Stress is a universal experience and is also known as the Silent Killer. No-one is immune but how you choose to deal with it can make an enormous difference in the quality of your life. The Global Organization for Stress conducted a study:

• 75% of people reported experiencing moderate to high stress during the previous month; and 
• 80% of people reported experiencing stress at work.

The American Institute of Stress reports that:

• 33% of people experience “extreme stress”
• 77% of people have stress-related impacts on their physical health
• 73% have experienced stress-related impacts on their mental health; and
• 48% of people experience sleep issues due to daily stress.

Cortisol, commonly referred to as the “stress hormone” floods our bodies when we are under stress. It binds onto our cell receptors and wreaks havoc on our body system. When our cell receptors are full of cortisol, they cannot utilize other hormones or any of the “good stuff” in our bodies. 

This is why we often feel overwhelmed when under extreme stress. If this happens on a continuous basis over time, it can lead to major health problems including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety, extreme fatigue, and so much more. For more information on the effect of stress on the body, I recommend the book “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: A Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Disease, and Coping” by Robert Sapolsky.

Believe this: you can change this for yourself by implementing simple, effective strategies to manage stress naturally. While there are more options than I can list here, the most common ways to relieve and manage stress are through yoga, meditation, exercise, essential oils, hot baths, prioritizing Self Care practices, and working with a Therapist or Life Coach. There are natural supplements you can take, as plants have the powerful ability to regulate our body functioning in many different ways. One of my favorite fast ways to lower my stressful feelings is to use CortiStop. If we can block our cell receptors from accepting the cortisol hormone, then we don’t actually feel the effects of the hormone!

Book an assessment with me to determine what your needs are and what stress management strategies will work best for you!

Fitness

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” - - Jim Rohn

Have you ever heard the term “runner’s high”? It’s the exhilaration that runners feel after a really good run. Our bodies were not made to be sedentary. They were built and structured for movement. If we don’t move our bodies they develop a host of issues. People who move their bodies on a regular basis feel less pain and have better mental health for several reasons. It’s a fact: exercise and movement triggers the body to release endorphins. Endorphins are hormones that interact with brain receptors specifically triggering happiness and pain relief. When endorphins are attached to those brain receptors they are unable to accept hormones such as cortisol which is associated with anxiety, depression, and other issues.

Fitness and movement can be anything that meets your needs. Fitness can be as easy as taking a 20-minute walk around your neighborhood, doing a YouTube workout, a dance class, yoga, or even running around the park with your kids instead of watching them from the bench (no judgment: I love a good bench at the park!) As long as you are doing SOMETHING to move your body every day you will feel better. It doesn’t have to be an intense workout that takes 2 hours out of your day once you add in commute, shower, and more stressors.

Hydration is also key to taking care of your body. To be properly hydrated follow this easy method: every day drink half your body weight in ounces (example: 200 pounds of body weight = 100 ounces of water). If you are highly active you’ll need more than that!

As many trainers and fitness experts say: “You can’t out-train a bad diet.” It can be overwhelming to think of overhauling everything at once. So let’s be honest: it usually doesn’t stick and we end up reverting to bad habits. Small changes are the most sustainable. Substitute one soda/coffee for one flavored water every day and work your way up. Skip the fast food in favor of running into the supermarket for a To-Go Meal, or get takeout from a restaurant that serves real, whole foods.

Take care of your body with high quality essential oils and supplements. No matter how healthy you eat, our modern day foods are lacking in many nutrients that we need every day. Ningxia, Aminowise, Deep Relief, Cool Azul, CBD Muscle Rub, Copaiba, Peppermint, and Breathe Again are all amazing supplements that support your body through movement and also through recovery after intense exercise.

Book an assessment with me to determine what your needs are and what strategies will work best for you!