RECLAIM (WEEK 3)
DAY 2: SELF REFLECTION
On Day 16 or your workbook identify the “thinking errors” your are most guilty of.
DAY 16 MICRO-SCIENCE
Corpus Callosm
It may seem strange but within your brain there are many different “you’s” that are battling for dominance until one of them comes out the victor. The corpus collosum allows these different sides to speak, which for the most part, is a very positive thing. The corpus collosum is a thick set of nerve fibers that connects the two sides of the brain. This allows the right hemisphere of the brain which focuses on emotions to communicate with the left hemisphere of the brain which focuses on rational thought. In rare cases, some people have had their corpus collosum cut by surgeons in order to avoid epileptic seizures. After the surgery you can then ask the patients left and right hemispheres the same question but get totally different answers. For instance, you could ask each hemisphere the question of what it would do when it saw a tiger at the zoo? In response, the emotional right side of brain might say it would want to run away in fear and the rational left side of the brain might calmly respond that it would want to study the animal to understand it’s behavior. Each side showing their bias in how they perceive a situation. The corpus collosum is thus very important to overcoming stress because it allows your emotional right brain to calm itself down when it opens up a line of communication to the rational left brain that can help it relax.
- FACT: Right hemisphere of the brain thinks cyclically (it happened once it will happen again) instead of in a linear fashion (thinking of past, present, future) like the left hemisphere of the brain.
- TAKEAWAY: This is why its so important for people with anxiety, substance abuse, and depression to move away from right brained thinking because it feels like it will never end. Once the corpus collosum is strengthened and the left rational brain comes online then they can correctly place things in an order of events and see that it has a beginning, middle, and end if it is addressed.
Corpus Callosum strengthens during meditation, allowing the two hemispheres of your brain to communicate and solve problems more efficiently.
DAY 16 MEDITATION
Yoga Asanas
In the beginning I was pretty suspicious of yoga, everyone seemed a bit too blissed out and comparing myself to those toned bodies stressed me out. However, when I actually tried a yoga class I realized the core of yoga is about self-acceptance and non-judgment. So in reality, it was exactly what I needed to appease my critical nature. In fact, yoga was initially started for children in India who didn’t have the needed focus to jump right into meditation, so yoga was created to give them a “meditation in motion.” In fact the poses in yoga are called “Asanas” which means “seat” in Hindi. A seat for what you might ask, well a “seat” for your consciousness. Something that allows the silent witnessing presence in your brain to sit down and rest. Thereby allowing your consciousness to respond to threats and decisions instead of react by hopping on the closest train of thought.
- FACT: Yoga is a great way to practice balancing your sympathetic nervous system (gas pedal) and your parasympathetic nervous system (brake pedal).
- TAKEAWAY: In yoga you complete a pose and then release it. Therefore, yoga is essentially practicing what your goal for everyday life should be, action and then release. Essentially, stress enters your body and you get worked up and then you have to find a way to release that stress in some fashion. Hence, why yoga is such a great role model for how to live your life.
DAY 16 MEDITATION
Today’s meditation task is to take 11 minutes out of your day and follow the beginner yoga video. Stretchy pants and comfortable clothing are helpful but definitely not essential. Give it a try and you might actually like it. If you liked this one there are hundreds of different yoga youtube videos.
DAY 16 MOVEMENT
Stretching
The largest organ in your body is your skin and so the skin then becomes the number one way that toxins leave your body. However, for your lymph nodes, which lay under your skin and activate toxin release, to be fully activated movement has to occur. Stretching in your day is therefore a great way to activate this response and help toxins escape your body.
- FACT: When you initiate movement your GABA neurotransmitters (relaxation) can be increased between 27-80%.
- TAKEAWAY: Movement (even stretching) is the best way to decompress from your day. GABA is the same neurotransmitter that alcohol attaches to, so if you want the benefits without the hangover, movement is the way to go.
DAY 16 MOVEMENT
Find three times in your day to slip in some subtle stretching. This doesn’t mean lay out a mat and make a fool of yourself. This just means when you find a few stray seconds throw in some back stretches or give your legs a little bit of love. Any stretch will do even a nice neck roll here and there.