Systems of Your Body: Nervous System Health #2
Dear Friend,
What do you do when you’re feeling stressed? Maybe you turn to carbs, retail therapy, mindless scrolling, or excessive screen time. Perhaps you choose to go for a run. And continue to run, and run, and run until the world around you calms down.
Is it not working for you? Allow us to introduce you to your new friend – the Vagus Nerve!
The vagus nerve is part of the Parasympathetic Nervous System. It is your body’s source of calm and balance. It helps disengage the fight or flight response within the sympathetic nervous system, making an important connection between your mind and body.
Did you know music can stimulate the vagus nerve? Because of its position on the side of the head, sound is one of the best ways to stimulate the vagus nerve.
Singing, humming, using positive words, and listening to certain music or sounds, activate the vagus nerve. Let’s give it a try!
Mindfulness Activity of the Week
Music, the Vagus Nerve, and You
Find out what music relaxes you. Listen to your mood and create playlists to support you during the different times of your day (when you wake up in the morning, mid-day, end of the day, or before bed). Notice how this serves you. Notice if you feel more calm, experience more clarity, more compassion, or better connections with others.
There are five emotions of music: happy, sad, tenderness, anger, and anxiousness. Just noticing this can allow you to choose music to suit and serve your day!
Breathwork Activity of the Week
Bellows Breath
Practice aligning your mind and body with Bellows Breath to engage and stimulate the vagus nerve. Practice for five minutes.
