All in Relaxation

Just Breathe

Emma Wisbey
Healthy Habits, Relaxation, Stress

We take the process of breathing for granted as it automatically happens to keep us alive. But could we be using how we oxygenate ourselves as another therapeutic tool? I talk to patients a lot about the importance of breathing exercises. It’s effective, free, achievable at any age and easier than you think. If you breathe deep down into your diaphragm and slow down between the inhale and exhale you activate the vagus nerve and furthermore the parasympathetic nervous system, which tells the brain you are safe, and helps to instill a sense of relaxation and calm.

Sleep

Emma Wisbey
Healthy Habits, Relaxation, Sleep

Almost one third of Australians don’t get enough sleep. Which is concerning because sleep is profoundly connected to your health and wellbeing. According to author of Why We Sleep, Matthew Walker; “Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day”. In fact, some research suggests that the quality of our sleep is more important than both diet and exercise.

How To Relax (the easy way)

Emma Wisbey
Relaxation

Unfortunately we never put relaxation on our to-do list or in the diary. And, if by some chance of a miracle some R&R is scheduled in, it is admittedly the first thing to be cancelled if life gets too busy. The truth is it should be a daily non-negotiable for our wellbeing. 

Understanding Stress

Emma Wisbey
Mood, Stress, Relaxation

Yeah, yeah, stress…you’ve heard it all before. But what does it really mean to be stressed? And how is it affecting your wellbeing?

It seems every day we hear the word ‘stress’.

 “Work is so stressful right now, don’t stress, she must be stressed” are commonly bounced around as part of our daily vocabulary. Even primary school aged children know what the word stress means. I didn’t even need to learn about stress until the latter years of high school!

But, what is stress from a physiological perspective, what is it doing to your body and why is it impacting on your health?