My 5 Favorite Tools to Regulate your Nervous System

Nervous system regulation has been a big buzz phrase online recently, and may even come with some controversy. It's important to add that it carries a lot more nuance than what I can write in a blog post, and requires daily, gentle practice to help bring yourself back to safety. If you are someone who’s suffered from trauma, you may find these practices hard to incorporate on your own, and I recommend seeking the support of a therapist.

Non Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR, also known as Yoga Nidra): I think of NSDR as a guided reset for my brain and body. Using breath, mindfulness and somatic awareness, it can help shift your nervous system out of stress mode and into a state of rest. If you don’t have time for a nap, even 10-20 minutes can leave you feeling more rested and refreshed!

EFT tapping: Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), or tapping, combines gentle tapping on acupressure points with validating and releasing your emotions. I use it for everything- anxiety reduction, increasing self compassion and confidence, and even physical pain.

Binaural beats: This kind of music uses bilateral stimulation, which is similar to what’s

used in EMDR therapy to help process trauma. By stimulating both sides of your brain, you may find yourself feeling more relaxed and regulated.

Butterfly tapping: Similar to binaural beats, this also activates bilateral stimulation, and for even more relaxing results, combine it with breath and gentle bilateral tapping. I often use this with trauma clients who are feeling activated, as a resource to help regulate and calm their emotions.

Legs up the wall: Through this simple yoga pose, you can stimulate and move blood

flow, activating your parasympathetic nervous system, also known as “rest and digest” state.