by Carolyn Kaufman
We’ve all been there. You’re feeling alright, something stressful happens and before you know it, you’re having an MS attack.
It’s a commonality among MS patients (and realistically, patients of most chronic illnesses), which is why it’s so important to look at.
Stress is major contributing factor to illness and obesity. Both eastern and western practitioners agree (which is rare all in itself!) that stress can affect our health, but no one talks about how to manage it!
I wrote a blog post on it recently (click here to read), but I wanted to give you the short version.
You see, it comes down to breathing, but not JUST breathing.
Becoming cognizant of the breath and making sure you’re getting full deep inhales (let your chest, ribs, and belly expand) and then full deep exhales (let your belly, ribs, and then chest contract).
That type of “deep belly breathing” chemically takes you out of your sympathetic nervous system (your fight or flight) and transfers your into a state of homeostasis, your parasympathetic nervous system.
This transfer allows you to burn fat instead of sugar, reduce inflammation, think clearly, and digest food properly.
This method is 100% free, you don’t have to carry anything to do it, and starting your day with even just 1 minute of this type of breathing will carry benefits for you.
Don’t be afraid to start slow and build. This type of breathing will help you stay calm and focused, something we could all use a little help with!
And don’t forget, this is just one small tool in a very large toolbox… What do you do for stress management?
Carolyn Kaufman is a writer, speaker, and health coach. You can find out more about her at www.WithoutTheWeight.com