Shake It Off: What Nature Teaches Us About Nervous System Reset

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text!Your body is carrying more than you think, and a puppy can prove it. After seven weeks of raising Alfie and trying to decode his signals, I noticed something that changed how I look at stress: the full-body “doggy shake.” Yes, dogs shake to dry off, but they also shake after a stressful moment as a way to reset their nervous system. Once I learned that, I started seeing it everywhere on our walks, especially after sudden city noise and sensory overload. He shakes, then he trots forward. No rumination. No story. Just release. That tiny behavior opens up a bigger conversation about nervous system regulation and stress relief. I break down the sympathetic nervous system (the part that ramps you up for danger) and the parasympathetic nervous system (the part that brings you back down). If you have ever felt shaky after a near miss or a scary moment, you have experienced the body’s natural way of discharging stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. The challenge is that modern stress is rarely a short burst followed by safety. Work pressure, hard relationships, caregiving in the sandwich generation, social media, and nonstop news can keep us stuck in high alert, which can show up as headaches, stomach issues, indigestion, and that constant keyed-up feeling. We do not need a perfect routine to feel better, but we do need a way to offload stress physically. I share simple, realistic “human resets” you can do in minutes: a brisk walk with music to interrupt rumination, standing up and shaking, a one-song dance break behind a closed door, and a playful technique I used with college students called chicken breathing. It sounds silly, but it is effective active mindfulness because it brings you back into your body and back into the moment. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who’s been carrying too much, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.Support the showBUY ME A COFFEE or SUPPORT ALFIE'S TREAT STASHLearn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE.Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at [email protected]. Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingvioletsFollow me on Facebook and Instagram, and check out my website!