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Positive vs. Negative Stress

✅ Positive Stress (Eustress)

Definition: A normal, short-term reaction to a specific risk or event.

Purpose: Helps you stay focused, energized, and alert.

Hormones Released:

Adrenaline

Cortisol

❌ Negative Stress (Distress)

Definition: A long-term state of tension and overload, not tied to a specific event.

Effects: Can lead to burnout, anxiety, and health issues.

Hormone Levels Decrease:

Oxytocin

Serotonin

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Brain & Stress: Key Players

🔴 Amygdala – The Emotional Trigger

Detects threats and activates the fight-or-flight response.

Reacts instantly to danger—before conscious thought.

Releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

🔵 Neocortex – The Rational Thinker

Responsible for logic, reasoning, and decision-making.

Slower to respond but can override the amygdala.

Helps assess if a threat is real or imagined.

⚖️ Balance in Stress Response

Short-term stress (eustress) activates the amygdala but is regulated by the neocortex.

Chronic stress can weaken the neocortex’s control, leading to emotional overwhelm.

Long-term stress reduces serotonin and oxytocin, affecting mood and connection.

Amygdala vs. Neocortex

🔴 Amygdala – The Emotional Alarm System

Function: Processes emotions like fear, anger, and pleasure.

Role in Stress:

Triggers the fight-or-flight response.

Reacts quickly to perceived threats—often before rational thought kicks in.

Speed: Fast, instinctive, and automatic.

Example: You jump when you hear a loud noise—before realizing it’s just a book falling.

🔵 Neocortex – The Thinking Brain

Function: Handles reasoning, logic, language, and conscious thought.

Role in Stress:

Evaluates the situation rationally.

Can override the amygdala’s response if the threat is not real.

Speed: Slower, deliberate, and analytical.

Example: After jumping, you realize it was just a book—not a threat.

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🪑 Chair Yoga Routine

Perfect for the classroom or any seated setting

🧘‍♀️ Getting Started (Seated)

Sit comfortably on a chair

Take 3 deep breaths to center yourself

🔄 Warm-Up

Head Circles – gently roll your head in both directions

Shoulder Circles – roll shoulders forward and backward

Wrists and Fingers – stretch and rotate wrists, wiggle fingers

💪 Upper Body Movement

Mobilize Arms – raise and lower arms, stretch side to side

Side Bend – reach one arm overhead and bend to the side

🦵 Lower Body Stretch

Ankle over Knee – place one ankle over the opposite knee and lean forward gently

Twist – seated spinal twist to each side

🧍 Transition to Standing

Stand Up – keep a straight back, place palms on the chair for support

🧍‍♂️ Standing Poses (with Chair Support)

Quad Stretch – grab one foot behind you while holding the chair

Balance Pose – raise one arm (or both), fold one leg back while holding the chair for balance

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Here’s a clear and simple explanation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which are both part of the autonomic nervous system—the system that controls involuntary body functions:

⚡ Sympathetic vs. 🧘 Parasympathetic Nervous System

⚡ Sympathetic Nervous System – “Fight or Flight”

Activates in response to stress or danger.

Prepares the body to react quickly:

Increases heart rate

Dilates pupils

Slows digestion

Releases adrenaline

Think of it as your emergency response system.

🧘 Parasympathetic Nervous System – “Rest and Digest”

Activates when the body is calm and safe.

Helps the body recover and conserve energy:

Slows heart rate

Stimulates digestion

Promotes relaxation and healing

Think of it as your recovery and balance system.

🌿 The Vagus Nerve – The Parasympathetic Superhighway

The main nerve of the parasympathetic system.

Connects the brain to the heart, lungs, stomach, and intestines.

Stimulating the vagus nerve:

Slows the heart rate

Reduces inflammation

Promotes calm and emotional regulation

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https://youtu.be/ZiQh8jA5tVM?si=fFbP9g2aCwbOn3rD

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https://youtu.be/Ho9em79_0qg?si=3B2q-w1ya-WL-8-L

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Yoga For Hips & Lower Back Release  |  Yoga With Adriene

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https://youtu.be/Njqs1QOpg_g?si=P2A0YJwZjXu9La8x

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Wake Up Yoga for Men | 10-Min Morning Yoga Routine to Calm Your Body

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🧘‍♀️ Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System

To prevent burnout and restore balance

🌬️ 1. Breathwork

Try 4-7-8 breathing: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, exhale for 8.

Or simply extend your exhale longer than your inhale.

This stimulates the vagus nerve, promoting calm

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🧠 2. Mindfulness & Meditation

Practice mindful breathing or guided meditation.

Helps shift the brain from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest”

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🌿 3. Nature & Grounding

Spend time outdoors or walk barefoot on natural surfaces.

Grounding helps regulate your nervous system and reduce stress

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👐 4. Gentle Touch (Havening)

Lightly stroke your arms, hands, or face.

This can release oxytocin and calm the brain

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🎶 5. Soothing Sounds

Listen to calming music or nature sounds.

Singing or humming also stimulates the vagus nerve.

🧘 6. Yoga & Tai Chi

Gentle movement practices that combine breath and body awareness.

Proven to enhance parasympathetic activity

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🛁 7. Warm Baths or Showers

Warm water relaxes muscles and signals safety to the brain.

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Here are effective breathing exercises to help prevent burnout by activating the parasympathetic nervous system and promoting calm:

🌬️ Breathing Exercises to Prevent Burnout

1. 🟦 Box Breathing (a.k.a. Square Breathing)

How to do it:

Inhale for 4 seconds

Hold for 4 seconds

Exhale for 4 seconds

Hold for 4 seconds

Repeat for 1–5 minutes.

Benefits: Reduces anxiety, improves focus, and calms the nervous system [1].

2. 🟢 Diaphragmatic (Belly) Breathing

How to do it:

Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly.

Inhale deeply through your nose, letting your belly rise.

Exhale slowly through your mouth.

Practice for 5–10 minutes daily.

Benefits: Lowers heart rate, reduces cortisol, and enhances relaxation [1].

3. 🟡 4-7-8 Breathing

How to do it:

Inhale for 4 seconds

Hold for 7 seconds

Exhale for 8 seconds

Repeat 4–8 cycles.

Benefits: Promotes deep relaxation and helps with sleep [1].

4. 🔵 Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana)

How to do it:

Close your right nostril and inhale through the left.

Close the left nostril and exhale through the right.

Inhale through the right, then exhale through the left.

Continue for 1–3 minutes.

Benefits: Balances the nervous system and reduces mental fatigue[1].

References

[1] 7 Best Breathwork Techniques & Exercises to Use - PositivePsychology.com

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🧘‍♀️ 2-Minute Stress Relief Meditation

🌬️ Step 1: Ground Yourself (30 seconds)

Sit comfortably with your feet flat on the floor.

Rest your hands on your lap.

Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze.

🌫️ Step 2: Focus on Your Breath (1 minute)

Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 seconds.

Hold your breath for 2 seconds.

Exhale gently through your mouth for 6 seconds.

Repeat this cycle 5–6 times.

🧠 Step 3: Calm Your Mind (30 seconds)

Silently repeat a calming word or phrase like:

“I am calm.”

“Let go.”

“Peace.”

If your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to your breath.

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🎯 Intentions & Visualization

Tools for focus, motivation, and emotional balance

🌟 Setting Intentions

An intention is a guiding principle or purpose you choose for your day, activity, or mindset.

It’s not a goal to achieve, but a direction to align with.

Examples:

“I choose calm.”

“I will be present.”

“I approach challenges with curiosity.”

🧠 Visualization

A mental technique where you imagine a desired outcome or calming scene.

Helps the brain rehearse success and reduce anxiety.

Can be used for:

Preparing for a stressful event

Boosting confidence

Relaxing the nervous system

🧘‍♀️ Quick Practice

1. Sit quietly and close your eyes.

2. Set a simple intention (e.g., “I am grounded”).

3. Visualize a peaceful place or a successful moment.

4. Breathe deeply and stay with the image for 1–2 minutes.

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The Emotion Wheel: What It Is and How to Use It

The emotion wheel is a tool that helps individuals identify & articulate their feelings by categorizing emotions into core, nuanced variations.

Using an emotion wheel can enhance emotional intelligence, improve self-awareness & facilitate better communication.

Regularly engaging with the emotion wheel can support emotional regulation & help manage complex feelings effectively.

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Emotion Wheels & Needs Wheels - Human Systems

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Emotion Wheels & Needs Wheel - Human Systems

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Learn how to use the HS Emotion Wheels and HS Needs Wheels to productively process and use emotion in your personal and professional life.

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Here’s a guided meditation specifically designed to stimulate the vagus nerve and promote calm, balance, and stress relief:

🧘‍♀️ Vagus Nerve Meditation (Quick Guide)

🕯️ Preparation

Sit or lie down comfortably.

Close your eyes or soften your gaze.

Place one hand on your heart and the other on your belly.

🌬️ Breath & Awareness (2–3 minutes)

Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 seconds.

Hold for 2 seconds.

Exhale gently through your mouth for 6–8 seconds.

Focus on the rise and fall of your breath.

With each exhale, imagine your body softening and releasing tension.

💓 Heart Connection (1–2 minutes)

Feel your heartbeat under your hand.

Silently repeat:
“I am safe. I am calm. I am supported.”

Let the rhythm of your breath and heartbeat guide you into stillness.

🎶 Optional Add-ons

Hum softly on the exhale to stimulate the vagus nerve.

Visualize a warm light flowing from your heart through your body.

🔁 Repeat Daily

Just 5–10 minutes a day can improve vagal tone, reduce anxiety, and support emotional regulation.

🎧 Want a Guided Version?

Try this excellent YouTube meditation: ▶️ 15-Minute Vagus Nerve Meditation by Justin Caffrey
Or
▶️ 20-Minute Vagus Nerve Meditation by Chibs Okereke

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🧠 The Vagus Nerve

Your body’s built-in “calm switch”

🌟 What It Is

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in your body.

It runs from your brainstem through your neck, chest, and down to your abdomen.

It’s a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system—the system that helps you rest, digest, and recover.

🧘‍♀️ What It Does

Regulates:

Heart rate

Breathing

Digestion

Mood and emotional regulation

Helps shift your body from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest” mode

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⚡ How to Stimulate the Vagus Nerve Naturally

1. Deep, slow breathing (especially longer exhales)

2. Humming, singing, or chanting

3. Cold exposure (like splashing cold water on your face)

4. Gargling or laughing

5. Meditation and mindfulness

6. Gentle yoga or tai chi

7. Probiotics and gut health support

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🧘‍♀️ Vagus Nerve Yoga – Poses & Practices

🌬️ 1. Diaphragmatic Breathing (Pranayama)

Deep belly breathing is one of the most effective ways to stimulate the vagus nerve.

Try slow, extended exhales (e.g., inhale for 4, exhale for 8).

🧎‍♀️ 2. Child’s Pose (Balasana)

Encourages grounding and inward focus.

Gently compresses the abdomen, stimulating vagal tone.

🐄 3. Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana)

Coordinates breath with movement.

Mobilizes the spine and massages the vagus nerve through the diaphragm.

🪑 4. Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana)

Calms the nervous system and encourages introspection.

Promotes vagal stimulation through gentle abdominal compression.

🧍‍♀️ 5. Legs-Up-the-Wall (Viparita Karani)

Reverses blood flow, reduces heart rate, and activates the parasympathetic system.

Excellent for stress relief and vagus nerve activation.

🧘 6. Humming Bee Breath (Bhramari)

Inhale deeply, then hum softly on the exhale.

The vibration stimulates the vagus nerve through the vocal cords and inner ear.

🧠 Why It Works

These poses and breath practices:

Engage the diaphragm, throat, and gut—key areas innervated by the vagus nerve.

Help shift the body from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest.”

🔗 For more detailed guidance and sequences, check out:

10 Vagus Nerve Yoga Poses – VagusNerve.com

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6 Ways to Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve with Yoga – YogaUOnline

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🧘‍♀️ Vagus Nerve & Mindfulness

Calm your body, balance your mind

🌿 Why It Works

The vagus nerve connects your brain to your heart, lungs, and digestive system. When stimulated, it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you:

Slow your heart rate

Reduce inflammation

Improve digestion

Feel calmer and more connected

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🧠 Mindfulness Techniques to Stimulate the Vagus Nerve

1. 🌬️ Breath Awareness

Focus on slow, deep breathing.

Try inhale for 4, exhale for 6–8 seconds.

This calms the nervous system and enhances vagal tone

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2. 🎶 Humming or Chanting

Gently hum “Om” or any soothing sound.

The vibration stimulates the vagus nerve through the vocal cords

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3. 💧 Gargling

Gargle with water for 30 seconds.

Activates the muscles in the throat linked to the vagus nerve

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4. 🧘 Guided Vagus Nerve Meditation

Combine breath, body awareness, and sound.

Focus on sensations in the heart, throat, and belly.

Use affirmations like: “I am safe. I am calm. I am supported.”

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🗣️ Vagus Nerve & Communication

More than just a nerve—it’s a bridge between body, brain, and voice

🧠 1. Speech & Language

The vagus nerve connects to brain areas involved in speech and language processing, including the cortex and limbic system

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It helps control muscles in the larynx (voice box) and pharynx, which are essential for:

Speaking clearly

Tone and pitch

Vocal expression

💬 2. Emotional Communication

The vagus nerve is part of the interoception system—how the brain senses internal states like heart rate, tension, or calm

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This influences how we express emotions and respond to others.

A well-regulated vagus nerve supports:

Empathy

Social connection

Emotional tone in voice

🌿 3. Stress & Communication

Chronic stress can reduce vagus nerve activity, making communication feel harder or more reactive

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Practices like breathwork, humming, and mindfulness can restore vagal tone and improve both verbal and non-verbal communication.

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How to make stress your friend | Kelly McGonigal | TED

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Bing Videos

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making stress work in your favour real life pictures

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💖 Self-Kindness vs. Self-Judgment

🌱 Self-Kindness

Treating yourself with care, compassion, and understanding.

Acknowledging your struggles without harsh criticism.

Speaking to yourself like you would to a dear friend.

Encourages emotional resilience and inner peace.

🗣️ “It’s okay to make mistakes. I’m learning and growing.”

⚖️ Self-Judgment

Being overly critical or harsh toward yourself.

Focusing on flaws, failures, or shortcomings.

Often leads to shame, stress, and burnout.

Can block personal growth and self-acceptance.

🗣️ “I’m not good enough. I always mess things up.”

🌟 Why It Matters

Practicing self-kindness activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress.

It builds emotional safety, which is essential for healing and motivation.

Replacing judgment with kindness fosters self-worth and mental well-being.

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🧠 The Neocortex, Amygdala & Vagus Nerve: A Three-Way Connection

1. Neocortex: The Thinking Brain

The neocortex is the outermost layer of the brain, responsible for:

Conscious thought

Rational decision-making

Self-awareness

Emotional regulation

Especially important regions:

Prefrontal cortex (PFC): involved in controlling emotional impulses

Insular cortex: integrates bodily sensations (interoception)

🔗 How They All Interconnect

Vagus Nerve

Calms the body via parasympathetic activity

Sends feedback to brain including amygdala and insula

Amygdala

Detects emotional salience (fear, threat)Communicates with PFC and vagus; modulates stress

Neocortex

Regulates emotions through cognitive control

Can inhibit amygdala and influence vagal tone

🔄 Interaction Summary

🧠 Neocortex ↔ Amygdala

Top-down control: Prefrontal cortex can dampen the amygdala to reduce fear or stress.

Bottom-up override: Strong emotional triggers from the amygdala can bypass the neocortex, leading to impulsive reactions.

💓 Amygdala ↔ Vagus Nerve

The amygdala can increase sympathetic activity (fight-or-flight) and suppress vagal tone.

In return, vagal input (especially from the gut and heart) influences amygdala activity.

🧠 Neocortex ↔ Vagus Nerve

The prefrontal cortex indirectly influences vagal tone by modulating the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus in the brainstem.

Practices like mindfulness, deep breathing, and meditation activate the neocortex and increase vagal tone, leading to better emotional regulation.

Functional Integration in Emotion Regulation

Imagine this simplified model:

BODY STATES → Vagus Nerve (afferent signals) →

Insular Cortex → Amygdala → Prefrontal Cortex (cognitive regulation)

Prefrontal Cortex → Inhibits Amygdala → Calms Body via Vagus (efferent)

🎯 Real-Life Relevance

In stress/anxiety disorders:

Overactive amygdala, underactive prefrontal cortex, low vagal tone

In resilience & mindfulness:

Strong PFC, modulated amygdala, high vagal tone

Interventions:

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) → reduces amygdala reactivity, boosts mood

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) → strengthens neocortical control over emotions

Breathing/meditation → boosts vagal tone, calming body and brain