Did you know stress can negatively impact your immune system?

Think about it. It’s those times that you’re running yourself ragged, taking on too many obligations, caring for everyone except yourself, that you get sick. That’s because your immune system is tuned in to every other part of your body, and when you are stressed out, sleep deprived, and missing out on the things that support good health (like a balanced diet and movement) your biochemistry shifts and your immunity suffers.

I experienced this connection myself on the deepest level, when I was fighting breast cancer. Learning to manage stress was a huge part of my healing journey and I have seen the same benefits in many patients.

The good news is that there are mulitple ways we can support the immune system all year long. Using the principles of Functional Medicine to look at the interconnectedness of the body’s systems, we know that nutrition, a healthy microbiome, rest, movement, and correcting biochemical imbalances can make a huge impact on our immune responses. You can read more about these specific factors in my post Five Tips for Building a Better Immune System. Combining this approach with stress management techniques like yoga and meditation can produce amazing immune-boosting results.

This is something everyone has within reach, which is why I’m so excited to give an upcoming talk at Kripalu called Building a Better Immune System for Lifelong Health and Vitality, along with our UWC stress management and meditation expert Sudha Lundee.

Throughout this presentation, we’re going to teach you how to:

• Strengthen immunity using the mind-body connection
• Choose foods that have natural immune-boosting qualities
• Cultivate yoga and breathing practices to enhance immunity
• Incorporate daily Ayurvedic self-care practices
• Learn how toxins impact your immune system and how to naturally support detoxification
• Practice yoga nidra to manage the damaging impacts of stress

This talk will be particularly beneficial for those wanting to increase vitality and well-being; these tools are helpful for everyone who wants to stay healthy or regain good health. As we creep closer to the holidays, it’s the perfect time of year to prioritize your ability to effectively manage stress and support a strong immune system.

I hope you’ll join us!