The nervous system is the network of nerves that control all the organs and illicit responses from the body. It is the nerves that allow the senses to work and the brain to coordinate the mechanisms of the entire body.
Since they have so many functions, it can be very easy for the nerves to get damaged, which in turn could cease the functioning of vital organs. Today, with so many of us under a lot of stress and leading lifestyles that are constantly on the go, our nerves have to take on a lot of stress and pressure just to keep the body functional.
The good news is that several studies show that yoga has a direct beneficial effect on the nervous system. Not only does yoga help with relieving stress, it also helps with keeping the mind clear and sharp, delaying the onset of some nervous system disorders/diseases.
You can use our Search Feature to search through all of our Yoga for the Nervous System classes on your own. To get you started without searching, we’re highlighting six nervous system classes in a variety of styles, levels and durations that will be sure to help balance and calm the nervous system.
- Rewire Your Nervous System with Tiffany Cruikshank: This is the sequel to the first Get Your Head in the Game class with less information and more steeping yourself in the process. This practice will ebb & flow like the first one to rewire the nervous system and help you get to the core of the practice with brief meditations along the way.
- Strengthen Your Nervous System with Elena Brower: A sequence of standing poses, twists, hip openers, gentle backbends, restoratives and a bit of Reiki self-treatment that will cleanse, open, strengthen, tone and restore our bodies by addressing both foundation and breathing. This class invites a specific yet simple understanding of how we can tone and calm our nervous system and ease all of our interactions – through our practice. The stage is the Self Shiva Sutras 3.10
- Resting & Soothing the Brain with Harshada Wagner: A simple meditation to help balance the energies of the brain and allow the nervous system to rest, restore and rejuventate. A great meditation for depression, exhaustion, and overwhelm.
- Stressful Day? with Jason Crandell: This soothing practice is designed to calm your nervous system and decrease stimulation. It is full of quieting forward bends, gentle twists, and breath awareness. This is the perfect antidote to a long, stressful day. This sequence can also be used to support your body when you are facing stress, fatigue, illness, and travel.
- Create Internal Equilibrium with Jo Tastula: This class for melting stress and restoring your energy, although it’s not a restorative class per se. There will be flow, however the focus is on flipping the switch and activating the parasympathetic nervous system: the one that is directed at creating internal equilibrium in the body. This is often called the ‘rest & digest’ system as opposed to the other that we are familiar with called the ‘fight or flight’ and is stress inducing. Try some variations in some new postures and feel if perhaps they can relieve some common tension. Warrior 2 (virabhadrasana 2) with the head supported, crescent moon (anjaneyasana) with cactus arms, tree (vrksasana) with finger tips lightly touching above the head. Root lock pose (mulabandhasana) with knowledge seal (jnana mudra) to help bring the mind into a calm and tranquil state. Inversion time at the end and savasana!
- Release, Cleanse & Heal with Steven Espinosa: Yoga helps release our body from “fight or flight” mode (sympathetic nervous system) to “relaxation response” (parasympathetic system) allowing for physical and emotional cleansing and healing to happen. A slow but steady basic opening warm up including Surya Namaskar (sun salutations). Leading into an energetic Standing Pose series linking Extended Side Angle, Warrior Two, Reverse Warrior and Triangle together. Also includes breakdown of Uttkatasana (chair) to prevent knee discomfort. Continues with Bakasana (crow), hip opener in Pigeon and a series of Seated Poses for grounding and calming the lower body. Concludes with Backbends, Spinal Twist and brief Savasana.
