Category: Rest - NATALIE BREWER
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Rest and Digest, Love
Sometimes I feel like I sound like a broken record. ;) But it's because there are some key foundational things that we could all benefit from knowing and most public schools don't teach them. Things we could all use some knowledge on in order to empower ourselves and take care of our own mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
One of these things is two of the ways our nervous system responds to life, experiences, food, interactions, etc. I'm definitely going to be simplifying this. I'm not a physiologist, or doctor, etc. I'm a human sharing about being human, with you humans. :)
Fight or flight. The nervous system's response to a threat, to danger. Breathing, blood flow, heart rate, everything speeds up in order to protect the vital organs, in order to keep us alive, in order to survive. Think running away from a saber-tooth tiger. But we've evolved since then, we don't often encounter saber-tooth tigers in our world (thankfully). So today some things that can trigger fight or flight are stress at work, a riff in a relationship, natural disasters, financial problems, illness, illness of a loved one, etc etc. The thing is when you run away from a saber-tooth tiger, you're going to relax and take a deep breath when you know you've made it, that you're safe from the threat (the tiger). ​
However the issues we're dealing with now continue, compound on one another, occur over a long period of time, are reactivated when reminded of, triggered, etc. And so many of us are in fight or flight mode for an extended period of time. This intelligent response of the body is meant to be short-term, move beyond the threat, and then move the nervous system back into rest and digest in order to recover from the output and the strain of fight or flight and anything else that the body needs healing from. Do you see where I'm heading with this?
Rest and Digest. The sweet spot. Where we slow down. The body recovers and restores from stress (fight/flight). Where we want the nervous system to be in order to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And literally digest. When we're in fight or flight, blood and energy flow move away from the digestive organs. Digesting food is the last thing on the list when you're trying just to survive.
​There's so much goodness here in the rest and digest response. So much ability and capability for healing and to feel good. And it's naturally built into the body. Amazing! There could be a whole other post on just this response. For now think of the last time you really took a deep breath and felt like you were in the moment. When your mind didn't rush to the next thing you should be doing, and you allowed yourself to just be still. In that moment, you may have even heard some stomach gurgles as your body came into rest and digest. You may have felt like you could breathe deeper or longer. You may have felt like all was right with the world. This is deeply restorative and nourishing for our minds, bodies, and souls. <3
So the problem becomes when we're living stressful lives or re-living trauma on the daily, our systems don't have the chance to reboot, restore, recharge, rebalance. We're perpetually in fight or flight. We're literally burning both ends of the candle. And then we wonder why we can't sleep, can't digest food, can't relax, can't be present, can't feel good. Because your body thinks it's in danger and is putting energy into survival instead of these things, instead of thriving.
So what do we do? We start to notice where our bodies are on the scale of fight/flight and rest/digest. And if we're in a space where we can shift down into rest and digest, we breathe. Breathe deeply. Soften the belly. Let it fill and expand on the inhale. Let it empty out on the exhale. Slowly count to 4 on the inhale, and then 5 or 6 on the exhale. Soft belly, slower breath, longer exhale, all lead to rest and digest. Start with one of these, you don't have to do them all at the same time.
Give yourself time to rest. Batteries need to recharge at some point, and so do you. Rest is subjective. And can be a 5 second break from the computer, close your eyes, take a deep breath. It can be spending all day in the hammock reading a book. It can be everything in between and even deeper opportunities for rest if you have that ability. You deserve it.
Move your body. Sleep and rest always come easier after you move some. Walk, dance, do yoga, bike, hike. Also, nature elevates all these activities and your body's ability to come into rest and digest afterwards. Movement and nature are powerful healers.
And most of all know that you are worthy of rest and that you don't have to push, grind, and hustle all the time in order to be good enough, worthy, or deserving of everything you desire and more. It's true. Read that again. ;)
PS. Both of these nervous system responses are beneficial! It all depends on the context.
PPS. We're often not fully in one or another of the responses but somewhere in between. Now you have the awareness to notice within yourself and shift if it you choose, and your body and the context allows. <3
Winter Solstice Love!
Inhale, haaaaa. That's my pleasurable sigh. Hope you joined me for it. ;)
During this busy and sometimes stressful time of year the Winter Solstice is an opportunity to pause and breathe (as above) and to step back and look at what's really important about this time of year.
For me this is an important time to be in nature, connect with the beauty around me, and tend to my inner self.
Mother nature offers us so much, and she appreciates it when we take time to thank her for all she gives. I like to show gratitude by enjoying the way the sun sparkles on the snow and shines through the trees. I love taking in the outlines of the trees now that the leaves are gone and admire their beautiful shapes.
I love to ask the evergreens permission to touch them and then breathe in the incredible smell they leave on my hands. After a walk in the woods or on a trail I always feel lighter and clearer so I thank mother nature for that too.
For Solstice I'll also spend time indoors at my altar meditating, pulling cards, writing affirmations, and setting intentions for this new season/year. And I'll definitely take some time to connect with my center, my internal home, my womb, and offer her any love or space or movement she may be calling for.
This feels like such a special day! And I love how this season brings out the generosity and kindness in people.
On that note I would love to offer you a free preview of Week 1 of my Moon and Womb Cycles Online Course. Week 1 is associated with the season of Winter; when we look at nature we see that this is a time of deep rest. Week 1 of our cycle offers us that same opportunity if we allow it.
Moon and Womb Cycles Online Course gives you the opportunity to connect with nature, the moon, your womb, and your cycle. Even if you don't menstruate you are still connected to nature's rhythms. They are still there to share wisdom, knowledge, balance, harmony, and peace with you. So that is my hope for you in receiving this gift from me - that you will feel the power and beauty of the connection between nature and the womb, and that you might begin to see the experience of being a woman as deeply magical and powerful. Those of you that will connect with this wisdom are here to show people another way of being; a new (but very old) way of showing up in the world as a feminine spirit in balance with the masculine.
And because I'm feeling absolutely abundant during this amazing time of year I'm offering select V-steam herb blends and V-steam consultations at reduced prices for today only!
Also, follow me on Instagram for a free video series for Empaths and Sensitives. What I share will help you navigate the holidays with ease. <3
May your holiday season be peaceful, restful, restorative, and grounding, if that's what you wish for yourself.
Natalie loves life, people, animals, plants, and trees. She believes in the flow of life and approaches each day with gratitude.
During one of her guided meditations I found the voice of my body coming through loud and clear. Natalie has a gentle way of guiding you along, helping you to discover the Goddess part within. Shianne Doucette
Natalie is a kind, loving, and knowledgeable guide through what can be a deeply challenging process of realigning with our divine feminine, energetically, and somatically. She is generous with her time and her wisdom, I would highly recommend working with her! Monica Lacey
Natalie has been coaching me to help deal with stress and an overall feeling of unwellness. She makes you feel comfortable and is willing to help with any problem. She gives you confidence by providing you with tools to help guide yourself through the different times of day. I always leave feeling empowered and happy. She makes my day better. Nicole WD
Natalie has given me an avenue to step out of the rat-race day and come back to myself. Janine St.Cyr
I love your style and deep sense of permission (of all sorts) that you facilitate. I found it healing, centering and loving. Thank you! Kashka Hughes Clarke
Natalie’s teaching approaches, as well as Natalie herself, radiate gentleness, mindfulness, and authenticity. She inspires and encourages her students to explore the diverse dimensions of connecting within and to others. Monika Stelzl
E: nataliebrewercoach@gmail.com
​I respectfully acknowledge that I live, work, and grow on the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Mi'kmaq, and Peskotomuhkati peoples. - Natalie Brewer (she/her)