When faced with stress, our bodies react by sending adrenaline to the brain, increasing blood pressure and oxygen intake. These changes help us to think fast and act quickly in a crisis. Short term, this response works well. However, most of us experience chronic stress and remain in this physical state all the time. After a while, crucial body processes that protect our health start to break down.
Cholesterol builds up, blood pressure increases and the immune system is weakened.
In addition, our mental function narrows and we are cut off from important information from the right side our brain. This limits our capapcity to handle emotions and to access our creativiity. When our bodies are relaxed and our mental processes slow down, our central nervous system shifts into its healing mode. Only then is the immune system able to repair cells and fight off disease. In the same way, a state of relaxation can enhance our ability to express ourselves, use our creativity, and get in touch with what is meaningful to us.