The Wisdom of the Horseshoe Crab: What Nature Taught me About Healing Burnout

This week, I watched a horseshoe crab slowly crawl across the sand — its ancient shell glinting under the early evening light. These creatures have survived hundreds of millions of years, not by racing or forcing, but by moving in rhythm with the tide.

It reminded me of something I often say to clients:

Your nervous system isn’t broken. It’s out of rhythm.

Many of the high-functioning women I work with are quietly exhausted. You might be juggling work, relationships, caregiving, performing, holding it all together — but deep down, your system is stuck in overdrive. Even rest doesn’t feel restful.

🌬️ A Simple Practice to Calm the Nervous System Right Now

If you’re feeling burnt out, anxious, or overstimulated — here’s a simple Qigong-inspired technique to begin gently regulating your nervous system:

    1    Sit or stand somewhere quiet, with your feet on the floor.

    2    Take a slow inhale through your nose, letting your belly expand.

    3    As you exhale softly, make the sound “shhh” — like you’re soothing a baby. Let the sound vibrate gently through your body.

    4    Repeat 5–7 times, feeling the breath slow, the shoulders drop, and your belly soften.

    5    Let your attention settle inward — like the tide drawing back to sea.

This practice helps stimulate the vagus nerve, which plays a vital role in regulating the nervous system. It's simple, accessible, and deeply soothing — a small but powerful way to bring your system back to rhythm.

🌊 Medical Qigong: Healing Through Energy and Rhythm

In Medical Qigong, we work with the body’s energetic systems — using breath, sound, gentle touch, and movement — to restore that natural ebb and flow. It’s not about fixing you. It’s about helping your body remember how to self-regulate.

Just like the tide doesn’t resist the wave, your body doesn’t need to resist healing. It just needs space, rhythm, and permission.

I’m resting this week by the ocean, but I’ll begin seeing clients again soon — both in person and remotely. If your system is in need, I’d be honored to support you 👉. bio.site/kristenhandrews