Why can working with the body help a busy, stressed-out mind?

21 Apr

What to do when your mind is chattering away and the last thing you want to do is to focus on your body. It often feels uncomfortable and we rather think our way out of the issue through more lists and planning…

After supporting a couple of hundred clients dealing with overwhelm and navigating my own share of stress, I’ve come to understand the crucial role the body plays in managing a busy, stressed-out mind. It’s often much simpler than trying to think your way out of it.

A bit of physiology basics first

Let’s keep it simple. When you're overwhelmed or stressed, your body activates the sympathetic nervous system—better known as the fight, flight, or freeze response. We all have heard this term a million times by know.

This is your built-in survival system. It's a great thing to have, because when we would be in real danger, it is our bodily way to act quickly and safe ourselves.

Your heart rate increases. Your muscles tense. Blood flow is redirected away from your digestive system and into your limbs, so you can fight or run. Your breath becomes shallow and rapid to get more oxygen into your system. Your body is ready to go.

We all know this, right? Our sympathetic nervous system has been around for thousands of years and hasn’t changed much since, but our lifestyle has evolved dramatically.

This means that we live a very modern fast-paced life with an ancient nervous system, which is totally not build for it.

Back then, stress came in short bursts—like escaping danger or finding food. Once the threat passed, the body could return to calm.

The world we live in today is completely different. We’re not running from wild animals anymore—we're dealing with full inboxes, tight schedules and social pressures. The threats are no longer outside of us—they live in our minds: the fear of not being good enough, the pressure to perform, the worry about what might happen next.

And yet, our nervous system reacts the same way. It doesn’t know the difference between a real lion and the "lion" of an overwhelming to-do list or a hard conversation. This mismatch is one of the reasons we feel more stressed than ever, even though we’re technically safer than ever before.

a control freak friend with paper everywhere

Why the body matters

Here’s where working with the body becomes so powerful.

We can’t always think our way out of stress. You know when people say: Don't think about the pink elephant and all you see in your mind is this large pink blown up elephant?

We can use our body as a tool to create the right environment for the mind to feel calmer.

I always find this helpful to remember: by shifting my state through working with my body, my thoughts naturally follow suit because the environment around me changes.

At With Ease, we see the body as the starting point for deep regulation and calm. Through the way we move, breathe, and focus, we can regulate the nervous system and send a clear signal: "You’re safe now."

a pink real life elephant in a cosy amsterdam appartment

Body-First Practices: Why they work

While mental tools like journaling or therapy can be helpful as well, body-first practices directly interact with your nervous system. They don’t rely on logic or willpower—they work from the inside out.

Here’s 4 reasons why they’re essential:

1. They calm your system fast

Slow breathing and gentle movement activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)—the part responsible for rest and recovery. Even if your mind is racing, these signals tell your body: “You’re safe.” This helps lower cortisol and restore normal functions like sleep and digestion.

2. They release stored tension

Stress and emotion don’t just live in your head—they’re held in the body. Bodywork, movement, or even touch help you release this tension, leaving you feeling lighter and more relaxed.

3. They ground you in the present

When we reconnect with our physical sensations, we get out of our heads and into the now. This makes it easier to listen to what our body needs and to respond with care, rather than pushing through with stress and force.

4. They help clear the mind

When the nervous system is in fight-or-flight, the brain's prefrontal cortex—the part responsible for decision-making, focus, and rational thinking—goes offline. The body is too busy trying to survive. But when you calm your body, that part of the brain comes back online. Thoughts become clearer, focus sharpens, and it's easier to make grounded choices. In short: a relaxed body supports a clear, calm, and creative mind.

Using the body as the foundation makes a huge difference.

We can always come back to the overthinking, the worrying, the planning—but when we first settle the body, we return to these things from a different place. A place that’s steadier. Softer. Wiser.

In case you'd like to already start with a practice today, try out:

🔗 Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start?