Blog
Beyond the Brain: Understanding the 8 Subsystems of Your Nervous System
At Coriander Living Collective, we often talk about resourcing your body and engaging the rhythm of regulation. Whether we are in a Brainspotting session or dancing Open Floor, we are working directly with the intricate, brilliant wiring of your nervous system.
While most people think of the nervous system as just the brain, it is actually a vast, multi-layered network. Understanding the eight key subsystems of this network can help you make sense of why you feel stuck, on edge, or disconnected—and more importantly, how you can find your way back to a life well lived.
Here is a breakdown of the eight subsystems that keep you moving, sensing, and surviving.
The Promise of Science for Brain Health
I remember while taking AP Psychology in High School, Mr. Stumpf shared that if you lost or damaged brain cells, there was no hope for recovery or regeneration so it was very important to prevent damage or injury. Science has now disproved that teaching. Through childhood the brain develops and continues to change throughout a lifetime. There appears to be hope and the possibility of brain healing in most situations due to three processes: neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, and epigenetics.
The Neuroscience of Being Human and How Open Floor Practice Can Help!
Open Floor International practice allows us to learn how to be in our bodies and in relationships well. Open Floor International teaches principles that are core to being human. Open Floor International practice increases attunement with self and others, awareness, neural pathways, thought/emotion circuits, mindfulness, and empathy. It provides a safe container to work with our nervous systems and those of others. It encourages shifting out of our stress response system and into our social engagement system. It creates opportunity for challenge and comfort, both of which are needed for human growth.
Intrigued? Ready to give Open Floor a try? Come join Open Floor International Teacher-in-Training, Cori Hildebrandt, MA, LPC WI, LPCC MN for a 3-Part Open Floor Series starting October 8th, 2023. Come join us and workout your system from the top of your brain to the bottoms of your feet!