HOMEOSTASIS, BALANCE FOR LIFE

Physiological homeostasis

Autonomous nervous system

At any time, the astounding intelligence of the body works without our knowledge to regulate the activity of systems, organs and glands that form them and maintain the harmony between these different systems.

The automatic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic) and the endocrine system are the main players involved in homeostasis.

Through a complex network of sensors and transmitters, endocrine glands and the autonomic nervous system are informed of any physiological variation in body temperature, blood sugar level, rate of hydration, mineral salts, the acid-base balance … and restore the balance by releasing neurotransmitters into the bloodstream that act directly or indirectly on organs and affected cell groups.

For example, when the sugar level in the blood increases, the pancreas secretes insulin to inform the liver that it’s time to store sugar as glycogen. Blood glucose levels then automatically decrease to the equilibrium state. When blood sugar drops below the equilibrium state, the pancreas secretes glucagon so that the liver releases sugar into the blood to reach the equilibrium state.

Yoga and homeostasis

 Yoga postures and breathing exercises largely stimulate homeostatic functions of the body through their regulatory activation of endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. For example, the headstand has a beneficial effect on the whole body through the pituitary gland, the major endocrine gland, which receives significant blood flow during the posture. The shoulderstand regulates the activity of the thyroid and parathyroid glands in the throat, which are responsible for regulating metabolism in the body. Deep breathing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the return of calm, as well as recovery and tissue repair.

Thus, each exercise produces a specific action on one or more groups of organs, glands and systems. An entire traditional yoga class enables balance and strengthens sustainable operations of the whole organism by acting directly on certain key functions and stimulating homeostatic mechanism in the body, through which harmony is naturally maintained permanently.

 Emotional and mental homeostasis

This principle of homeostasis is not just for the physical body but also applies to emotions and thoughts. Indeed, when we repress our emotions, feelings and thoughts, a tension buildup occurs sooner or later, and creates a kind of discomfort within that prompts the individual to release this internal pressure. When we do not allow our emotions to be lived freely and evacuated, they return to stay in our cells and more or less cause long term illness, whose sole purpose is to restore balance in the body.

It is therefore essential to regularly release these emotions without repressing them. This way, the body does not need to cause disease to remove the toxins resulting from the suppression of emotions and feelings.

 Planetary homeostasis

Earth has a similar mechanism that allows it to regulate the activity of the various systems that make up its body. However, the indiscriminate human activity of the last century has considerably disrupted the ability of Earth to reestablish the balance of its ecosystems.

It is urgent that the man realizes that his home is a whole living entity and it is better by cooperating with the “owner” of the place rather than oppose it. Nature is very well made. When a pathogen is identified, it is either cured or it is destroyed to save the system in which it occurs.

Cooperating with Nature

The human being, in his quest for omnipotence, would like to master Nature. He would like to be able to act as he sees fit and erase the consequences of his reckless choices, whether at the level of the human body or that of the planet.

Homeostasis is the antithesis of a symptomatic approach, which is limited and fragmented by essence. It is the universal principle that is maintaining balance and harmony, continually inviting us to work in collaboration with Nature rather than oppose it.

The extraordinary intelligence behind the physical and celestial bodies certainly knows better than us what we need to restore harmony and get healthy.

Would it not make more sense to trust Nature and follow its recommendations, rather than those of industries and institutions whose primary concern seems to be maintaining their supremacy, often to the detriment of the public and environmental health?

Taking back our health

The time has come to regain control of our health and that of the planet, and to become aware of the scope of our choices. Every human being has an immense power over his own destiny and that of the world.

The first step, the most important, is to take responsibility for our health and well-being, ceasing to harm the body and accompanying it in its effort to restore balance. Everything else comes naturally to the rhythm of our integration ability.

From a practical standpoint, this means:

Conclusion

The state of good health and balance is the normal condition of the body. When we allow nature to play its full role within us, without hindering its homeostatic mechanisms of elimination, cell regeneration and maintenance of balance, our physical and mental capacities are strengthened and we have access to a source of well-being that comes directly from within. This state of full health and harmony between different systems is the first step to contribute to the foundation. This is the sine qua non condition of any step towards a better life and to be more in harmony with the immutable laws of Nature.

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