Hello community,
It's Jax,
Your habits coach and stress-releasing yoga teacher,
And I am so excited to be talking about our happiness hormones and talking about our last happiness hormone,
Endorphins,
Today.
Happiness hormones can really have an impact on our mood,
How we regulate our emotions,
And how we see the world.
So today we're gonna be talking about endorphins,
And we're also gonna be doing an activity that will increase your endorphin levels.
Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced by the body in response to stress or pain.
Endorphins has sometimes been referred to as the feel-good hormones because they act as a natural pain remedy and mood enhancers,
And this promotes a sense of well-being and it reduces pain.
Endorphins are released during various activities such as exercise,
Laughter,
And certain foods,
And this contributes to positive feelings experienced during these moments.
Sometimes people know endorphins as the runner's high because when you engage in physical activity,
Especially aerobic exercises like running or dancing or cycling,
This triggers the release of endorphins,
And your body gets a lot of pleasure from that.
When we exercise,
Our body experiences stress and strain as our muscles work,
And in response to this physical stress,
Our brain's pituitary gland secretes endorphins into the bloodstream.
These endorphins bind to specific receptors in the brain,
Such as the opiate receptors,
Which help to reduce the perception of pain and create a sense of euphoria,
And that's where that runner's high comes from.
So today for activity,
We're gonna go on a walk,
And if you're not able to go on a walk right now,
That's okay.
You can lie down and do a visualization practice with us.
So if you need to take a moment to pause this to put on your walking shoes and get ready to go on a walk,
Go ahead and unpause this.
Or you're lying down right now in a comfortable position where you are completely supported.
Maybe you have pillows,
Maybe you have an eye mask,
And you're just taking a few deep breaths to relax.
Wherever you're at,
Let's take two big inhales through the nose,
And open mouth exhale,
Let it go.
So I want you to have yourself standing at the entrance of your front house,
And take a moment to get to your front house.
So maybe you're already there,
Maybe you need a walk there.
What does that look like?
That journey making it to the front of your door.
And then what are the details of your surroundings?
What's the color of your front door?
Are there plants or trees nearby?
Are you in a flat,
An apartment building,
A house,
A condo,
A yacht?
Are there any plants or trees nearby,
Or any familiar sounds you might hear?
What are things you hear in your environment,
In your surrounding?
And then slowly start to open the door and step outside.
What do you feel?
Is there warmth of the sun on your face,
A cool breeze on your skin?
What does the air feel like?
Allow yourself to step outside of the building so you can feel that fresh air.
And then now begin to walk.
So just walking in any direction you feel called to,
Allowing yourself to stroll along.
Visit streets,
Other houses,
Gardens,
Fields,
Alleys,
Any landmarks you pass.
So allow yourself to explore your surroundings.
And as you walk,
Start to engage your senses.
What colors do you see?
Are there any colors of the flowers and the trees?
What does the air smell like?
Do you hear any sounds of birds singing or children playing,
People talking?
And can you feel the ground?
What does it feel like to have the ground beneath your feet?
Pay attention to the sensations of the ground beneath your feet with each step you take.
Feel the connection between yourself and the earth.
And as you walk,
Can you take a moment to feel gratitude for wherever you are at and the comfort it provides?
Expressing and then taking a step further to express appreciation for the neighborhood or the environment that surrounds you.
And wherever you're at,
Take a deep breath out.
And as you take a deep breath in,
Fill up your lungs,
Your belly.
And as you exhale,
Just release any tension,
Release any worries.
Let go of that stress,
Let go of that distraction.
And really allow yourself to just be fully present in this moment.
Enjoying this sense of freedom as you walk,
Knowing that this is your time to relax,
To unwind,
To just be at peace.
And we'll be here for two more minutes to just let you just really enjoy this walk,
Enjoy this time,
Enjoy your surroundings.
And I'll let you know when it's time to come back.
When you're ready to conclude,
Start to make your way back to your front door,
However long that takes you.
And as you do so,
Just allow yourself to feel this sense of contentment and fulfillment from this peaceful walk.
And take a moment to carry this tranquility with you into the rest of your day.
And if you're doing the visualization,
Allow yourself to slowly open your eyes and come back to this moment.
And just know that this practice can really help you feel more connected to your neighborhood.
It can help you feel that sense of gratitude for the simple joys of life just outside the front door.
And it can allow physical activity to be something that's enjoyable when you really make it a mindful practice.
And don't forget to come back to this exercise anytime you want to support your endorphins.
This is Jax,
Your habits coach and stress-releasing yoga teacher.
And I'll see you next time.
