I am so happy to share a video I recently created with my friend, Lisa Airhart.
We discuss Mindfully approaching your food to achieve your health and wellness goals.
Check out the video here!
Healing Arts will soon be offering Lifestyle Medicine! Sign up to be notified about the 7 Pillars of Health Program!
Busy? Want to catch up on the podcasts and blogs? Check out the latest video here:
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Someone else had to tell me this.
In my practice, every month is Diabetes Awareness Month
In this video, we will cover the basics of Diabetes.
I share an easy online tool you can use to assess your Diabetes risk if you don’t already know this.
Navigate to 17:00 minutes if you’re interested in how race plays a role in diabetes.
Skip to 18minute mark if you’re interested in the “Myth of the SuperWoman”
Finally, let’s discuss approaching Diabetes care holistically, using Lifestyle Medicine.
My book, 21 Day Meditation Journey is available on Amazon if you’re thinking of trying meditation to lower your stress.
Simply ways to use Reiki in your everyday life.
Reiki is a healing tool typically used in a state of meditation. Most of us perform Reiki treatments on ourselves while seated, laying down with very little distractions. When possible, a full self Reiki session is the best.
Do you ever use Reiki in other ways? Reiki is a tool, meant to be invoked whenever and wherever possible. Let’s review some of the simple ways to add more Reiki to your life.
Keeping Reiki in my life everyday has helped me cope with working in the most stressful of positions as a doctor during the Pandemic of 2020.
The first few minutes of waking up sets the tone of your day. The few minutes are so very precious. This is a perfect time to invoke Reiki.
Before starting your day, rather than immediately turning on the TV or checking social media, use this time to perform Mental/Emotional Reiki (or meditate if you are not a Reiki Practitioner). Doing this allows you to set an intention for your day. You take ownership of your energy, and you can claim control of your day.
No need for timers, just plug and play to start your daily session now.
Reiki while driving? Absolutely!
You can do this by drawing CKR on your steering wheel. While you’re driving, Reiki can be flowing from your hands to your car then all around you.
You can also draw or envision SHK on the hood of your car. This ensures you remain safe, as well as sends vibrations of safety and calmness to the drivers around you.
Before I get to work, I get some coffee, do some yoga, listen to an inspirational audiobook on my way to work. Once I arrive at work, I give myself Reiki. Before I enter the exam room, I use Reiki to set an intention with each patient. I intend to assist in each patient’s healing, and to clean up any of my own negative thoughts.
If I feel a patient had a difficult visit, I will often use Distance Reiki after the visit. Sending Reiki back to the visit can help heal the emotional burdens for the patient.
Reiki can be used in many ways at work. Reiki can help make learning skills easier. SHK can be used before doing any training. Any Reiki symbol can be used to ease workplace conflict. Reiki also can help in big career decisions, such as starting or leaving a job.
Napping is one of the most underutilized tools for health and wellness. I found that I often have trouble relaxing during the day. I will use Reiki to help myself relax into a nap. My like using a 9 Minute Reiki session to help me initiate a restorative nap.
Keeping a journal serves many purposes. Planning, processing, and digesting emotions can all be done effectively with a planner. Using Reiki with journaling is a beautiful way to help in this process. Reiki can be applied to the journal. You can turn your journal into a “Reiki Box”. Write down what you are worried about, or your hopes and dreams. Then perform Reiki directly to the piece of paper. This is one of my favorite ways to reduce my own worries about the future.
Emergency situations push us to our limits. Anxiety attacks, hearing bad news, or anything that activates the Flight-or-Fight, or Sympathetic Nervous System,
Anyone coping with the early stages of grief can also use Reiki to help the pain of grief. Doing Reiki on the heart chakra can help calm down the intense feelings of early grief.
Doing Mental/Emotional Reiki on the head after the dust has settled can help to calm the severe anxiety of an emergency situation. This can easily be done with using SHK on the crown for 3-5 minutes.
There are no limits to how you can use Reiki in your everyday life.
Wanting to start you Reiki journey? Healing Arts has resources to help you explore Reiki and get started with your training today!
Congratulations Reiki Healer!
What an exciting time in your life! You are now a Reiki Healer! There’s so much to do.
But wait, let’s take a breath, before you rush of to change the world, let’s protect your energy.
I can remember how empowered I felt after my first Reiki Attunement. I would like to share with you some of my insight about how to protect your precious energy so that you can heal yourself and other more effectively.
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It is so easy after learning The Healing Art of reiki to want to jump in full fledged into practicing on others right away.
When I first learned Reiki, I did not intend to start treating others. I soon found myself doing sessions in my home. It was not very long before I realized that without setting some boundaries, I would be treating others and possibly overextending myself, possibly draining my own energy.
As you know from your training, Reiki does not deplete your own personal energy. However, offering Reiki sessions before you’re ready will!
Many people seek Reiki during difficult times in in life. They are likely experiencing loss, trauma, grief, or illness. Similar to the practice of medicine, people will seek Reiki when they want help and healing.
You are definitely vital in helping others heal, but my wish for you is to be ready and learn how to set appropriate boundaries.
Do you know where you want to start taking clients?. For many people the easiest place to offer Reiki is in the home. If you feel you have adequate space where you can set plenty of boundaries and prevent distractions this is a great idea. However, I’d like you to keep in mind that the Pandemic of 2020 has changed everything. If you’re opening your home to clients, you need to consider keeping yourself and your family safe. Will you have a way to screen for someone that could be ill? Will you have clients wear masks? How do you plan to perform hand sanitation?
Another option is to consider renting a space from a friend who may already be in practice. I know some Reiki practitioners who jumped right into this option. This is great but keep in mind once you rent, you’ve now created automatic overhead. This will mean that you will need to get clients right away to pay for your rental space. The benefit with this is that you’ll have a place away from your home and it’ll be much easier to set boundaries. However you will now have the pressure of paying rent, and possibly contributing financially to a business that is not yours.
I believe one of the easiest and most overlooked ways to start your Reiki practice is online.
Distance Reiki is powerful, read this blog post about how Distance Reiki unleashes the real power to heal without limits.
Reiki is not limited to time and space. I think a new Reiki practitioner should take full advantage of distance. You can keep yourself and your clients safe, you can set appropriate boundaries, and you can also offer sessions and unlimited fashion.
I encourage new Reiki practitioners to share their new passion and let everyone know what they’ve just completed. It is an amazing accomplishment and you should definitely be proud!
I learned very quickly in my Reiki journey that not everyone is prepared to learn about this healing art. Matter of fact, for many individuals, learning that you’ve taken this brave step to heal yourself and others May trigger their own wounds. Some of my closest friends did not like hearing about Reiki when I first learned it.
It is important to share what it is that you’ve learned. I think doing this carefully can help not only to educate others but grow your practice. My advice is tell people what you’ve done, offer to educate them on what Reiki is, but don’t necessarily offer a treatment unless someone asks specifically. Reiki is not well known among the public. Healing modalities such as acupuncture, tai chi, and meditation are more commonly known. Be a source of education. Those that are needing you will show up with very little effort. No need to drum up business with strong advertising.
If you’re using universal energy to heal others, from an unlimited source that never ends why in the world would you charge?
The reason you want to charge is because it is not just channeling energy that you’re providing. You are providing your time and creating a healing experience. You need to exchange energy in order to keep from draining yourself. Taking payments assures you are respecting your energy, and that your client will get the best results. You can consider bartering services such as a Reiki session for a pre-cooked meal, or a ride to the airport.
This is the toughest lesson for new Reiki healers to learn. I was fortunate in that my first clients wanted to pay me right away. I know of many Reiki healers who started working for free and have significant trouble learning to charge for their services. If this is you, spend some time healing your solar plexus chakra. Learning your own motivations and self-worth will make you a more powerful healer.
Lightworker, you know your path has been chosen. You’re on your mission and you’re ready to change the world. As you step into your own light, you will feel stronger than ever and ready to tell everyone that they can heal themselves or you can heal them.
Your positive energy will attract many, but it will also repel many.
This is a test. Consider this one of your first challenges is a New LightWorker.
As a practicing physician, my personal networks consist of many physicians. I have had many of my physician friends tell me that they don’t like that I practice Reiki. I’ve had many of them laugh in my face that I believe that I could heal others with just energy.
My response to this is nothing. I listen, I offer to answer questions, I assure them that there is no harm in being a reiki practicing physician.
I have been surprised that many of my biggest naysayers would later ask me for a Reiki session. I am so happy that I never chose to argue, because the door remained open to offer true healing and it was truly a blessing to me personally.
It is so easy to assume that your journey as a student is done. Especially if you’ve completed Reiki to a Reiki master.
Nope!
There is a universe of new skills and training for you to learn. After you’ve completed your Reiki training, consider this is a very strong base for the next steps.
Reading about your craft not only keeps you engaged, but enhances your skill as a Reiki Healer.
Need some reading inspiration?
Need support for your Daily Reiki Practice?
Check out the 9 Minute Reiki Session in which you Plug and Play for a quick Reiki Tune up.
Being a channel of healing energy is a blessing, but you require maintenance of your mind, body and spirit. This means that you must devote time to your own healing. You should also consider getting Reiki sessions for yourself.
I forgot this lesson myself recently. I received a Reiki session from a dear friend. I was so surprised and how much negative energy I had to release, and I perform Reiki on myself daily.
The top three things every new Reiki healer shoul get started with.
Advancing to the next step in your Reiki journey is very exciting! Congratulations!
Each level of attunement brings you closer to who you truly are and your true purpose on this planet.
Each level of attunement is a transition. Your energy is shifting to a higher vibration. It helps to understand that with each one of these vibrational shifts you likely will feel differently. In addition to the three steps I offer below making sure to take yourself care very seriously is very important in the initial weeks after your Reiki Attunement.
With each new level of training you have shifted your energy with powerful intention. The best way to maintain this heightened energy is by practicing Reiki daily.
“I don’t have time to do this.”
Naturally it’s easy to think you don’t have time to spend several minutes a day treating yourself.
Yes you do. A full session is best, but even 3 minutes if mental/emotional healing will suffice.
In addition to performing a daily practice on yourself, you should try to use Reiki in all kinds of ways within your life. It’s fun to use Reiki at work, at home, while traveling, and before difficult meetings.
Check out the blog post 3 Ways to use Reiki in everyday life.
Once you are feeling comfortable in your personal Reiki Practice, start sharing!
There are so many ways you can reach out to others and educate them on this healing modality. It is a fun way to connect with people and has definitely brought a bit of joy into my life by letting people know all of the benefits of Reiki.
There are so many ways of sharing from social media, to in-person conversations, to talks online or in person.
Most importantly, Reiki healers are not common. It is very likely you will be the only person in your social circle that is a Reiki practitioner. It’s so cool to become a resource for this.
What happens after Reiki Attunement and how to fix it.
After a Reiki Attunement, it is common to have physical changes and emotional shifts. The purpose of the Reiki attunement is to raise your vibrational level. This vibrational shift must create changes in your body. Anytime we undergo major changes, it’s not usually comfortable. Puberty is uncomfortable. Menopause causes symptoms. Spiritual awakening causes symptoms in a similar fashion.
This article will cover some of the common signs and symptoms after a Reiki attunement and how to cope with these. Know that although these symptoms are uncomfortable, it is a sign of your progression on your spiritual path.
The biggest shift is with Reiki I. There are vibrational shifts thereafter, but typically you are more prepared for these and have more tools to deal with anything that comes up.
Many individuals complain of lower back pain after the Reiki attainment. We all anticipate after doing so much intense spiritual work we should come out of that work feeling fantastic. Why would this happen?
The Chakra System of a human body maps seven major energy centers to seven regions of the body. The lower back, also known as the lumbar spine, is located in the First Chakra, also known as Muladhara. As a Reiki practitioner your Root Chakra is where you will develop energetic roots to keep you firmly planted in the here and now.
Reiki I practitioners should ground their energy to allow for easier access to Reiki energy. Reiki II and Reiki Masters benefit from being grounded when it’s time to treat clients. Being properly grounded allows for you to be present, aware, and stable. You will provide a sense of safety to your clients by grounding your own energy.
Performing Reiki on your First Chakra is as simple as placing your hands on your lower back. If you’re finding that you feel ungrounded, you can perform this several times a day.
Download the free book 9 ways to Ground Your Energy
9 Ways to Ground and Center your energy.
Check out my free ebook for other ways that you can ground your energy. These are 9 short routines that can help ground your energy.
These are simple exercises you can be doing everyday to help you stay grounded. It is not unusual for most of us that have completed Reiki training to have a feeling of not being grounded for about 3 weeks or 21 days after each level of an attunement.
After a Reiki Attunement it is common to have sudden surges of emotions. This may show up as crying, anger, or anxiety. The emotional storms may not always be negative emotions. Elation, joy, or excitement likely will follow a Reiki Attunement.
Your energy channels have been opened up, and it would be expected to feel many emotions during the initial period after your attunement.
Strong emotions can pull you away from your emotional center.
Finding your emotional center is necessary, particularly if you pursue Reiki training beyond the first degree. New clients may come to you with very strong emotions. Your professional Reiki clients may show up with storms of emotions, and will require an emotional release in order to heal.
Mindfulness is a simple practice that can help you stay in the moment. Mindfulness can be practiced as a part of meditation, or can be a stand alone practice.
Practicing mindfulness is as simple as choosing to put aside thoughts of the future, past, others and ourselves. Mindfulness involves focusing on what’s happening in the moment.
Practicing mindfulness on a daily basis allows you to identify the emotions that arise, and not react. Learning to be less reactive allows you to develop a stable inner landscape in which the strong emotions after Reiki Attunement may bring up.
Your gut is smarter than your brain. Scientists have shown that there are actually more neurons in your digestive system than your brain. Knowing that your digestive system responds to the same neurotransmitters as your brain, we would expect changes in the digestive system after a Reiki Attunement.
The Third Chakra, or Manipura, is where we carry the energy of motivation, will power, and empowerment. Changes and motivation, will power, and any history of trauma for lack of victim will affect this area. Being blocked in the Solar Plexus Chakra often leads to digestive issues such as stomach ache, diarrhea, or constipation.
Becoming a Reiki Healer is incredibly empowering. As you step into your new role as a healer you are empowering yourself and coming closer to your soul’s purpose.
Your solar plexus is the center for your stomach, liver, pancreas, spleen and part of the digestive tract. As you shift into this higher energy much of the toxic energy you carry there will be released. This can lead to changes that create very unpleasant symptoms.
It is tempting for new Reiki practitioners at any level to want to overextend themselves. Feeling all of that wonderful energy that allows you to heal yourself in others it’s hard to hold back. Every new Reiki practitioner at every level wants to start sharing right away. You should allow yourself adequate time to adjust, hence the 21 day period we all take after each level of attunement for self-healing. During this time performing a full Reiki session on yourself everyday should help.
You should allow yourself adequate time to adjust, hence the 21 day period we all take after each level of attunement for self-healing. During this time performing a full Reiki session on yourself everyday should help.
You should allow yourself adequate time to adjust, hence the 21 day period we all take after each level of attunement for self-healing. During this time performing a full Reiki session on yourself everyday should help.
Substances like alcohol or smoking also impact you. Consider stopping these.
Have a listen to the Art of Healing Podcast on Chest Pain…Want to know when new episodes come out? Sign up for email alerts
Chest pain is always serious and needs to be evaluated by a medical professional.
That being said, just like any other parts of the body, Reiki Attunement causes your body to shift to a higher vibration like we were beginning to release toxic energy. Depending on how you’ve been holding this energy you may experience chest pain, discomfort, shortness of breath. Again I advise to seek help from a physician to get a medical evaluation.
After seeking appropriate medical help, it’s time to take time for yourself.
Reiki is the energy of love. It’s time to love yourself in an intentional way.
I keep a Self Love Journal. Every morning that I wake up, I write down one thing that I love about myself.
Gratitude also protects your vibration. Here is a free Ebook to help offer some inspiration for practicing Gratitude.
Another Freebie!!!! Download the free Ebook Gratitude for Today
Your immune system becomes stronger as a Reiki practitioner. Unfortunately, it does take time to get there and initially many of us experience a weakening of our immune system. This makes us prone to becoming sick very easily. As your mind, body and spirit shift, for reasons we won’t likely ever understand this is to be expected. While this is bothersome, it is definitely a sign that you’re moving in the right direction.
Self care is more important than ever after your Reiki attunement. You want to make sure that you devote as much time and energy to yourself as possible. It is not unusual after each level of Reiki Attunement that someone will approach you about treatment. I strongly advise that you give yourself at least 3 weeks before you start to treat others. Do what you can to reserve your energy for yourself.
Self care is more important than ever after your Reiki attunement. You want to make sure that you devote as much time and energy to yourself as possible. It is not unusual after each level of Reiki Attunement that someone will approach you about treatment. I strongly advise that you give yourself at least 3 weeks before you start to treat others. Do what you can to reserve your energy for yourself.
The 6th Chakra, also called Ajna, or the 3rd Eye Chakra is where we hold the energy of our senses. It is also the energy center of intuition and psychic abilities.
The Reiki Attunement works directly on your 3rd Eye to open up the flow of energy. This is why so many Reiki Practitioners notice increased psychic awareness. Increasing the flow of energy here, particularly, positive, high vibration energy such as Reiki will displace any toxic energy.
Unfortunately, this release of toxic energy can lead to headaches, dizziness, or ringing in the ear.
Do not be shy about getting a medical evaluation as headaches could be the sign of something serious. However, if you are someone who is prone to headaches such as migraines then you’re likely aware that any energy shift causes you to start having more headaches than usual.
Headaches or other 3rd Eye Symptoms are a clue that it is time to spend some time restoring your energy. If you typically engage in a vigorous exercise regimen, consider stepping back to something less intense. Consider Restorative Yoga as an option. Take gentle walks in nature rather than your usual jog. Increase your water intake as well.
Insomnia is the most likely side effect most of us experience after a Reiki Attunement. There’s nothing more frustrating after spending so many hours in your personal development than not sleeping.
The act of falling asleep is complicated. The Pineal Gland, which sits deep within the brain, is in the region of the 6th Chakra. It likely communicates the most with the 7th Chakra, or Sahasrara. The pineal gland secretes melatonin in response to light exposure. As light exposure reduces, such as twilight, melatonin is increased which causes drowsiness.
Many of us experience insomnia after a Reiki Attunement. This may show up as waking up around 3 or 4 am.
Dealing with insomnia can be frustrating, particularly after working so hard to feel better.
Your insomnia holds wisdom. If you find you are waking up frequently, use this time to meditate or treat yourself with Reiki.
Hopefully, performing Reiki during this unfortunate time of wakefulness will allow you to relax and return to sleep. If you still aren’t sleepy, you’ll at least have had a full Reiki session.
Lightworker, you are ready for this. Any discomfort you feel in the first few days and weeks after your attunement are simply carrying you closer to your purpose.
Shine On Reiki Healer!!!
Charlyce
In the previous blog post, we found ways to use Reiki in real life. In this post, let’s find a few other ways Reiki can be used off the Reiki Table.
Doing Reiki while driving? Well, maybe before you hit the road.
Doing Reiki on your car before you leave is an excellent way to make your car a Reiki machine. Adding some intention to your trip allows you to relax during the trip while you help yourself and other drivers on the road.
Here’s some inspiration to turn your car into a Reiki Vehicle:
You can imagine your car sending Reiki to all the cars around you , keeping all the drivers and you safe and stress free.
Napping has many health benefits. Napping for a duration of 20 minutes has been shown to increase productivity, improve mood, and lower stress.
I love naps, but I often struggle with finding the time during a busy clinic schedule. I also can’t wind down sufficiently enough to actually get into sleep.
I have trained my mind and body to use a short Reiki session to replace a nap, or to use Reiki to help me relax into a nap.
While an entire Reiki session is preferred, I have found doing Reiki on the Mind, Heart, and Gut can clean up any toxic energy, create instant relaxation, and replace a nap.
We cook for so many reasons. Nourishment, bringing our friends and families together, and for fun!
Is there a better place to add Reiki than with the food we prepare?
The food we eat provides calories and nutrients to fuel our bodies and minds. We absorb the energy of the food we eat on multiple levels. Beyond tasting better, food prepared with intention and love is better for you.
There are so many ways to use Reiki on your meals.
Do you work at a hospital, clinic, or traditional Health Care setting and want to share your thoughts on whole body healing? Are there secrets you like your patients to know? Shoot me an email!
I’d be more happy to share your thoughts on an episode of Art of Healing Podcast!
Take your Reiki Practice off the table.
Most people think of Reiki in the form of a treatment or healing session. A Reiki Practitioner treats a client on a table in a beautifully appointed room. While this is a fantastic way to receive Reiki, there’s an even more powerful way to use Reiki.
Reiki can be a tool for empowerment. Reiki is meant to be used in any setting. Using Reiki in real life adds intention, purpose, and healing to even the most mundane tasks.
Using Reiki in real life can make challenges tasks easier, and remove blocks.
When cleaning the house, you dust, mop, shine and disinfect. What about the energy? A room that is cluttered creates stagnant energy. Even after a thorough cleaning, sometimes you can still feel the “ick” factor in the air. That same “ick” may still be present after having an unpleasant guest in your home. Even after your guest leave, you may notice your home may just feel wrong.
An excellent test of the energy in your home is putting your home on the market. If your house is on the market, have many potential buyers come to look but you get no offers? The same “ick”, which is stagnant energy in the home may be lowering the value of your home. Buyers may come through and pick up a bad vibe and keep moving.
My house sat on the market for a long time. Finally, after finding the right real estate agent, and performing Reiki on my home, it sold to a very nice family.
Is there a part of your home you avoid? It seems dark? Make you tired or you simply don’t like it?
Doing Reiki on a part of your home, a room, or the whole home can help clear out that negative energy and is easier than saging your home.
The 5 Reiki Precepts can serve as a guiding principle in any area of your life. We expend much of our life force in our vocations. I personally feel that incorporating Reiki in the workplace and business not only reduces stress, but improves your productivity.
Traveling can be exciting, but stressful. Flight schedules, who you sit next to, making sure to stay healthy while traveling during the pandemic, all add to the stress. There are so many factors that you can’t control when traveling.
Use Reiki before your next trip.
I send Reiki to flights, rental cars, hotels as well as to anyone I will interact with. Rather than worrying about all the many factors I can’t control when traveling, I turn it over to Reiki and relax.
Ready to start your Reiki Journey?
You can enroll in Reiki I at Healing Arts Right Now, Click To Learn More.
Reiki is a healing tool, but also a tool that can improve your life. I hope you find this article helpful.
This post is for informational purposes only. Please seek appropriate medical care for any medical symptoms. See website disclaimer for more information.
-Charlyce
What’s really making your heart race?
Palpitations should never be ignored. Sensations of skipping or jumping in the chest can sensations caused by palpitations. Many people will also associate palpitations with a feeling of throbbing in the neck or head. Even more alarming, some individuals note chest pain during episodes of palpitations.
After you’ve had a careful evaluation with your physician, and know that a medical condition is not the cause of your palpitations, you should consider what your body is trying to tell you. What’s the real reason for your palpitaitons?
A normal heart rate is between 60 and 90 beats per minute. Individuals with a high level of physical fitness will tend to have a lower heart rate at rest. Women, especially pregnant women, will have a faster heart rate at rest that typically does not represent any problems.
Heart Rate Variability is a measure of how the heart rate changes with breath. This exciting topic is the next step in wellness, as it is a valuable way to measure how well the Autonomic Nervous System is working.
You can easily check your heart rate with no fancy equipment.
A pulse oximeter, which is available online and in stores, uses infrared light to measure the color of red blood cells. This is allows for measurement of oxygen content in the blood. These devices will also record a pulse when placed on a finger.
EKG, or Electrocardiogram, measures how electrical signals travel through the heart. EKG’s are usually done in a medical office, but advances in technology allow for a simplified EKG to be done with smartphones or similar portable devices at home.
Once you’ve had a careful workup with a physician to make sure there is no serious cause of your palpitations, then it’s time to start listening to your body.
Your heart rate ( and heart rate variability) are a great way for you to learn what’s going on with you Autonomic Nervous System.
Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System brings balance to the mind and body.
Here are 6 Ways to Activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System
The Vagus Nerve and the nervous system inside the heart (called the Purkinje System) determine the heart rate. This system takes input from the Vagus nerve. The heart rate is determined by the coordination of the Vagus Nerve and Purkinje System. A fast heart rate is one signal that you may have an imbalance in your Autonomic Nervous System.
The Sympathetic Nervous Systems is designed to prepare the body for quick action. This is great when it’s time to run, hide, seek shelter, or have quick reflexes. If the Sympathetic Nervous system is too active, it creates chronic stress, which can lead to illness.
The simplest way to balance the activity of the Sympathetic Nervous System is with Meditation.
Start your Meditation Journey Today.
Many of my patients come to the office immediately after being seen in the emergency room for palpitations. Naturally, they may have waited several hours to be seen, and often have not slept. If they went in for palpitations, they are often shocked to feel much worse after being up all night.
When you don’t sleep enough, of the quality of sleep is poor, there are several changes that happen within your body that will lead to an elevated heart rate.
Your brain performs many background tasks during sleep. This allows the two most powerful glands, the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, to sample the blood stream and produce appropriate hormone levels to maintain health.
Lack of sleep creates stress signals in other glands, including the adrenal glands. This leads to the autonomic system diverting energy to the Sympathetic Nervous System. The heart rate will naturally begin to run higher than normal.
There are many ways to improve your sleep. Body Scan Meditation is a fantastic way to relax at bedtime.
“The first step toward inner listening, and one of the best ways to shift to maintaining open and present awareness, is to connect our awareness to breath. I call this creating the ‘friendship’ of breath awareness. Our breathing has been a friend that has accompanied us through every moment of life; it has never deserted us no matter how terrible we have felt”
Moss, 2007
We take breath for granted. Most of us don’t realize how we are breathing as we go through our days. When driving, for example, so much of the brain must be devoted to safety and awareness of other cars. It seems impossible to take notice if how often and how deeply we inhale.
I consider poor quality breathing as shallow, rapid breaths usually in the setting of sitting with poor posture.
Rapid, shallow breaths that don’t use the full expansion of the chest leads to an elevated heart rate. The organs of the chest will send signals to the brain via that Vagus Nerve that create a stress signal. This leads to a gradual rise in feelings of anxiety and feeling unwell. The brain will then transmit signals to the chest that will drive up the heart rate.
Improve your breathing instantly by improving your postures:
The last thing you want to hear when you are worried about something, or many things, is “Just don’t worry about it”.
It feels likes worrying will help the problem. Maybe there will be a solution if you keep thinking about it?
“Do Not Worry” is one of the 5 Reiki Precepts. This is because worry lowers your mind and body’s energy. Worry is recycling of thoughts without action.
In your life, consider how many times worrying lead to a solution. Likely, it has not.
Your feelings about the issue deserve attention. Consider journaling to help with worry thoughts. The act of writing down what weighs heavy in your heart can alleviate the need to recycle those thoughts endlessly.
It’s good to stay in a relaxed, open state as much as possible. Particularly, if you’re trying to sleep, eat, have sex or just stay in the moment.
Our bodies are designed to take on challenge. If we don’t activate the Sympathetic Nervous System on a regular basis, it may kick in on it’s own. When it does, your heart rate will go up in an unregulated way. This will lead to palpitations that are uncomfortable.
Walking is a fantastic way to get the heart rate up without too much strain. Unless advised by your physician, engaging in walking for exercise is a wonderful way to raise your heart rate, get your blood flowing and regulate your heart rate.
Exercise will temporarily raise you heart rate, then it will gradually go down over the next several hours.
I love to go walking! Take me walking with you!
Moss, R (2007). The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness. Retrieved from Amazon.
Many factors can affect the blood pressure. High Blood pressure is an unfortunately common condition.
Many times, blood pressure is elevated only temporarily, but many times it is elevated chronically, leading to the disease Essential Hypertension.
The Autonomic Nervous System controls the blood pressure. The two major components of the Autonomic Nervous System are the Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nervous System.
Learn about the Autonomic Nervous System in this blog post.
The Sympathetic Nervous System operates during times of stress. The function of the Sympathetic Nervous System is to increase the heart rate, increase circulation to the extremities, and prepare the body to go into survival mode.
Blood pressure management medical oversight, but it is possible to work with your mind and body to manage blood pressure.
Blood pressure is a great way to understand traditional medicine and energy medicine together. The interplay of the mind and body controls the blood pressure and is not necessarily under the control of the conscious mind.
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The Autonomic Nervous System is made of the Sympathetic Nervous System and Parasympathetic Nervous System.
The Sympathetic System is necessary in times of exercise, or if fast physical action is needed (“Fight or Flight”).
Like all things in nature, we want to achieve balance. This blog post will discuss the benefits of activating the parasympathetic nervous system, why to do it and how to do it.
Working with the autonomic system is truly the playground of energy medicine. The Autonomic Nervous System is controlled by the vagus nerve and spinal cord. This system is very responsive to stress. During times of stress, either prolonged or brief, the Sympathetic Nervous system will govern bodily functions. The Sympathetic Nervous system will change the endocrine system to prepare for a threat. This means the hormone system will be producing more “stress hormones” (such adrenaline and cortisol) constantly.
Experiencing any of these signs or symptoms means that likely your sympathetic nervous system is running the show. It’s time to find balance.
Standing with your feet firmly in place preferably barefoot for 1 to 3 minutes can help slow down your nervous system and let the parasympathetic system activate. In the book 21 Day Meditation Journey, we practice doing a few poses standing to activate Earth energy. Focusing your energy on your legs and feet can help to slow down racing thoughts. Do this simply by taking several deep breaths while standing and if your balance allows with your eyes closed.
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Yoga uses asanas (Yoga Poses) that focus on the hips to relieve stress. The hip joints are weight bearing joints. The hips, the hip girdle and lower back are also a place where many of us hold stress in our bodies. This can be felt by tightness in the hips, trouble going from standing or sitting, or back pain.
Freeing up the hip joints through stretches will allow the mind and body to relax deeply. These poses can be modified for comfort of course.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System can be activated with deep breaths into the belly. Breathing is controlled primarily by the Autonomic Nervous System. We can take conscious control of breath be taking deeper, slower breaths.
Taking deep Belly Breaths doesn’t require a formal meditation practice. You can do this even while reading this blog post.
Breathing too rapidly is a a habit we all fall into easily. Hyperventilation, which is taking in too much oxygen, can occur if breathing is occurring only in the chest. During times of stress and anxiety, particularly if you’re sitting for prolonged periods, this can easily occur.
Breathing deeply and slowly allows the Parasympathetic system to engage. This can calm the mind and body.
The Autonomic Nervous System never lies. If you are hanging on to thoughts of pain, hurt, or resentment those emotions are being stored within your body. Finding a way to safely and effectively express your emotions will allow you to release stress and let your parasympathetic nervous system increase its activity. There’s no need to confront anyone or start a fight.
Using a journal, or a piece of paper you can safely discard, write down your feelings that are creating discomfort. Doing this will relief your body of the tension of unexpressed emotions.
Meditation is a powerful tool to calm the Sympathetic Nervous System (“Fight or Flight”) and engage the Parasympathetic Nervous System.
Meditation can be a simple moment of mindfulness of 3 minutes, or a formal practice.
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How to know which part of your autonomic system is active. The Autonomic System controls many parts of the body. See full blog post here.
Understanding the autonomic system is a powerful healing tool. The autonomic nervous system controls every function in the body. In the most recent Art of Healing Podcast, we discuss what is blood pressure.
Many patients often wonder why they have high blood pressure. Many others also wonder why they have digestive issues when they feel nervous (such as nausea or diarrhea).
What is the autonomic nervous system?
Understanding the nervous system helps you understand your body.
Within all of us, there is a system the controls heart rate, respiration, digestion, waste elimination, and sexual function. This same system influences our moods, and can control how we feel moment to moment.
The Autonomic Nervous System deeply impacts our experience in reality. Understanding this system will give you the keys to healing your mind and body.
The cognitive functions such as thinking, emotions and voluntary bodily actions are governed by the Central Nervous System. The Central Nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The brain and spinal cord send information to the body and receive information back through sensory neurons.
While we can control how fast we breath (such as slowing down the breath during meditation), it is difficult to consciously control the heart rate. It is nearly impossible to consciously change digestion, for instance, we can not control how fast peristalsis (contractions of the muscles of the intestines) occur.
The Autonomic Nervous System controls the bodily functions that are not under conscious control This sounds deceptively simple. Respiration, circulation, digestion, immunity and reproduction all most be coordinated in order for the body to function in a healthy way. This must be balanced against the bodies need to move in order to acquire energy, expend energy or escape a threat.
The Autonomic Nervous System is divided into two systems, the Parasympathetic Nervous System, and the Parasympathetic Nervous System.
In general, these systems oppose each other. One is always active, and only decreases it’s activity if the opposing system generates more signals.
“Each system is dominant under certain conditions. The sympathetic system predominates during emergency ‘fight-or-flight’ reactions and during exercise…the parasympathetic system predominates during quiet, resting conditions.”
— McCorry L.K., Physiology of the Autonomic Nervous System
There are times in which the body needs to rest and recover, such as after meals, when it’s time to sleep, or simply relax. There is no significant demand on the body to exert energy for survival.
This mode of operation is when the parasympathetic system is dominant. This system will influence the body to slow down the heart rate, increase digestive activity, and overall create a feeling of being relaxed. This is the feeling we all have relaxing in our favorite chair reading a book for example.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System allows the mind and body to rest, digest and recover. When the body can slow down, the digestive system is able to absorb nutrients and eliminate waste effectively. The reproductive system can operate naturally, allowing for a natural libido that will ensure healthy sexual drive. The cardiovascular system, through the parasympathetic nervous system, will direct blood flow to the organ to ensure the normal bodily functions can perform at their best.
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Photo Credit: Wikimedia
Rest and recovery are necessary, but there are times in which we need to be active and kinetic. We need to be alert, aware, and reflexes need to be at their peak. When driving in heavy traffic, for example, the body needs to be able to react quickly to avoid a car accident. Blood flow needs to be directed to the extremities to augment fast action if needed. The heart should pick up speed in anticipation of a possible threat. The pupils will dilate to improve vision. This is when the sympathetic part of the sympathetic nervous system will dominate.
The Sympathetic Nervous System controls blood flow, reflexes, and temperature of the limbs. Reflexes are an important survival tool for the living body.
The Sympathetic Nervous System operates mostly outside of the nervous system. This system is designed to run on speed and reflex. It is the Sympathetic Nervous System that governs reflexes. One example is if you reach for an object that’s too hot to touch, you will notice you withdraw your hand before you even register the pain of heat.
The Sympathetic Nervous system is activated in times of exercise but also in stress. The design of the sympathetic nervous system operates with speed, and does not require the input of the brain. This system is able to activate the adrenal glands in times of crisis. The “fight or flight” reaction is when some sort of stimuli that creates fear engages the Sympathetic Nervous system, which will cause the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands. This powerful reaction can be life saving in times of trauma. It is a very necessary system for survival.
All of the organs of the body are controlled by the autonomic system. The skeletal muscles and bones of the limbs are controlled by the sympathetic system. Since the “Fight of Flight” of the body usually requires increased blood flow to the limbs, ths Sympathetic System exerts control in this area.
The organs of the chest and abdomen are controlled by both the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous systems.
We often don’t realize our body must be able to respond to external stimuli rapidly. If there’s a threat heading our way, our brain may take several minutes to process the threat. Fortunately, we have intelligent bodies that can take over the process of running, hiding, or fighting. For this reason, the sympathetic nervous system, which governs the body’s ability to respond to external threats rapidly, does not need to communicate much with the brain.
The parasympathetic nervous system governs the body’s ability to digest food, have sexual intercourse, and eliminate waste, as well as influences the cardiovascular system to slow down. From this description we can tell that the parasympathetic system is best to run the body system in times of rest, relaxation or recovery.
The Autonomic Nervous System influences all of the glands of the body. Control of hormonal production is heavily influenced by the Autonomic Nervous System.
I have the blessing of working with individuals with their bodies on a daily basis. Reflecting on this topic has reminded me of the true, miraculous nature of the human body.
The Chakra System, knowledge imparted from the ancient healing system of Ayurveda can be demystified by analysis of the Autonomic System.
It is for this reason I am embarking on my next project with my heart and soul. This project will journey even deeper into demystifying the mind-body connection by understanding the Heart Chakra.
Stay tuned for next week in this series in which we will discuss more in depth be sympathetic any parasympathetic nervous systems.
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