Ashtanga Yoga in the Dolomites
08.06.2025 - 12.06.2025 Other periods available
| 4 nights
from 1050,- € per person
Physiological coherence: what is it?
Physiological coherence: what is it and how can it save you from stress?
Stress is a physiological adaptive response that helps us face and cope with challenging situations. Without stress response, we would not be able to react to stimuli and demands coming from our environment. This is why the term eustress was invented to describe positive, beneficial stress. However, when stress becomes a chronic situation it can lead to maladaptive responses that, in the long term, can cause serious physical and psychic disorders.
In recent years, the link between chronic stress and disorders such as insomnia, gastritis, colitis, bruxism, behavioural, emotional and immunological disorders has become more and more evident. However, stress comes more from our reactions to events rather than from events themselves.
As Hans Selye pointed out, “It’s not stress that kills us, it’s our reaction to it!”
In healthy individuals, the heart rate generally responds quickly to stress factors allowing the body to adjust to environmental stimuli and demands. Therefore, good heart rate variability corresponds to good physical and psychic adaptive skills. As is known, the heart rate is defined as the average number of heart beats per minute. However, this can only be an average value since the exact period between one heartbeat and the next changes constantly. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) expresses natural heart rate adjustment to a variety of factors, such as breathing rhythm, emotional state (anxiety, anger etc.), stress load and more.
For 20 years now, research by the HeartMath Institute has shown how negative emotions like nervousness, frustration and apprehension are associated with irregular heart rate peaks. On the contrary, when we experience positive emotions like appreciation, love and gratitude, our heart rate becomes instantly more harmonious and synchronises with the nervous system (both sympathetic and parasympathetic). Efficient synchronisation of heart rate, mind and emotions influences the body’s hormonal and biochemical balance, creating what scientists call a state of “coherence”. Cardiac coherence improves mental clarity, creativity and problem-solving skills, allowing us to respond to stressful situations in a more positive and constructive way.
The HeartMath approach to stress management is a simple method that helps increase both physiological coherence and awareness of unconscious stress-response modes, ultimately resulting in better physical and psychic health.
Written by MD Laura Santini, General practitioner
In recent years, the link between chronic stress and disorders such as insomnia, gastritis, colitis, bruxism, behavioural, emotional and immunological disorders has become more and more evident. However, stress comes more from our reactions to events rather than from events themselves.
As Hans Selye pointed out, “It’s not stress that kills us, it’s our reaction to it!”
In healthy individuals, the heart rate generally responds quickly to stress factors allowing the body to adjust to environmental stimuli and demands. Therefore, good heart rate variability corresponds to good physical and psychic adaptive skills. As is known, the heart rate is defined as the average number of heart beats per minute. However, this can only be an average value since the exact period between one heartbeat and the next changes constantly. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) expresses natural heart rate adjustment to a variety of factors, such as breathing rhythm, emotional state (anxiety, anger etc.), stress load and more.
For 20 years now, research by the HeartMath Institute has shown how negative emotions like nervousness, frustration and apprehension are associated with irregular heart rate peaks. On the contrary, when we experience positive emotions like appreciation, love and gratitude, our heart rate becomes instantly more harmonious and synchronises with the nervous system (both sympathetic and parasympathetic). Efficient synchronisation of heart rate, mind and emotions influences the body’s hormonal and biochemical balance, creating what scientists call a state of “coherence”. Cardiac coherence improves mental clarity, creativity and problem-solving skills, allowing us to respond to stressful situations in a more positive and constructive way.
The HeartMath approach to stress management is a simple method that helps increase both physiological coherence and awareness of unconscious stress-response modes, ultimately resulting in better physical and psychic health.
Written by MD Laura Santini, General practitioner