There is something wonderfully peaceful about snow. When it is snowing it feels like the only thing to do is to settle in, pull over a blanket, get a cup of tea, and enjoy. Sure there is work to do after, sure you could plow through it with to do’s, but doesn’t it just feel like a comforting, mesmerizing, distracter to the busyness of life. Watch snow come down, it is almost hypnotic and stress reducing. I integrate the study, techniques, and tools of the Institute of HeartMath in my practice with my clients…and when I see the rhythmic falling of snow flakes, I feel like I am increasing the coherence in rhythmic patterns of my heart rate variability.
I have included a segment of The Institute of HeartMath (IHM)’s introduction because I think it is interesting. They have many free resources and education – thought it might be a fun read for you.
So, before I let you read on…I encourage you to bring a little harmony into your life and physiology – heart, brain, nervous system, and emotions…by watching the beauty of the falling snow out your window…and enjoy.
(Excerpt from the Institute of HeartMath website: http://www.heartmath.org Introduction) “For centuries, the heart has been considered the source of emotion, courage and wisdom. At the Institute of HeartMath (IHM) Research Center, we are exploring the physiological mechanisms by which the heart communicates with the brain, thereby influencing information processing, perceptions, emotions and health. We are asking questions such as: Why do people experience the feeling or sensation of love and other positive emotional states in the area of the heart and what are the physiological ramifications of these emotions? How do stress and different emotional states affect the autonomic nervous system, the hormonal and immune systems, the heart and brain? Over the years we have experimented with different psychological and physiological measures, but it was consistently heart rate variability, or heart rhythms, that stood out as the most dynamic and reflective of inner emotional states and stress. It became clear that negative emotions lead to increased disorder in the heart’s rhythms and in the autonomic nervous system, thereby adversely affecting the rest of the body. In contrast, positive emotions create increased harmony and coherence in heart rhythms and improve balance in the nervous system. The health implications are easy to understand: Disharmony in the nervous system leads to inefficiency and increased stress on the heart and other organs while harmonious rhythms are more efficient and less stressful to the body’s systems.” (I encourage you to go to their site and read more.)
Integrative Thought 