How to reduce stress?
Is there some way of switching stress off?
Fortunately, science has discovered the “off-button” – a way to shut down your stress response when things get to be too much
Activating the vagus nerve can help you shut down your stress response.
What is a Vagus Nerve?
It happens to be one of the longest and most influential nerves in the body. It travels from the top of the skull behind the ears, all the way through the front of the chest, and down toward the abdomen. It helps our brains communicate with our organs – like the heart and lungs – and other systems, like the digestive tract. But it can also calm the body after a fight-or-flight state caused by adrenaline.
Fortunately, there are many activities we can do to increase vagal activation. Some of these include: meditation, controlled breathing exercises, swimming, and even listening to calming music.
How does it work?
Well, think of it like this: activating the vagus nerve is kind of like stretching a muscle after you exercise. When we stretch a tight hamstring, it restores the muscles to their normal resting length. As a result, the strains of exercise are reduced, and the benefits enhanced. This is exactly what happens when we activate the vagus nerve after a period of stress.
Doing this dramatically lowers levels of cortisol, reduces inflammation, and helps bring our minds back to a state of balance
Yoga is also a great way to activate the vagus nerve. When practiced on a daily basis, it’s been proven to reduce cortisol by 40 percent. Yoga has become increasingly popular as a stress-buster in the modern world – and for good reason. Not only is it relatively simple, it includes breathing exercises, deep relaxation techniques, meditation, and physical postures that get the blood pumping. It also helps to release tension, promote physical strength and flexibility, and improve your emotional well-being.
So, it turns out that we can switch stress off – it just takes a bit of practice. When you feel yourself getting stressed, don’t just sit there and let it linger. Instead, go for a swim, step onto a yoga mat, or even listen to some music.
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