Autonomous balance

Autonomic balance is the relative balance between sympathetic arousal and parasympathetic regulation in the autonomic nervous system.

Definition

The autonomic nervous system regulates many processes independent of conscious control, including: heart rate, breathing, digestion and stress response. The sympathetic part supports mobilization, and the parasympathetic part supports regeneration and calm. Autonomic balance does not mean the absence of stress, but flexibility: the ability to mobilize when action is needed and to return to regulation when the threat has passed.

Key ideas

Missing key ideas.

Practice and life

After an intense task, use 3-5 minutes of slow breathing with a longer exhalation, a short walk or muscle relaxation to signal the body to end the mobilization.

Common misunderstanding

It is a mistake to treat arousal as always a bad thing. The problem is the lack of switching between mobilization and regeneration.

Questions for self-reflection

No questions for self-reflection.

Sources

No sources.