our elephant selves”. Led by musician and tour director extraordinaire, Jami Sieber, I found myself overcome with tears during a Buddhist ceremony blessing the elephants. Surrounded by alms gathering saffron-robed monks, mahouts, elephants, and the bamboo hills of the Thai Elephant Conservatory Center, something opened up in my heart. A perfectly keyed moment unlocked the tenderness of my unbeknownst hidden vulnerability. I wept with joy while holding deep sadness. I fell into the arms of my elephant sister, Ann. It was a moment that continues to inform me of the importance of trust, humility and love, present in all of us.
Recently our “elephant in sisterhood” (all vaccinated and boosted), participated in a retreat. For many of us it was the first gathering beyond our “bubble of protection” of the past two years. We shared deeply, laughed, cried, danced, sang, made food together, honored a sister now in spirit form and visited a beautiful redwood grove. We opened our hearts to one another and named the contradictions in our lives. We watched red-bellied newts undulate in pools of crystal clear water. When our three days together were over, I came away feeling nurtured, whole and complete with a renewed commitment for self-care, caring for others and creativity.
Speaking of stress reduction and self care, we are practicing that this month while on vacation in our trailer, named Gladus. Thanks Mom!
To our optimized health!
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“If you want to go FAST, go alone. If you want to go FAR, go together."
- African proverb