Supporting the Nervous System Through Chiropractic
I want to keep this last blog post of the year simple. One of the main messages I like to share is about how powerful and important it is to care for your nervous system. Your nervous system is a key player in all of your life. How you move, how you feel, how you think and how you perceive the world are all tied to the nervous system.
Chiropractors are so invested in the proper alignment of your spine because of the effect it has on your nervous system. Your nervous system is the master control system of your body. It is what processes information coming in and creates responses, both for what is happening inside of you and outside of you. Every time you digest a piece of food, every time you move your fingers or take a deep breathe, every time you feel the sun on your skin, smell the salty sea air or taste a piece of chocolate your nervous system is involved.
Your nervous system is also responsible for whether or not you feel safe in the world, on a visceral level. When we are young our nervous system takes in nonstop information and creates an understanding of what life is like. This is your programming. This can lead to both helpful and unhelpful perspectives and ways of being. My point is that even our experience of the way the world works can be traced back to the nervous system.
Chiropractic care supports you in several ways…
1) First, the physical act of a chiropractic adjustment immediately impacts the functioning of the nervous system. When your spine is misaligned it causes an interference in the flow of information being sent back and forth between the brain and the body via your the nerves. Realigning the spine removes that interference and allows the brain and the body to communicate more clearly which moves your body into a healthier state.
2) Your system is always responding and adapting. When you are well-adjusted and your system is free from stuck patterns you naturally adapt in healthier ways. Chiropractic clears the gunk getting in the way of your ability to respond, adapt and ultimately heal.
3) Chiropractic supports the other healing work you are doing. If you are exercising, stretching or doing yoga, chiropractic supports your body in doing those things effectively. Equally as important, if you are doing emotional healing work, moving through a difficult time or stuck in a rut mentally or energetically, chiropractic supports that process too. Having a clear, connected nervous system benefits your inner work as much as it does your outer work.
As we move through the holiday season and into the new year I want my message to be simple and clear. Your nervous system cannot be put on the back burner. The state of your nervous system determines the state of your life. If your system is disorganized, dysfunctional and in disarray, your outer world will reflect that too. I don’t say this to scare you, I saw this to empower you. Caring for your nervous system has a ripple effect on the rest of your life. So if you feel confused, start there.
Caring for your nervous system can look like meditation, long walks where you are present with yourself (not just walking to walk while listening to something to pass the time), stretching, painting, dancing, sleeping, laughing, breathwork, massage, the list goes on and on. Whatever helps you feels connected to that place of inner stillness and presence. And this may take time. This may take patience (I know, not my strong suite either, but it’s a requirement for true healing). Chiropractic is a wonderful tool to help release tension in the body, empower your nervous system to function more optimally and ultimatly create space for you to come back to your regulated state.