When we are under extreme stress, nearly 1,500 biochemical reactions occur in our bodies.  Some body mechanisms speed up, others nearly shut down.  Many have heard of this as our “fight or flight response.”  What many don’t know is that this doesn’t just occur during a car accident or a physical attack; it occurs on some level, during a stressful meeting with a boss, or argument with a spouse or child.  Oftentimes, these intense reactions which we are wired for to take us out of unsafe situations happen day after day on a less intense level.  Unfortunately, after this stress response our bodies are still activated, still trying to process the byproducts of our stress response, making our bodies actually want to “fight” or “flee”.  Our lives aren’t getting less stressful or complicated. Last time I checked, we can’t flee from a boardroom or fight our boss, thus we need to combat these reactions the best way we can.  The answer is exercise.  Exercise helps our bodies expedite the cleansing of the byproducts of our stress response so we don’t suffer physically.  For example, when we’re stressed our gastrointestinal system slows.  This can cause constipation, diarrhea, or ulcers. Stress even affects our reproductive system.  Our body doesn’t want to foster a new life if it feels that it is under attack.  Intellectually and emotionally, the “smart” part of our brain shuts down so we can think like an animal would (to fight or flee) and that can effect our information possessing system that we require we’re expected to be productive at work or listening to our children. 

 

I don’t expect anyone to start a regimented running plan, but there are emotional and physical benefits to simply walking.  The meditative effects of walking, the bilateral stimulation of the brain, has shown similar information integration properties and benefits as REM sleep (our dreaming sleep).  Dr. Francine Shapiro, a California psychologist, found one day while walking and thinking about something that was troubling her, that her eyes began to track right to left in sync with her walking.  She found that after her walk, the disturbance she felt previously had nearly disappeared.  This began the basis for the widely accepted treatment modality, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Repossessing, EMDRIA.ORG).  I challenge all of you to move at times when it’s the last thing you want to do.  Sitting by yourself stewing over what went wrong in a conversation or situation has not reaaaaallly ever worked, so literally just walk it away!