the science

Our bodies cannot lie.

At any given moment, they honestly communicate how we feel:

whether we are stressed or safe, anxious or calm, excited or relaxed.

The body speaks through sensations like tension, breath, heartbeat, posture, and energy.

Our mind, on the other hand, tries to interpret these signals. It uses past experiences, learned patterns, and beliefs to make sense of what is happening.

And while the mind can be trained and influenced, the body always tells the truth about our present state.

Over time, many of us learn to listen more to our thoughts than to our bodies.

Understanding the nervous system is the foundation for recognizing what our body is telling us and choosing the right tools to respond accordingly.

nervous system basics

The nervous system is the body’s communication and control network. It connects the brain and spinal cord with every part of the body through a vast system of nerves. Its role is to receive information from the inside and outside world and coordinate how the body responds.

Scientifically, the nervous system is divided into two main parts: the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (the nerves that run throughout the body). The central nervous system is responsible for processes such as thinking and decision-making and for coordinating movement and reflexes.

The peripheral nervous system branches into systems that manage both voluntary and automatic functions. One of these is the somatic nervous system, which allows us to move our body intentionally, such as lifting an arm or walking, and to sense touch and temperature from our skin.

In everyday language, people often use the term “nervous system” when they are actually referring to the body’s stress and relaxation responses, which are regulated by the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls automatic processes in the body such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, and energy levels. All of those functions happen without conscious effort and shape how safe or stressed we feel.

"a regulated nervous system"

A regulated nervous system means that the body can move flexibly between states of activation and relaxation, depending on what the situation requires.

It is the capacity to become alert and energized when needed, and to calm down and relax when the situation is safe.

This involves a smooth shift between the sympathetic and parasympathetic states.

It does not mean being calm all the time.

Regulation is the ability to respond to stress and then return to balance. When the nervous system becomes stuck in one state for too long, it can no longer regulate effectively.

Common signs of dysregulation may include constant tension in the body, rapid or shallow breathing, difficulty relaxing or sleeping, feeling easily overwhelmed or anxious, mood swings, numbness, or difficulty experiencing emotions.

the role of breathing

Breath plays a central role in the nervous system because it is one of the few bodily functions that happens automatically and can also be consciously influenced.

Every change in breathing sends signals to the brain about safety or stress, directly affecting heart rate, muscle tension, and emotional state.

Through breathwork, we can intentionally guide these signals and support the autonomic nervous system in shifting between activation and relaxation.

This makes the breath a powerful tool for self-regulation:

it helps us calm the body when we feel overwhelmed, energize it when we feel depleted, and gradually retrain habitual stress patterns over time.

Understanding how breath works gives us access to a simple, natural way to respond to what the body needs in each moment.