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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
#NSUFindYourStrong: Strengthen the Mind-Body Connection
Do you know that one scene in movies when the camera zooms in on the hero just as they breathe in and the world slows down around them as they breathe out? It usually comes right before the hero saves the day or scores the winning point or otherwise does something amazing. Well, it turns out there’s an actual science to that which you can apply to your life.
Your breathing affects almost everything else in your body. Deep breathing specifically stimulates your vagus nerve, which runs from your brain down to your stomach. This nerve connects the brain, heart, and gut and is a literal ‘mind-body’ connector.
By taking slow, even breaths for a few minutes, you can stimulate the vagus nerve and in turn benefit your overall health. Through deep breathing, you can calm your heart and brain to reduce stress. This is important, since part of the body’s stress response is to release cortisol, an anti-inflammatory hormone, which aids in the ‘fight or flight’ response.
In times of high-stress, cortisol is important in protecting yourself from danger. Unfortunately, your body continues to produce cortisol whether the stress is an angry bear chasing you, or just some important deadlines. This may seem inconsequential, except cortisol inhibits your immune system. Your immune system isn’t important when escaping from bears, but it is vital when navigating your day to day life. If you’re constantly stressed with work or other inconveniences in your life, your stress is stopping your immune system from effectively fighting off illness. If you’ve ever gotten sick during finals or right before an important deadline, you know how inconvenient stress and illness can be.
Through daily breathing exercises – LIKE IN YOGA, you are stimulating the vagus nerve which dampens your body’s stress response and in turn slows the production of cortisol. By reducing your stress response, you’re directly affecting your own health. So go ahead and unwind some this spring break – all you need is right under your nose.
Information retrieved from nutritionfacts.org and an NPR article entitled “Just Breathe: Body has a Built-In Stress Reliever”
NSU RecWell offers Wellness Workshops, Lunch N’ Learn events and over 40 group fitness classes per week EVERY MONTH! Let us help you de-stress and better your health. Contact recwell@nova.edu or call (954) 262-7301 today. Don’t forget to follow us on social media @NSURecWell.