On Friday I talked to you about lowering the bar and aiming for the bare minimum with exercise. If you didn’t catch that Subsnack, you can read it here.
To help you with this idea, all week you’ll be receiving an exercise snack to try.
On Monday’s motivation tends to be quite high as you’ve not had the brunt of the week slap you into submission just yet.
So we’re starting things off with a Class Replay for Give Me Core. Give Me Core was created to show people how many different ways there are to work their core without laying flat on their back.
Your core has two main functions, transfer load between upper and lower extremities - think picking something up from the floor - and stabilising the spine while we move those extremities. Your core is more than just your abs, obliques and transverse abdominus (which everyone is currently obsessed with). It is all of the muscles from your neck to your hips.
Your core works best as a unit and that’s what the exercises in Give Me Core are designed to do.
This replay is on the shorter side so it’s a great place to start: Give Me Core
You’ll see that I’m using a resistance band but a towel from your bathroom will work just the same. Just roll it up like you’re about to spank a juicy butt (consensually) and hold on.
Make sure you subscribe (just the free one is fine) to make sure you don’t miss all the other exercise snacks this week…
Now onto today’s deepdive.
We are talking about regulating the nervous system with exercise after I was sent this post.
This post claims that finishing a workout with brain boosting movements and eye exercises help regulate the nervous system.
The caption then details that these are known as primitive reflex exercises. It’s an account with over 200k followers so this misinformation is being seen by a lot of people - that is a problem.
Let’s break it down. In this deepdive (which is not that deep because there is absolutely nothing to read on exercise and regulating the nervous system - so in theory you could stop reading here) I will answer the questions What is the nervous system? Can it be ‘dysregulated’? Can it be ‘regulated’? What is a primitive reflex?What is a primitive reflex exercise? How do the exercises in this person’s workout differ from the brain boosting and eye exercise ones?
Buckle up bitches.
What is the nervous system?
The nervous system is a complex network of nerves and cells that transmit signals between different parts of the body. The total length of the nerves in your body is estimated to be around 45 miles (72km) so yes, a fuck load of nerves. It is responsible for coordinating and controlling body functions, including sensory perception (like tasting food), motor control (moving), and cognitive processes (thinking about shit).
The nervous system can be divided into two main parts:
Central Nervous System (CNS): This includes the brain and spinal cord. The brain serves as the central processing unit, receiving and interpreting signals from the body and sending out instructions. The spinal cord acts as a conduit, relaying messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): This includes all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. The PNS connects the CNS to the limbs and organs, transmitting sensory information from the body to the brain and carrying motor commands from the brain to muscles and glands.
The nervous system functions through the transmission of electrical signals along neurons, which are specialised cells that make up the nervous system. These signals can travel rapidly, allowing for quick responses to stimuli - like the withdrawel reflex when you touch something hot or the eyeroll reflex when you see posts like the one we’re deconstructing today.
Ok I made the eyeroll reflex up.
Overall, the nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating and coordinating bodily functions, ensuring that the body can interact with its environment and maintain homeostasis.
Remember, homeostasis refers to the ability of an organism or system to maintain internal stability and balance, despite changes in the external environment. It involves the regulation of various physiological variables within a narrow range to ensure optimal conditions for cellular function and overall well-being. It’s about not being dead so all in all, pretty useful.
Can it be ‘dysregulated’?
Technically yes.