Restoring gut motility

Words GAYLYN AITKEN

The body is an entity in constant motion. It has two separate brains, the central nervous system (CNS) and the enteric nervous system, which is embedded in the lining of the gastrointestinal system and communicates with the CNS through the parasympathetic nervous system via the vagus nerve.

The sympathetic nervous system, also called flight/fright, directs the body’s rapid involuntary response to dangerous or stressful situations. A flash of hormones boosts alertness and heart rate, sending extra oxygenated blood to the muscles. Breathing quickens to deliver fresh oxygen to the brain, and extra glucose is shot into the bloodstream for a quick energy boost.

This energy is drawn from the digestive system, so for the term of the stress response, this system is working under par. Ideally, this is a functional response to a short-term situation.

However, when this life-saving response to danger isn’t resolved naturally, a person becomes locked into a pattern of stress then exhaustion. In this situation, losing weight is much more than eating less, changing your diet, taking supplements, diuretics or laxatives. If the gut isn’t functioning well, it doesn’t matter what is thrown at it, it’s not going to be able to process and eliminate properly.

Stress can arise from any number of events and become deeply embedded in the habits and patterns of daily life. Instead of trying to figure out what started this ball rolling, I’ve found through personal and empirical experience that the best way to change these patterns is by restoring correct alignment through body awareness.

Our most primal fear is the fear of falling, a life-saving awareness in response to gravity. The position of the feet is the messenger of safety or danger to the nervous system. Becoming aware of how we are positioned and how we move our body through space, and learning new ways to move in alignment, we can gradually restore functional motility to the gut. We become more mobile on all levels – restoring movement to the spine, building neural pathways to underused body parts, experience less pain and becoming more energetic.

Approach your body in a more compassionate way instead of ‘battling’ or ‘fighting’ weight gain. Even these two words commonly used in relation to resolving weight gain evoke fear and stress. To be well, we need to be well with our self first. Always think and speak well of yourself, being nonjudgmental of you and others. Your body and spirit are yearning for unity and will quickly respond to your loving attention with joy.

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