Yoga for nervous system health: what both science and tradition teach us
Why the nervous system matters
Harvard Health describes the stress response as a vital survival mechanism — but one that can turn harmful when constantly activated. Your nervous system is the command centre for your entire body. It governs how you respond to stress, how you rest, digest, think, move, and connect. Most of us are moving through life in a state of chronic dysregulation — our bodies stuck in sympathetic overdrive (fight or flight), or shut down in dorsal vagal dominance (freeze or fawn).
Without even realising it, we can live for years in a nervous system pattern that limits our ability to feel safe, connected or present. Healing starts not with "doing more," but with learning to notice, regulate and restore.
How yoga helps regulate the nervous system
Yoga, when approached therapeutically, is a powerful tool to support nervous system health. It offers:
Breath practices (pranayama) to directly influence vagal tone, calm the heart rate and increase interoceptive awareness
Somatic movement and slow flow to support safety through rhythm and repetition
Restorative and yin postures that allow the body to shift into parasympathetic rest-and-digest states
Mindfulness and meditation to build awareness of thought patterns and physical sensations
Crucially, it helps build a felt sense of safety in the body — a prerequisite for any deeper healing.
What therapeutic yoga teaches us about the nervous system
The approach used in my training draws on evidence-informed methods, supported by emerging research such as this review on yoga's role in autonomic nervous system regulation. Through my training in therapeutic yoga and nervous system-informed practice with Yoga Medicine and Yoga Therapy Australia, I've come to appreciate how adaptable and nuanced yoga can be when it's used as a tool for healing. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, we consider the individual's state, energy, and needs.
In the context of nervous system support, key principles include:
Using myofascial release and slow, supported movement to help the body downshift
Sequencing practices to gently move from sympathetic activation to parasympathetic restoration
Being aware of trauma-sensitive approaches that invite agency and choice
Prioritising interoception and internal awareness over external performance
Therapeutic yoga isn’t about achieving perfect shapes — it’s about creating a sense of safety, connection and ease in your own body. The aim is not to fix, but to listen and respond — honouring both physiology and the subtle body.
Finally, as much as it’s important to know how to shift from sympathetic activation to parasympathetic restoration, it’s worth remembering that the sympathetic nervous system also plays a critical role in helping us function! You can read more about conditioning a healthy sympathetic response through yoga here.
Why this work matters now
From post-pandemic burnout to the collective stress of a hyper-connected world, more people than ever are living in survival mode. We don’t need more stimulation. We need safe, intelligent, supportive spaces to downshift.
Nervous system-aware yoga is not a trend — it's a return to something essential. A way of relating to the body that is slow, conscious, and kind.
Interested in learning more about yoga for the nervous system?
I am running a retreat in October 2025 - Wild Reset: A Nervous System Yoga Retreat where we’ll dive deep into yoga and wellbeing practices designed to bring you back into balance. Limited spots available now.