As November draws to a close, many of us begin to feel the subtle shift from fall into winter. The days are shorter, the air is cooler, and our bodies naturally respond to the changing season. This time of year can be both beautiful and challenging, as our immune systems adjust and our energy levels…
August is a bittersweet month. The sun still lingers late into the evening, the air holds that familiar summer warmth, and weekends are filled with outdoor fun. Yet, just over the horizon, you can sense the subtle shift: back-to-school ads appear, cooler breezes slip into the mornings, and the “end-of-summer blues” start to creep in….
Remember those old movies where folks seemed to walk everywhere, their sturdy leather shoes hitting the pavement or, better yet, the dusty earth? It wasn’t just a style choice; for thousands of years, humans have had a direct, conductive connection to the Earth through their bare feet or natural-soled footwear like leather. But look down…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month – a time to check in with ourselves and others, and to recognize just how important emotional well-being is in our everyday lives. At Touchstone, we believe mental health is just as essential as physical health, and that true healing comes from caring for the mind, body, and spirit…
Your autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls many of your body’s automatic functions—breathing, digestion, heart rate, and more. It is divided into two key branches: Both systems are essential, but chronic stress, trauma, and modern lifestyle factors often cause the SNS to dominate, keeping the body in a prolonged state of stress. Understanding how these systems…
The polyvagal nerve plays a crucial role in how we experience safety, connection, and stress. Unlike the traditional understanding of the autonomic nervous system (which focuses only on fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest), the Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, explains how our nervous system has three states rather than two. These three states influence how…