Find moments of calm in the middle of a busy world

The modern world brings with it many dilemmata that affect our health, but in my opinion none is more widespread than the ability to rest and be calm. As a child of the eighties, I remember that Margaret Thatcher's legendary 4-hour sleep was somehow virtuous, regardless of her policy. With our 24-hour culture, we would like to be able to do everything at a time comfortable time, including food, shopping, a medical diagnosis, maybe everything in the name of productivity and efficiency.

increasingly realized that this may not be optimal for our physical and mental health. In his book The Circadian Code, Satchin Panda examines how our biological rhythms are and when it is optimal for us to sleep, eat and train to be healthy, grow and regenerate. In addition, it has long been known that the parasympathetic part of the vegetative nervous system, which is active in peace, helps us to regulate body functions such as digestion, sleep and growth. In addition, increasing indications indicate that dysfunction of our finely balanced nervous system can lead to widespread physiological changes and illnesses (1, 2). Learning how to regulate the nervous system can improve general health (3).

calm can be as important for our body as movement. When I am confronted with patients who are difficult to sleep, hard to switch off, to rest hard, I wonder how we can move the leaf as a company.

As David Whyte finds in his book "comfort", peace is not a matter of course, but a preparation for doing our best and arriving in a place where we can understand what has already been given to us.

If we rest, we are afraid of not being productive, to miss something, fear of silence. But maybe calm to be more productive and creative. My interpretation of Pabulo Nerudo's poem Silence is that we understand ourselves better by resting, experiencing how it is to be connected to others, with nature without words, without deeds. To be observed and curious, away from the constant movement of life.

Restorative yoga is only one way to rest. There are others. For me, however, residual orga creates the conditions that make it possible to shift the nervous system to a place that feels safe to stop the body and explore the breath, reduce the external attack on the senses and to reset, repair and grow our physiology.

If you are looking for reading seasons that help you on your yoga trip, you are in the right place in the Yogamatter Library.

practical references:

1) Sapolsky 2004. Why zebras don't get any ulcers.

2) Porgeset al. 2011 the polyvagal theory: neurophysiological foundations of emotions, binding, communication and self -regulation

3. Davidson, RJ and McEwen, BS (2012). Social influences on neuroplasticity: stress and interventions to promote well -being. Nat. Neurosci. 15, 689–695. DOI: 10.1038/nn.3093

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