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Embracing Emotional Balance While Gracefully Aging For Heart Health Protection
“Emotion can be the enemy, if you give into your emotion, you lose yourself. You must be at one with your emotions, because the body always follows the mind.” –Bruce Lee
These hands that have touched and massaged muscles for over 33 years as a massage therapist can attest to that quote being 100% correct. The body, especially soft tissue along with ligaments can be a sponge, and holding area for countless emotions. They may range from anger, anxiety, awe, horror, joy, confusion, love, and involve not only feelings, but behaviors, sounds and smells. It’s safe to say we have felt a wide range of emotions this past year, positive or negative, sensing where they may have settled in the body, whether shoulders, hips, neck, face or heart. It is this latter soulful engine of your body that needs loving attention most especially during stress filled times to keep cardiovascular issues at bay.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins revealed that an abrupt emotional stressor can lead to a weaker heart muscle, appearing that it could have been a heart attack. This “broken heart syndrome” is more prevalent in women under a huge burden of stress, and is misdiagnosed as a heart attack. One example is the death of Debbie Reynolds, one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher’s death. “Any imbalance in an emotional state – when one emotion dominates or overrides the others – can predispose one to heart disease,” says Frank Lipman, MD. “Learning to deal with emotions is extremely important.”
With a wealth of valuable information, Heart Math demonstrates on www.heartmath.com, that the heart and brain communicate with either love, joy and ease, or frustration, anxiety and stress. Having tools such as their Quick Coherent Breathing Technique uses the power of your heart, to balance thoughts and emotions. Here are others:
- Choose Gratitude – noting three grateful moments each night
- Sleep Deep – dark room, cool temp, same time
- Prayer & Meditation – with 3-5-8 breathing, in, hold, exhale slowly
- Smile More – uplifts the spirits to be around family and friends
- Gather with Girlfriends – connecting hearts reduces cortisol and increases happy hormone of oxytocin
- Aromatherapy for Calming – lavender, cedarwood, peace & calming oils
- Slow Down, Relax – regularly with chair yoga, Yin Yoga, & play games
