Your Stress Affects Your Children

Many years ago, I listened to my Professor explain that the constitution of a child, at the very moment of conception, was determined by the health and well-being of the parents. Like a recipe that starts with quality ingredients, that precious embryo was best served by parents that were mentally, emotionally, and physically well. 

The subject was initially broached concerning drugs, alcohol, and/or poor diet - but as the Professor continued, it became clear the moment of conception went far beyond the obvious... 

Today, there is plenty of evidence, research and studies to back up what might have been controversial 27+ years ago. (yeesh ... I am outing my age... )

How Dad’s Stresses Get Passed Along to Offspring explains intercellular communication passing paternal experiences to their children. 

“A stressed-out and traumatized father can leave scars in his children. New research suggests this happens because sperm “learn” paternal experiences via a mysterious mode of intercellular communication in which small blebs break off one cell and fuse with another.”

It’s not just the Dad’s... 

The Effects of Prenatal Stress on Child Behavioural and Cognitive Outcomes Start at the Beginning

"It is now clear that environmental effects on fetal development are important with respect to emotional, behavioural and cognitive outcomes too." 

Bottom line - >  Your stress affects your children - from day one. 

Make sure to take care of all aspects of YOU. 

Stick to your New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year!

In light of good intentions, resolutions and hope for positive growth, I thought I'd share How to Rewire Your Brain to Love Healthy Habits.

I need to work on many of the suggestions. They all resonate - pick my cues, make it automatic, work the three R's (reminder, routine, and reward), define my motivators, and s focus on baby steps.

Change your DNA

The Mind/Body/Immune System (a.k.a. Psychoneuroimmunology) connection is deep. Literally and figuratively!

What we subject our Self to, impacts us to core levels. I've listed many links on this topic on my massage website. (www.humankneads.com)

Self-care is essential. In 'Meditation and Yoga Change DNA' it states that "the behavior of human genes is impacted by different mind-body interventions including yoga, Tai Chi, and meditation. Mind-body interventions, commonly referred to with the acronym of MBI, do much more than relax people. They also reverse molecular reactions within DNA that spur the onset of depression and health maladies."

In today's world we seem to be in a constant state of fight-or-flight. Anything we can do to balance, reduce, or reverse the effects, is beneficial short term - and long term.

Yes, Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation... but also positive self-talk, time in nature, journaling, time with loved ones... and Massage. (Let's not leave out massage. 😉 )

Posture is key to proper flow - circulation, nerve functioning, muscles, etc. Our bodies react based on messages from our tissue. A smile releases feel good hormones... a frown, not so feel good... (try it)
If we are in a state of poor posture, blocked 'flow,' our mind/body/immune system follows. 

We have the ability to make healthy choices. There are many options to positively impact our Self. The important thing is to actually pick something that resonates, and not only continually inspires you, but prods you towards consistency. 

The ABCs of the human body.

How fun!

An article in the Niagara this Week about

The ABCs of the human body.   Very creative photography... and gymnasts.

Actually the whole site was fun.  Check it out ~ Alphabet Photography.

Stretch, not stress

"Recently, scientists have discovered that cells in the human body change depending on how they are stretched. They have shown that if you pull a stem cell in one way, it starts developing into a brain cell; stretch it in other ways, and a muscle or a bone cell results! The most far reaching consequence of this stretching is for cancer cells. Change their mechanical stress, and they start behaving like normal cells! "
"Besides yogic exercises, a general exercise regimen of running, walking or aerobics also helps in cell rejuvenation. The 'high' that people get with regular exercise, is a result not just of chemical secretions, but also because the cells get stretched.

Similarly, deep muscle massage may also help in stretching of cells."


For the complete article click here ->  Stretch, not stress