First published 31 May 2025

The Prescription You Didn’t Know You Needed: Permission to Play

I’ve got a bit of a confession this week – I’ve fallen down a rather unexpected rabbit hole, and it’s got me pondering about something we all need more of in our lives.

Picture this: me, someone who couldn’t tell you the difference between an umpire and a home run, finding myself absolutely captivated by something called “Banana Ball.”

If you’ve not encountered this delightful madness yet (#sorryNotSorry), imagine baseball but with jazz hands, dancing umpires, and players who seem to have remembered that sport is supposed to be fun.

The social media algorithms have been serving up these brilliant little videos, and I can’t help but grin like a proper numpty every time one pops up.

Now, if you know me at all – you will know I’m not what you’d call a sports enthusiast.

My entire understanding of baseball comes from primary school rounders, so when I found that the games are streamed on YouTube and watched my first game today I have been equal parts bewildered, bamboozled and bemused.

But here’s the thing: watching grown adults who have given themselves permission to be absolutely ridiculous whilst playing a game has reminded me of something that many of us have forgotten.

We’ve lost our play index somewhere along the way to adulthood.

When Did We Stop Playing?

Remember being seven and turning the living room into some elaborate make believe world?

Or spending hours perfecting your cartwheel technique in the garden? (something I never did manage to perfect!)

That wasn’t just childhood silliness – that was your nervous system doing exactly what it needed to do.

Play is how we process stress, spark creativity, and literally rewire our brains for resilience.

Somehow though, we’ve been convinced that or (perhaps worse) convinced ourselves that play is frivolous and a waste of time.

That laughter at work is unprofessional.

That being silly is… well, silly.

We’ve created this bizarre adult world where productivity trumps playfulness, and our wellbeing is ultimately paying the price.
When it comes to healing from a kinesiology perspective, play is so crucial it is taught on level 1 of our qualification!

When we play and laugh properly, we’re activating our parasympathetic nervous system – that lovely “rest and digest” state where actual healing happens.

We’re balancing our Fire element (joy and connection) and supporting our Heart meridian.

Think of laughter as a full-body chakra massage, starting with that gorgeous heart chakra expansion and rippling through your entire energetic system.

The Science of Silliness

Play isn’t just good for us – it’s essential.

Research shows that adults with a high “play index” (yes, that’s a real thing psychologists measure) have better stress resilience, stronger relationships, and more creative problem-solving abilities.

They’re also significantly less likely to experience burnout or depression, and more likely to enjoy life!

When we laugh – properly laugh, not just that polite chuckle we do in meetings – we’re flooding our system with endorphins and oxytocin.

We’re literally changing our biochemistry.

Bringing it back to the Five Element perspective, we’re nourishing that Fire element that governs not just joy, but our ability to connect authentically with others.

Finding Your Way Back to Play

So here’s my challenge for you this week: notice where you might be taking yourself a bit too seriously.

Maybe it’s time to have a proper giggle at something ridiculous (might I suggest some Banana Ball highlights?).

Maybe it’s time to dance badly in your kitchen, build a blanket fort, or finally try that art class you’ve been “meaning to get to.”

Your body – and your energy system – are desperately waiting for you to remember how to play and they will both thank you for it!

Your Play Prescription Awaits

If you’re sitting there thinking “but I don’t know how to play anymore” or “I need permission to be silly,” then I’ve got something for you.

Sometimes we need someone to literally give us permission to prioritise joy, to make space for laughter, to remember that play isn’t selfish – it’s essential.

Come for a session, and you might just leave with an actual prescription to play.

We’ll explore what’s blocking your natural playfulness, balance those systems that have forgotten how to relax, and reconnect you with that brilliant, silly, joyful human you still are underneath all that adulting.

Because life’s too short to spend it all being sensible, don’t you think?

With playful energy (and probably another Banana Ball video queued up – who am I trying to kid, I’m off to watch last night’s Party Animals game ),

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Ready to rediscover your play? Book a session and let’s explore what your system needs to remember how to truly relax and enjoy life again.