Explore the calming effect of rocking and its impact on activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Includes a guided body scan meditation and suggestions for incorporating this practice into daily life.
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Quick takeaways
Rocking your body and syncing the movement to your breath activates the parasympathetic nervous system, putting you into rest and digest mode.
The body scan practice helps release tension by acknowledging areas of stress and inviting a sense of ease.
Deep dives
The Soothing Power of Rocking
Rocking your body rhythmically and syncing the movement to your breath activates the parasympathetic nervous system, putting you into rest and digest mode. It can help ease stress and restlessness, allowing for a sense of ease and relaxation. The speaker shares personal experiences of rocking to soothe oneself and suggests rocking as a discreet and accessible practice that can be done anywhere.
Body Scan for Relaxation
The speaker suggests a body scan practice to bring awareness to areas of tension in the body. By gently acknowledging and inviting a sense of ease to those areas, tension can be released. The practice involves rocking side to side to bring attention to the body, followed by a slow deep breath and a mindful scan from head to toe, noticing any areas that call for attention. This practice can be done discreetly and is helpful for relaxation in various situations throughout the day.
Rocking your body and syncing the movement to your breath activates the parasympathetic nervous system, putting us into “rest and digest” mode.
Sam has taught mindfulness and social emotional learning to teens, families and adults all over the world for more than 12 years. She obtained her master’s degrees in clinical and educational psychology from Columbia University, and an M.S. in emotion science from Mid-Sweden University. You can reach out to Sam on Instagram here!