This video is a two-part 45 minute workshop.
The first section focuses on the neurobiology of stress, anxiety and fear states, how being in a stressful world can trigger certain responses, that can feel really difficult to understand and manage. From a Neuroscience perspective, I offer a little look at how our brain, autonomic nervous system, body and emotional states function when stressed and/or fearful. I explain briefly, how new poly vagal theory, (see – Stephen Porges, Deb Dana) can help us to notice and understand what’s happening to us when we experience stress triggers, anxiety, fear and panic. To understand the different types of autonomic nervous system states we can find ourselves in and how we can begin to move out of these states.
In the second part of the workshop I offer some very simple and practical, science-backed tools, that we practice together.
We look at how body posture, movement, sound, our breathing and mindfulness can shape how our autonomic nervous system behaves and responds. We can use these tools to take charge of responses that often feel out of our control.
Understanding your brain, your body, your fear and stress responses can give you the the capacity to notice what’s happening, offer yourself some compassion and reassurance that your responses are completely normal, and then offer some really simple exercises that can aid our movement back out of stress and fear states.
This workshop is a brief intro to these skills, I have other videos that look at these different aspects of the nervous system support and resilience building, and I aim to create more over time.
Movement with breath is used quite a bit in this remit, and evidence shows this to be greatly beneficial to stress and anxiety states. The mindfulness section is brief, I try to offer some tips on mindfulness for those who may have struggled with this or are new to it altogether.
Mindfulness is well researched as having positive impacts for many, on how we function under stress. There are some simple and quick tips to reset the nervous system quickly, I have another very short video on this as a stand alone offering.
Again neurobiology can help us understand how simple body movements can help aid the autonomic nervous system responses of fight flight freeze and flop to be altered, sending different messages back up to the brain, that all is ok, and threat is not current in the moment, even it if it feels present in the world.
I will add here that this video is no replacement for physical or psychological professional intervention. Please seek professional guidance or treatment of you have any serious concerns. If you have experienced trauma you may find your nervous system has more complex or deeply ingrained responses that need further attention.
As stated in the video, please also allow your self to guide what feels comfortable and safe for you. I nor anyone else can know what is ok for you. Trust what feels right for you!