What if Brain Fog isn't just in your Head?

How movement can reconnect your mind and your body.

Hi, I'm Vanessa

I'm a Personal trainer and Sports massage Therapist with over 20 years of experience helping women feel stronger, move with confidence and reconnect with their bodies.

1. The unexpected moment that made me think

During a session with my client P., who struggles with brain fog, had a AHA moment that I had to share with you.

And we were not even specially trying to address the brain fog during this session.

We started with some Pilates exercises to warm up.

Then I asked her to hold a plank for 1 minute. When the timer went down, she put her knees down on the floor and she looked at me totally stunned.

"It's gone', she said opening widely her eyes.

"My head is clear!"

This made me wonder what actually happened?

2. Your brain isn't your mind.

Before we get into what really happened, we need to be clear on the words we use:

• Your brain is an organ that receives and processes information to manage the different essential functions of your body

• Your mind encompasses your thoughts, beliefs, past and present experiences, your identity.

So your body is constantly communicating through your brain without a conscious effort from you. And your mind isn't simply something that exists "inside your head".

That's why your body is always part of the conversation.

3. How much of what your body does are you actually thinking about?

Every hour, every minute even every second, day and night your body makes sure that:

• your heart is beating ( and at the right pace for you)

• you are breathing

• your balance is enough reliable

• your posture is hold on

• your movement is possible

All that without requiring any of your attention.

4. So, what does a plank have to do with brain fog?

It was not the first time that my client was doing a plank and not the first time she held it for 1 minute.

But a plank isn't just about strengthening your core.

When she was holding the plank, she was also:

• engaging different layers of muscles (from deep to superficial al and all around)

• actively pushing the floor , maintaining her alignment from head to heels

• breathing through with flow.

By doing so, she was shifting her focus and attention towards sensing her body.

She wasn't trying to think her way out of the fog. She was moving through it without fighting it.

The plank acted as a grounding exercise, an anchor.

5. Sometimes we try to think our way out of what our body is experiencing.

If you zoom out a bit, look at what we are doing every day:

• constantly thinking (on what we do and certainly not do but should do)

• organising, preparing

• caring for others

• worrying, anticipating the worst scenario

• mentally "on" all day (and sometimes night)

No wonder we get disconnected from what's happening physically.

Maybe clarity doesn't always start with another thought. Maybe sometimes it starts with movement

6. Your body might not need more thinking- it might need your attention.

Time to get into practice with my 2min Clarity Reset: Stop. Breathe. Move. Notice.

• Stand up

• Take a few breaths

• Move your shoulders and spine

• Walk for a minute

• Do a few approachable strength movement for you (pushing hands forwards or overhead, squats..)

• Pause

• Notice how you feel

Did you notice a shift?

Take a moment to notice how you feel now compared with 2min ago. There isn't right or wrong answer, even no answer - the point is simply to start paying attention.

and if you want to understand what your body might be telling you, that's where personalised movement can help.

7. Back to the 1 min plank

So did 1 min plank "cure" my client's brain fog? No.

But did it give her a different experience of herself - and she noticed a shift.

And perhaps that's the part worth paying attention to.

Movement isn't only about changing how your body looks or performs. It can change how you experience your body - and sometimes, how you experience your mind.

8. What IS your body trying to tell you?

The next time you feel foggy, overwhelmed or disconnected , before automatically reaching out for another coffee or pushing your self harder, pause for a moment.

Ask yourself:

"`What is my body asking for right now?"

If this made you stop and think about your own body, perhaps that's the place the place to start.

You don't have to wait until something hurts to pay attention to it.

Whether you're feeling stiff, tired, disconnected from your body or simply know that something needs to change, we can explore what's going together.

Book a free 20 min consultation and let's talk about what your body needs right now.

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A little reminder from me:

your body isn't something to fix. It's your compass.

Take care,

Vanessa Conway

Personal Trainer & Sport Massage Therapist

Feel Strong. Move with confidence. Be at home in your body.