Color of the day: Topaz Incense of the day: Lilac When we are stressed, our parasympathetic nervous system, which regulates our body functions, can be overwhelmed by our sympathetic nervous system, which wants to fight, flee, or freeze. Want to quickly invoke a sense of ease and peace and send messages of safety to your nervous system? Dr. Peter Levine invented Voo Breathing to ease hyperarousal and give your brain and body a break. Take a breath in, and as you exhale, incant: Vooooooooooooooooo. Use your voice, feel your belly rumble, and vibrate with the sound. Again, breathe into the belly and the chest, then express the air and chant: Vooooooooooooooooo. Making the exhale a little longer than the inhale stimulates the vagus nerve, and that helps to slow and regulate the heart rate and blood pressure. Vooooooo, the deep rumble in the belly, literally massages the vagus nerve and promotes relaxation, invoking a sense of safety and ease. |