For thousands of years ago, ancient cultures across the world (Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, Babylonians, etc), shared a similar belief and practice about the HEART as a source of inspiration, intelligence and inner peace or guidance. Finally, the 21st century science and researchers have proved this is true.
Today, according to the HeartMath Institute of Science, we now know the heart is indeed a source of intelligence and has a very complex nervous system. This nervous system is known as the heart-brain in which it sends messages to the head brain. The heart-brain communication radiates a strong electromagnetic field that connects to your emotions.
The Heart's Intelligence
The heart's intelligence is what we know as feelings of love, appreciation, care, compassion or harmony. These feelings and emotions bring a sense of peace within on a deep level. The heart is associated with intuitive knowingness and can truly help us find the answers and guidance if we connect with our hearts.
The heartbeats produce an intelligent language to the rest of the body. This is not just an electromechanical pulse that causes the heart to pump blood to the body. Variations in the heart rhythm pattern affect how one feels and connection with emotions.
"Only from the heart can you touch the sky. "
- Rumi
Stress, Resilience, and Emotional Regulation
Now that we know that the heart-brain talks to eachother and can communicate and radiate harmonious feelings within our body, let's delve into what HeartMath science says about stress.
Most of us have dealt with either a fair amount of stress or an overwhelming amount of stress in life. What we may not realize is that stress is the catalyst and mediator of many acute and chronic illnesses and affects our emotional regulation.
How do you manage stress?
What HeartMath science tells us is that if we use HeartMath tools and techniques to improve the heart-brain communication, we can develop a state of coherence. By utilizing assistive technology to monitor the heart rate variability (emotional state and heart rhythm) we can learn to emotionally regulate STRESS, and renew our emotions on a positive level.
DECREASE the stress response, to INCREASE longevity, memory, intuition, creativity, resilience, and happiness. Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system to release cortisol which causes our energy bucket to feel depleted. This comes from emotions like anger, frustration, anxiety, resentment.
Do you suffer from anxiety or depleting emotions?
I know I did, for years. I was not aware of my stress level until I started getting sick about ten years ago. I have been living with a chronic illness called AERD and diagnosed with an undetermined autoimmune disease since then. If we do not start regulating our emotions better, stress will settle in the form of disease. I have been working on emotional regulation and stress management since understanding this is how I can gain resilience and harmony within my body, mind and spirit. My chronic illness symptoms lessen or weaken when my stress level is balanced, and energy is restored.
By practicing HeartMath breathing and using different tools and techniques, you will activate the parasympathetic nervous system to increase the release of dopamine, serotonin and DHEA which will renew the emotional state.
HeartMath Breathing
As a HeartMath Certified Practitioner, we start with teaching the basic breathing technique called the Heart-Focused Breathing Technique and Heart Lock-In Technique. These are simple, yet highly effective tools to shift your emotional state from feeling depleted to renewed very quickly with practice. Heart-Focused breathing can help with maintaining your composure in stressful situations, and bring your heart rate variability into a coherent state, building resilience.
Step One (Heart-Focused Breathing Technique):
Focus your attention in the area of the heart. Imagine your breath is flowing in and out of your heart or chest area, breathing a little slower and deeper than usual. Find an easy rhythm that's comfortable to you.
Step Two (Heart Lock-In Technique):
Activate and sustain a regenerative feeling such as appreciation, care, or compassion.
Step Three:
Radiate that renewing feeling to yourself and others.
There are several techniques that I will introduce in future blogs. Start by trying to shift your breathing pattern into a more coherent state in times of stressful situations.
Practice every day for 30 seconds to 1 minute atleast 3-5 times a day, with your eyes open. You can also try with your eyes closed, whatever feels comfortable to you to get started.
If you want to learn how to do HeartMath breathing and learn to utilize these tools and techniques, check out my website Kardiahealinghouse.com for 1:1 coaching or group coaching.
Resources:
Childre, D., Martin, H., Rozman, D., & McCraty, R. (2017). Heart Intelligence: Connecting with the Intuitive Guidance of the Heart. Waterside Productions.
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