Balancing the Beast: Stress, Movement, and Health
11/18/24 • 24 min
Could understanding the body's reaction to stress be key to unlocking better health? This week we unpack the nuanced relationship between stress, movement, and health. You'll learn how stress, in measured doses, can actually bolster strength and resilience, yet when unchecked, it can detrimentally impact our well-being.
Stress and movement are more intertwined than you might think, particularly when it comes to chronic stress and physical activity. This episode shines a light on how stress can disrupt our motor control and stability in unexpected ways. Discover how mindful movement, breath work, and other stress management techniques can counteract these effects and lead to improved stability and coordination.
Embracing a holistic approach to stress management, we'll explore a comprehensive roadmap to building resilience against stress. Movement is a powerful ally in this journey, and by listening to your body and acting with compassion, you can effectively navigate stress's challenges.
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References:
“Sympathetic-induced changes in discharge rate and spike-triggered average twitch torque of low-threshold motor units in humans.” The Journal of Physiology, 586.22, pp 5561-5574, 2008(2) Silvestro Roatta, Dept. of Neuroscience, Physiology Section, University of Torino, Torino, Italy(3) Lars Arendt-Nielsen and Dario Farina, Centre for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Dept. of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Not referenced specifically here, but interesting and relevant research:
A 2015 review by Macefield and Henderson in the Journal of Applied Physiology reinforced the idea that sympathetic activation can influence muscle function. They noted that sympathetic activation can affect both blood flow to muscles and the contractile properties of muscle fibers.
A 2018 study by Hellyer et al. in the Journal of Neurophysiology found that sympathetic activation can modulate motor unit behavior, supporting Roatta, Arendt-Nielsen & Farina's findings about sympathetic effects on muscle activation.
Research by Passatore and Roatta (2019) in the European Journal of Applied Physiology further explored how stress-related sympathetic activation affects skeletal muscle function, largely supporting the 2008 findings.
A 2020 review by Boulton and Grubb in Experimental Physiology discussed how sympathetic activation can influence muscle afferent feedback, which indirectly supports the referenced study's conclusions about sympathetic effects on motor control.
Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.
Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.
Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.
Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook
Susannah Steers Instagram
Could understanding the body's reaction to stress be key to unlocking better health? This week we unpack the nuanced relationship between stress, movement, and health. You'll learn how stress, in measured doses, can actually bolster strength and resilience, yet when unchecked, it can detrimentally impact our well-being.
Stress and movement are more intertwined than you might think, particularly when it comes to chronic stress and physical activity. This episode shines a light on how stress can disrupt our motor control and stability in unexpected ways. Discover how mindful movement, breath work, and other stress management techniques can counteract these effects and lead to improved stability and coordination.
Embracing a holistic approach to stress management, we'll explore a comprehensive roadmap to building resilience against stress. Movement is a powerful ally in this journey, and by listening to your body and acting with compassion, you can effectively navigate stress's challenges.
********************
References:
“Sympathetic-induced changes in discharge rate and spike-triggered average twitch torque of low-threshold motor units in humans.” The Journal of Physiology, 586.22, pp 5561-5574, 2008(2) Silvestro Roatta, Dept. of Neuroscience, Physiology Section, University of Torino, Torino, Italy(3) Lars Arendt-Nielsen and Dario Farina, Centre for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Dept. of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Not referenced specifically here, but interesting and relevant research:
A 2015 review by Macefield and Henderson in the Journal of Applied Physiology reinforced the idea that sympathetic activation can influence muscle function. They noted that sympathetic activation can affect both blood flow to muscles and the contractile properties of muscle fibers.
A 2018 study by Hellyer et al. in the Journal of Neurophysiology found that sympathetic activation can modulate motor unit behavior, supporting Roatta, Arendt-Nielsen & Farina's findings about sympathetic effects on muscle activation.
Research by Passatore and Roatta (2019) in the European Journal of Applied Physiology further explored how stress-related sympathetic activation affects skeletal muscle function, largely supporting the 2008 findings.
A 2020 review by Boulton and Grubb in Experimental Physiology discussed how sympathetic activation can influence muscle afferent feedback, which indirectly supports the referenced study's conclusions about sympathetic effects on motor control.
Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.
Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.
Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.
Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook
Susannah Steers Instagram
Previous Episode
Pilates, Pedals, and Presence
Learn about ways to balance a bustling career, family life, and a passion for fitness with our guest, Nicole Howell. As a North Shore mountain biker, mother, and employment law partner in Vancouver, Nicole brings a unique perspective to integrating movement into a jam-packed schedule. Nicole’s story is a testament to finding joy and presence in everyday motion and making time for what truly matters.
Through her journey, you'll learn about the role of Pilates in maintaining structural health and balance amidst a demanding career. Discover practical insights on creating mental and physical space for growth and relaxation, avoiding the trap of filling every moment with activity. Nicole's commitment to mindful movement offers listeners a roadmap to a sustainable and fulfilling active lifestyle, blending strength and relaxation in harmonious synergy.
About Nicole's work:
HHBG Lawyers - Employment Justice
Nicole Howell empowers employees and help them navigate challenging issues in the workplace (whether it’s a termination, allegations of misconduct, a contract negotiation, or unilateral changes to their job).
https://hhbg.ca
Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.
Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.
Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.
Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook
Susannah Steers Instagram
Next Episode
Embracing Authenticity: Marketing, Movement, and Midlife Transformation
What if you could align your business strategies with your true self, creating a life that reflects your core values and desires? Join me as I sit down with the influential Donna Cravotta, founder of Cravotta Media Group and the Be Visible Club Mastermind, to uncover the magic of authentic marketing and connection.
Discover how Donna's transformative journey toward authenticity has reshaped not only her business but also her personal life, allowing her to forge genuine relationships and enhance visibility through meaningful engagement rather than superficial tactics. Together, we explore the parallels between movement and marketing, championing the importance of listening to both clients and ourselves to foster connections that are as real as they are rewarding.
Prioritizing authentic interactions over fleeting trends, we delve into making deliberate choices that resonate with our true selves, urging a focus on meaningful connections, and relationships that align with who we are, and how we want to show up in the world.
About Donna Cravotta
Donna Cravotta, CEO and Founder of Cravotta Media Group, is the creator of BeVisible.club, a mastermind community, and The Real 50 over 50: The Wisdom Revolution, a visibility project that showcases interviews and panels with over 100 remarkable 50+ women.
With decades of experience in PR, marketing strategy, and online platform development, Donna identified a common issue among her clients: gaps in their stories that created gaps in their communications.
Determined to help authors, speakers, and small businesses, she spent two years re-evaluating her 40-year career, listening to small businesses’ needs, and redesigning her approach.
Today, Donna helps clients reconnect to their stories, blending proven strategies with innovative technology to find and engage their perfect audiences. Her clients find it empowering to see through a new lens and are poised for growth as they step into their purpose and become intentionally visible.
Cravotta Media Group website
The Real 50 After 50
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Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.
Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.
Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.
Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook
Susannah Steers Instagram
Heart of Motion - Balancing the Beast: Stress, Movement, and Health
Transcript
Welcome to the Heart of Motion podcast . I'm Susannah Steers and I'll be your host as we explore the heart , soul and science of movement as a pathway to more active , vibrant and connected living . Nothing happens until something moves , so let's get started .
Susannah SteersHey everybody , welcome to the podcast . This week we're talking al
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