Parachuting
Care🍀 Your nervous system is like a perfectly balanced see-saw between two modes: the sympathetic system, which gears you up for action, and the parasympathetic system, which helps you rest and recharge. Many of us unknowingly stay in “sympathetic mode” all day, running on stress and adrenaline. Building your parasympathetic “muscle” can help you stay balanced even when life’s storms roll in, giving you a parachute to glide back into calm.
Curiosity📚 At the heart of the parasympathetic system is the vagus nerve—a superhighway that connects the brain to the heart, lungs, and gut, sending calming signals throughout your body. When activated, the vagus nerve helps lower your heart rate, improve digestion, and regulate mood. It’s like your body’s built-in reset button. Techniques like breathing exercises, ear massages, and stretching can stimulate the vagus nerve, gently guiding your body into rest-and-repair mode.
Creativity🤸♀️ This week, try these parasympathetic “parachutes” and see which ones work best for you:
SSSSS Breathing: Inhale normally, then exhale with a long, gentle “ssss” sound.
Straw Breathing: Breathe in normally, then exhale slowly through lips shaped like a straw.
Humming: As you exhale, softly "huuuum." The vibration naturally stimulates the vagus nerve and harmonizing the heart rate.
Stretching: Gentle stretches, like neck rolls or child’s pose, can be a good way to activate the parasympathetic system.
Vagus Nerve Ear Massage: Use your index finger and thumb to gently hold behind your ear, while the other fingers massage along the front of the ear. Slowly work your way upward and downward around the ear and along the sides of your neck. Apply gentle pressure along the cranial bones and jawline. This soothing massage helps activate the vagus nerve, promoting relaxation and balancing the nervous system.
Notice how these techniques make you feel throughout the week— maybe lighter, calmer, and more at ease in your day?
Credit🤍 Practicing these techniques in the presence of others—whether on a walk with a friend or in a quiet park—might just catch their attention.
Side Note🙏 If you’re new to these techniques or have any existing health conditions, take it slow and listen to your body. Small, consistent efforts can bring about meaningful change over time.
Until next week,
Love HealthNote💚