What is stress? Every day, our brains take in information from our five senses. Our autonomic nervous system is comprised of two parts: parasympathetic “rest and reset” and sympathetic “fight or flight.” When we are often introduced to internal or external stressors, our sympathetic nervous system can become overstimulated and overwhelmed. Furthermore, prolonged excessive sympathetic stimulation can lead to chronic inflammation, causing pain, anxiety, insomnia, and high blood pressure. One of the best ways to calm your sympathetic nervous system is through steady exercise that reduces oxidative stress. Activities like meditation, yoga, taking a walk, or swimming are all excellent ways of training your body to self-regulate the release of tension.