‘I create little islands of relaxation every day’ - Interview with neuroathletics trainer Luise Walther
Reading time: 5 minutes
Neurocentric training has become part of everyday life for many people. Neurotrainer Luise Walther is one of the leading experts in this field. In our conversation with her, we find out what negative consequences excessive use of computers, smartphones, etc. can have and what can be done to counteract them.
Luise, you are a young entrepreneur yourself and have found your way out of the pain and stress trap and into a mindful health lifestyle. How did it go for you?
For me, this was a very conscious and gradual change in my lifestyle. After two disc surgeries, I was forced to change something. First of all, it was very important to get a feel for how my body feels in certain situations and activities. This enabled me to learn to concentrate better on my body awareness and to control my breathing. This allows me to reduce stress and improve my mental and physical health. But that doesn't mean that my everyday life is always pain- and stress-free. Both are part of my life. But today I can regulate it better and react to it smartly.
How do you feel about the multitude of digital media and how do you deal with it?
The abundance of digital media can lead to digital overload, which can lead to overstimulation and stress. Personally, I am a huge fan of digitalization. I see a lot of potential in it and therefore use digital media non-stop - I actually always have my laptop and cell phone with me. However, taking breaks from digital media and instead spending time with small exercise units or in nature is necessary as a balance. To be fair, I often don't get enough of that, so I have gotten into the habit of planning meetings as walk and talk whenever possible. This is particularly important for the eyes. They play an important role because they process visual information and can quickly tire if you work on a screen for a long time. That's why I also incorporate regular eye exercises into my daily routine and have established my own routines.
What do you do to balance out your digitalized everyday life?
I'm very pragmatic in that respect: delicious food in good company, lots of exercise and good sex. I have a pretty high workload and I have certain routines that I stick to, whether I'm at home or on the road. In the morning, I exercise as soon as I get up, then take a cold shower and, if possible, soak up some sun. Since I cycle a lot, I usually do this automatically on the way to work.
A good side effect is the exercise and the time away from the cell phone. My gaze wanders around the area, even though Berlin isn't exactly a natural paradise. I still get some fresh air and a view of the trees. And I plan free time or breaks with friends or project partners while I'm moving - for example, a business lunch followed by a walk, a run along the canal with friends or a run around the playground with the family. This way I create little islands of relaxation for myself every day.
You have trained as a Z-Health coach. How can neurocentric training help us to lead a healthier lifestyle?
Z-Health is an American training system for applied neuroscience. Dr. Cobb has created an innovative training concept. This includes a comprehensive skillset with elements from movement neurology, pain neurophysiology, motor learning, knowledge of visual and vestibular interaction with the musculoskeletal system and behavior change approaches. For me it was crucial to understand how the brain and body interact. Regardless of whether it is performance improvement, pain management, stress regulation or movement optimization: pain, movement and stress arise in the brain. And that is why training should start there.
In our digital world, there are many people who suffer from stress. What are you doing wrong?
I would never presume to say that someone is doing something wrong, because everyone does what they can. Instead, I recommend taking targeted measures to improve stress regulation and stress management. It is known that chronic stress has negative effects on the body and mind and can be linked to various illnesses. It is therefore important to find ways to reduce stress and deal with it better. Studies have shown that mindfulness exercises can be an effective method for reducing stress and improving stress regulation. Targeted neurotraining can also help to improve stress management. So instead of constantly pushing yourself, it is about focusing your attention on your own body perception so that you do not overload your nervous system.
You work with so-called triggers. What are they and why are they so important in everyday life?
Triggers are important in everyday life to enable behavioral changes. They draw attention to a specific action or habit and motivate us to implement a new habit. We all tend to fall into routines and habits, especially when we are in a familiar environment. However, triggers can help break this routine. They attract our attention and encourage us to try new actions, for example. This can be the ringing of the alarm clock in the morning to get up and start the day. If sweets are lying in plain sight in the kitchen, they can be a trigger to eat them as unhealthy snacks. So if we are aware of how triggers influence our behavior, we can create positive triggers. And these help us to develop new habits or change existing habits. In addition, triggers can also help to create a connection between a desired behavior and a positive result. For example, if we have a refreshing drink after training, drinking this drink can become a trigger that motivates us to train regularly because we associate the positive feeling with the drink.
Why can neurocentric training tools help you achieve your health goals?
First of all, it is important to set goals. These are always very individual. While one person wants to improve their sleep, another may want to reduce tension in their neck, and still others have the goal of becoming calmer and more relaxed.
If you work with different tools, you have several advantages:
- Neurocentric training tools can help us become more aware of how our brain responds to certain stimuli or situations. This awareness allows us to better reflect on ourselves and understand our behavior and thought patterns.
- By using neuro tools, we can learn to better control and regulate our responses. This can help us to stop unhealthy behaviors like stress eating or smoking and choose healthier alternatives.
- Neuro tools can help us better motivate ourselves and link rewards to our desired behavior. This can help us achieve our health goals by increasing our motivation and directing our behavior toward positive outcomes
- By using neuro tools, we can develop individual and personalized health solutions tailored to our specific needs and goals.
- Neuro tools can help us manage stress more effectively by helping us reduce our stress levels. This can help us stay healthier and make better choices about our health.
What is your most successful trigger for taking a break from exercise?
It's clear: coffee, walk and talk in the sun. As soon as the sun is shining and I don't have a fixed appointment at the computer, I use the moment to be in the fresh air, to soak up the sun and get some exercise. Often the reward is a coffee and then I sit in the café with a notebook and work on my projects. For projects that cannot be postponed and have to be done, short breathing or eye exercises get me out of the work paralysis and give me new energy.
About Luise Walther
Luise Walther is a specialist in neurotraining and a trained Z-Health coach. Her goal is to offer simple and accessible solutions to awaken the joy of physical exercise. In her work, she focuses particularly on looking at physical performance in all its facets. Her approach is based on the realization that pain, exercise and stress have their origins in the brain.
