In stressful times, don’t forget your “Para-chute!”
Hi Colleen,
Your body has a built-in aspect of your nervous system that can bring you back to harmony and wellness. You might already know, you have two different nervous system responses.
One is the sympathetic nervous system response of “Fight, Flight or Freeze,” that kicks into gear during stress.
Our other nervous system response system is the parasympathetic’s “rest and digest” mode. That is the one that can literally contribute to our health and wellbeing during stressful times.
One is the sympathetic nervous system response of “Fight, Flight or Freeze,” that kicks into gear during stress.
Our other nervous system response system is the parasympathetic’s “rest and digest” mode. That is the one that can literally contribute to our health and wellbeing during stressful times.
The parasympathetic nervous system can support us to regain our balance when we feel overwhelmed from either present or past trauma. This aspect of our amazing bodies can help regulate heart rate and lower blood pressure as well as help to clear brain fog and support a healthier immune system.
And the great news is you have the keys to consciously get it going yourself! It can get us out of a dysregulated state anytime and anywhere.
Below are a few examples of when your nervous system needs a parasympathetic shift.
And the great news is you have the keys to consciously get it going yourself! It can get us out of a dysregulated state anytime and anywhere.
Below are a few examples of when your nervous system needs a parasympathetic shift.
Feeling fearful, tense, in physical pain, having heightened anxiety, irritability, rage or mood swings. Having difficulty concentrating, remembering, sleeping or having racing thoughts.
There are a few easy methods I like to call “Para-Chute” to encourage your parasympathetic nervous system to come back “online!”
Try them and before you know it, you’ll be floating with more ease.
There are a few easy methods I like to call “Para-Chute” to encourage your parasympathetic nervous system to come back “online!”
Try them and before you know it, you’ll be floating with more ease.
Using your breath:
Rest the tip of your tongue at the top back of your teeth
To begin, inhale deeply and let out a deep exhale, along with a big sigh or whooshing sound from your mouth
Close your mouth and slowly inhale through your nose for a count of four
Exhale deeply and completely for a count of seven, being sure to let out a big sigh or whooshing sound
Repeat this process for at least fifteen minutes.
Using your voice:
Another easy one using the breath is making an exaggerated, loud yawn! Just as one person’s yawn can trigger a yawn in someone else, your own exaggerated yawn can help to get the parasympathetic nervous system to kick into gear!
You can also start humming, singing, or chanting as those vibrations help to stimulate the vagus nerve.
Using your voice:
Another easy one using the breath is making an exaggerated, loud yawn! Just as one person’s yawn can trigger a yawn in someone else, your own exaggerated yawn can help to get the parasympathetic nervous system to kick into gear!
You can also start humming, singing, or chanting as those vibrations help to stimulate the vagus nerve.
Using your whole body:
Take a gentle walk in Nature
Hug it out. Embrace a friend or loved one for at 20+ seconds to not only shift into the parasympathetic nervous system but also to experience a release of oxytocin- the hormone that increases trust, reduces stress and promotes overall wellbeing.
Prioritize 7-9 hours sleep each night.
As you can see, it doesn’t require any special equipment to turn on your new best friend, the “parasympathetic nervous system rescue squad!” Just Para-chute!
