Please Get on My Nerves!
Most of us already know that mindfulness practices such as yoga, breathing and meditation can help with stress and anxiety, but many don't know why that's so.
Well, the practices are stimulating the vagus nerve, which connects the brain and gut playing a role in our mental health and gut health. You know that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you're nervous? That was delivered from the brain by the vagus nerve.
"The vagus nerve is called the nerve of emotion as it impacts whether you feel safe and protected in a secure, grounded place." says Ashtanga yoga teacher Eddie Stern in his book One Simple Thing. This is why when tapping into the vagus nerve, we can improve our state of mind as well as reduce stress and inflammation in the body.
Low "vagal tone" would reflect stress and be seen as anxiety, poor digestion, depression and inflammation. Ideal "vagal tone" would show as managing stress well and have an overall better balance of health in the gut and mental wellbeing. It's important to increase vagal tone through yoga, meditation, breathing, rest, good diet.
Take power back by taking care of you. Schedule these practices. Don't just assume that you will have the time to do them at some point in the day. Here is a vinyasa to yin practice for you.