The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

...the key to bioenergetic and mind/body healing

Don't be misled by the term "Show and Tell."

The game is this old-fashioned teacher's way of introducing children to the important, complicated, and until recently little understood scientific topic -- The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

To motivate children to take an active role in their individual health plan, we introduce the ANS in the form of a game that is familiar to young children -- "Show And Tell ". In keeping with a child's vocabulary, the game intentionally omits the words ANS.

Introduction to the ANS

Except for the skeletal muscles, all other functions of body tissue are controlled by the ANS. The ANS is divided into two branches: Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS)

In general, the PSNS Is concerned with conservation and restorative processes while the SNS controls processes involving expenditure of energy. Activation of the PSNS results in calming, peaceful, stress-free responses, while activation of the the SNS results in excitement, stress, and fight-or-flight responses. The ANS elicits these physical responses by triggering the release of various hormones, other controlling biochemicals, and electrical impulses in the affected organs.

Because the ANS controls most body systems except for the skeletal system, it seems logical that the ANS is involved in some way with most illness.

The five examples in "Show and Tell " explain in a child's vocabulary, the five fundamental properties of the ANS. Once children understand the purpose of the five examples as they relate to the ANS, the five exercises of the game become more meaningful.

The five exercises in "Show and Tell "provide an easy introduction to the ANS because they teach lessons about the Autonomic Nervous System without using technical terms.

This version of the five exercises is similar to the child's version but also includes technical terms and additional suggestions to parents, teachers, religious leaders, and others who work with children

Exercise 1: Rapidly Building Your High Energy