In this week’s blog we are going to consider the strong link between your nervous system and immune system. We will consider how Somatics can help with improving the function of these two amazingly intricate systems.

Your Amazing Soma

If you are a regular reader of my blogs you will know that I often refer to your mind and body as your Soma. In Somatics we refer to the soma as a huge sensory organism which absorbs emotions, experiences, habits, behaviours, movement, trends, cultures and you respond or react to triggers or events around you. All of this sensory awareness originates from your nervous system. A soma is neither static nor solid; it is adaptable, supple and constantly changing, moulding to its environment. So becoming better acquainted with yourself is imperative for self care and recovery. Plus when you acknowledge that somas exist in time, you realise that life’s events will create a response within you, allowing you to notice this. With the knowledge and skills learned within The Total Somatics Approach to Health & Wellness Online Program you will support your soma during this moment in time.

Your soma is interconnected and part of that connection is the link between your nervous system and immune system. Within that connection is the longest nerve within your body, the Vagus nerve. It travels from your brain, through your neck and on to your digestive system, liver, spleen, pancreas, heart and lungs. The nerve is a major component in the parasympathetic nervous system, which is also know as the ‘rest and digest’ mode. The opposite effect within the autonomic nervous system is the sympathetic nervous system, also known as the ‘fight/flight/feign” mode.

Your vagus nerve is very important to the actions of your organs because the nerve is responsible for 75% of their functions. Messages sent from your brain via the Vagus nerve play a critical role in regulating heart rate, blood pressure and gastrointestinal actions, just to name a few.

The link with your Immune System

Your immune system is absolutely amazing. The first response of your immune system is to inflame the stressed, infected or injured area to protect the rest of your body. Inflammation is perfectly normal when triggered on a temporary basis. Once the trigger such as infection has been dealt with by your immune system, your body will begin to relax and return to a state of homeostasis or state of balance, causing the inflammation to dissipate.

However this doesn’t always happen. If your nervous system is not working efficiently, breathing and heart rate may stay elevated and this creates longer bouts of inflammation which becomes chronic. When your Vagus nerve is not functioning properly, it can lead to a number of health related conditions associated with chronic inflammation.

Some of the health conditions are:

Susceptibility to infections
Acid reflux
Inflammatory bowel disorders
Chronic pain
Skin conditions
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Osteoporosis
Arthritis
Urinary tract infections
Diabetes
Fibromyalgia
Peptic ulcer
Cancer (over time chronic inflammation can cause DNA changes)
Lupus

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STRESS AND INFLAMMATION, CLICK HERE.

The Importance of Somatics

The importance of Somatics cannot be underestimated. Mindful Somatic Movement and principles found within The Total Somatics Online Program can help to create a state of balance or homeostasis.

Somatics is a mindful movement practice to relax chronically tight muscles. It slows down the actions of your Nervous System to create the ‘rest and digest’ mode.

Somatics increases your internal awareness. This is very important because people who live a large portion of their time in the ‘fight/flight/feign” mode can become disconnected from their body. They begin to live ‘in their heads’ becoming very cerebral, having little awareness of what is happening deep within their body. Somatics helps connect their awareness to their mind and body so they can sense and feel what is happening throughout their soma. This practice allows for a healthier functioning system.

A great example of this was experienced at the weekend. I was holding a one day workshop in Melbourne, Australia and one of the attendees commented that after the 1 hour mindful somatic movement class, the intense pain she had in her abdomen from endometriosis had gone! She said it was the best she had felt for a very long time because she has had multiple surgeries to deal with the health condition. This clearly highlighted how Somatics works at a deeper level and when we change the actions of the nervous system, we can make huge improvements with chronic pain. The fantastic part about Somatics is that the practice will empower and educate you so you can take control of your health and wellness. It is a lifestyle practice. So regular practice will help to continue to create a state of balance (homeostasis), rather than being drawn into the stress responses which in turn will intensify inflammation. When you practice somatics, so many benefits are gained and this includes keeping your Vagus nerve and entire nervous system healthy. When your nervous system is healthy and homeostasis is apparent, all other systems of your body function efficiently, including your immune system.

Would you like to learn how to apply these skills and knowledge in the comfort and privacy of your own home, at a time that is convenient to you? Allow me to guide you through this process. I periodically upload new material and this is happening at the moment. So when you work with Total Somatics, you are keeping your finger on the pulse with the latest Somatic health and wellness skills. Also keep connected with Total Somatics by subscribing to my weekly blogs at www.TotalSomatics.com or on social media (Facebook: @totalsomatics and Instagram: total.somatics), I have some exciting things to reveal shortly and I don’t want you to miss out.

Keep connected and enjoy embracing a healthier lifestyle with less pain, improved posture, increased mobility and mindset skills with The Total Somatics Approach to Health & Wellness Online Program at www.TotalSomatics.com.

Take care,
Heidi Hadley xx
www.TotalSomatics.com