Physiology First: The Fastest Way to Change Your State
I’m currently in the middle of serving on the crew for Tony Robbins’ Unleash the Power Within event.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that I need to consistently place myself in environments that force me to stretch and grow.
Because the truth is simple: we are either expanding… or contracting.
There isn’t much middle ground.
One of Tony’s core teachings is this: if you want to change your present state of being, physiology must come first.
The powerful part is that it doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming.
Stand up.
Shake it out.
Dance around.
Jump up and down.
Anything that gets your body moving.
Movement changes your biochemistry, and that directly affects your emotional state.
But here’s the key: the movement needs to match the intensity of the emotion you’re experiencing.
If the emotion is strong, the movement has to be stronger—either through more effort or longer duration.
Move a muscle, change your thoughts and emotions.
When I first learned this idea, I was skeptical.
How could shaking your body actually change how you feel? It didn’t seem intuitive to me.
Then something clicked.
That’s exactly how I started to feel better after I lost my sister.
I had already been practicing yoga before she passed, but at that point in my life I wasn’t in great physical shape. I was overweight, unhealthy, and tired most of the time.
Low energy. Low vitality.
When Lauren passed, I had a realization.
If I didn’t change the trajectory of my physical health, I might also be headed toward an early grave.
And that was not going to be my fate.
So I took my health—and my future—into my own hands.
I started eating cleaner.
I increased my plant intake (at one point I was almost vegan).
I improved my hydration.
I found supplements that actually worked.
I began using essential oils.
I removed toxic chemicals from my environment—from body care products to cleaning supplies.
I paid attention to whether the supplementation I was taking was actually effective.
And something interesting happened.
As my body became stronger, my emotional and mental health became stronger too.
This transformation didn’t happen overnight. It took years.
And it’s still evolving.
Because as we age, our bodies change—and what we need changes with them. That means paying attention, adjusting, and continuing to learn.
When I hear the phrase “physiology first,” I interpret it as something bigger than just movement.
Movement is powerful, and many somatic therapists focus there.
But physiology includes anything that shifts the body—either immediately or over time.
Movement.
Nutrition.
Breath.
Sleep.
Environment.
When the body changes, the mind and emotions follow.
So if you’re looking to change how you feel, don’t start with trying to force better thoughts.
Start with your body.
Because sometimes the fastest way to change your mind…
is to move a muscle.
Go with power,
Jason
Try this Simple Practice:
A Simple Peak State Practice
If you notice yourself stuck in a heavy emotional state, try this:
Step 1: Change Your Physiology
Stand up. Move your body. Shake your arms, bounce on your feet, stretch, or walk quickly around the room for 60–90 seconds.
Step 2: Change Your Breath
Take 10 deep breaths. Inhale through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth. Let your shoulders drop as you breathe out.
Step 3: Change Your Focus
Ask yourself one question:
“What is one thing I can do right now to move forward?”
Small shifts in your body create powerful shifts in your state.
Ready to Go Deeper?
Sometimes the patterns that shape our reactions are difficult to see from the inside. If you’d like support identifying the conditioning that may be keeping you stuck and learning how to recondition your nervous system, I’d be honored to work with you.