Calm your body, calm your mind
Exclusive access to 7 different sessions in the online learning environment of Psychology Magazine
Inspiring podcasts with psychologist, psychologist &
yoga teacher Anouk Prop
Calm your body, calm your mind
Content of this online training about balance in body and mind
Many people feel overwhelmed and rushed. It can then feel 'safe' to be in your head and focus on your thoughts. But your brain, immune system and hormonal system all work together. Stress and anxiety can build up in your body and lead to muscle tension in your shoulders, back, neck and jaws. It is therefore very important to also address the tension in your body. Anouk Prop helps you to pause and make contact with your body.
By being more in touch with your body, you can also listen better to what it has to tell you. Because what exactly happens when you always feel tense, agitated or overwhelmed? In this session we zoom in on how your nervous system is structured, and how different systems are active in different situations of action, rest and connection.
If you have too much stress, you can get stuck in one of those nervous system states. A prerequisite for getting out of there and feeling relaxed and well regulated is a safe feeling, which is what our system is looking for all the time. In this session Anouk Prop explains what 'neuroception' is all about. And you look for your own personal forms of safety.
What makes you go 'on' a little too much? At what moments do you start to feel rushed and overstimulated? You will pay extra attention to this in this session. With the help of a logbook you will gain even more insight into what activates your nervous system (too) strongly. You learn to notice earlier when you are in danger of going into overdrive, so that you can take a step back in time. Anouk also shows you how postures, massages and breathing can help you relax.
In this session you will work on recognizing the 'off' position. You can end up in this if you have been 'on' for far too long. But a comment or event can also give you the feeling that all the energy is suddenly draining from you. Anouk takes you through exercises that allow you to create some light activation.
The silence of the early morning, a purring cat, a beautiful song, lambs in the meadow: in this session you will focus on what 'shines' are for you. Because they put you in the 'ventral position', where you feel comfortable, safe and connected. Okay with yourself and with others. Once you know which moments or events are glimmers for you, you can more easily return to that pleasant, regulated state.
In the last session you will look back one more time at what triggers you and what can help you. And you discover how to anchor the tools you have acquired in your life. You also make some 'if-then plans' that will help you learn new habits. In this way, regulating your nervous system also becomes a habit, just like brushing your teeth.
From unrest in your body to a better balance
- Learn how stress gets stuck in your body and how you make contact with your body
- Gain insight into how different systems in your nervous system are active during action, rest and connection
- Learn to recognize when you are in danger of going into overdrive or when you are in danger of running out of steam, so that you can take a step back in time
- Discover with the expert how you can better regulate your emotions with postures, massages and breathing
- Recognize the 'glimmers' in your life, which help you return to a pleasant state where you feel okay
- Learn how to make regulating your nervous system a habit
Who is this training suitable for?
In principle, anyone who suffers from stress, overstimulation, restlessness or agitation can benefit from this training.
If you have been tense, agitated or feeling overwhelmed for a long time, you probably function on autopilot for a large part of the day. Sometimes it is difficult to even know what you are feeling. You don't notice the signals your body sends out enough. But by learning to listen to those signals, you will feel better on all fronts: that is the beneficial power of body awareness. This training will help you with that.
The training consists of sessions, which you can complete whenever it suits you. You start with a number of podcasts that give you insight into how your nervous system works. Then you will work on writing exercises to map out your own situation. The calming exercises are explained in short videos and have been deliberately kept simple so that you can easily absorb them and use them at any time of the day.
This is what you get
- Exclusive access to 7 different sessions in the online learning environment of Psychology Magazine
- Inspiring podcasts with psychologist, psychologist & yoga teacher Anouk Prop
- Insight into the functioning of your nervous system, and how stress and fears can become lodged in your body
- Practical tools and exercises that help you connect with your body and regulate your emotions