An important part of nervous system regulation is resources. Positive resources help us contain ourselves in moments of stress or difficulty. Resources are helpful in order to build capacity to be with uncomfortable feelings and release stress out of our system.
Resources look like a coping mechanism but when we are using resources, we use them consciously instead of bypassing our internal experience. There are times when we need to bring our focus to the external world like, the room that we are in, the ground beneath us, the sounds around us, in order to go deeper within our internal world. We can use somatic practices in order to sooth ourselves and make our nervous system feel safe. But we can also make use of physical items (external resources) that aid in nervous system regulation.
- Yoga Bolster or a Big Pillow
One of the best things to have around is a yoga bolster or a big pillow to lay down upon. The pressure of the bolster against your chest or abdomen has an incredible calming effect on the nervous system. There are several exercises you can do with a bolster like, child’s pose, supported bridge pose, legs up the wall (one of my favorites), and really any other yoga pose where you can use a bolster for. If you don’t have a bolster it’s worth investing in one, or use a big pillow, or multiple, to create a similar soothing effect.
- Blanket
Using a blanket has another calming effect because it can make you feel contained, less exposed and therefor create a sense of safety. A blanket can also be used as an extra support on a bolster or to wrap a blanket around you as you lay down in a specific (yoga) pose. Another great time to use a blanket is during meditation. And if you learn to follow your own impulse you will find more moments in life where using a blanket may be helping you to settle and calm your nervous system.
Make sure the blanket you use has the right (soft) material that you like and even the right color! Certain colors could also make you feel slightly activated, so put some effort into finding the right cozy blanket just for you (preferably from organic materials).
- Tea Mug
The touch of an item can help you focus on something external outside of you. You can use a tea mug, with your favorite tea in it, to help sooth yourself. The warmth against the skin of your hands can be helpful when you need containment or when you need to find connection with your body while having a conversation with someone else. Or the warmth of the cup can simply help you feel cozy and relaxed.
- Yoga Mat
A yoga mat seems typical, but it really is a great item to have in your home. Not just for yoga or exercise, but also to have an option to lay down on a different surface beneath you. Laying down on the ground may not be so comfortable and may prevent you from sensing your body, because connecting with the body can already be uncomfortable when you are literally uncomfortable!
On a couch or a bed, you may be tempted to fall asleep or drift away, which is fine, but if we won’t to practice containment and sooth ourselves we need to stay aware of our experience. A yoga mat is not as soft as a bed or a couch, but has just the right cushioning to help you relax (depending on the thickness). And you can use the above-mentioned bolster and blanket together with your yoga mat. Which is basically the props you need for a yoga practice, but you don’t necessarily have to do yoga to own these items.
- Yourself
And last but not least, your own body is the item to use for soothing the nervous system! You can touch your skin, your head, touch your face, different organs on the body, you can hug yourself, you can sway your body gently from side to side etc. You can even make circular motions with your hands on your butt! Really anything that gives you a sense of calm and safety is a way to create nervous system regulation. But you can use your physical body itself as a way to help you settle and the best part about it, is that it’s free and you always have it with you.
If some things don’t work for you then that’s also ok. Not everything works for everyone. It may be that for example, rolling a suitcase on the floor makes you feel relaxed, because it makes your arm buzz and tingle. Or maybe a stress ball is something that works for you, petting your cat, running water down your hands, placing an eye pillow on your eyes, or wearing your favorite comfy sweatpants. For nervous system regulation we need to find and implement several things that work for us and for our own body. And what works for us and what doesn’t may change over time. So, stay curious throughout your day as you use different items to help you settle, because you may as well discover something new.
Until next time.
With Love, Naomi
P.s. you may also like to read my other blog ‘How To Do A Nervous System Cleanse in 3 Steps’ and ‘7 Types of Sacred Rest You Need For Optimal Health’.
Sign up for my Newsletter to receive my free guide ‘6 Steps to Emotional Stress Release’.
Written by Naomi
More Posts
The Blind Spot Behind ‘Feel It To Heal It’
For those of us on the healing path must have heard about the saying ‘feel it to heal it’. This is a good thing to have going around in the healing communities, since we are still in the emotional dark ages collectively. The first step of getting out of the emotional...
What Is The Difference Between Shadow Work and Somatic Work?
A lot of people associate shadow work with psychology which is true, the psyche is a big component of where our shadows are hidden. But there is a real kind of shadow work that is the most effective for our healing and that is somatic work. I personally think that...
How To Prepare For Activations On Your Ascension Path?
If you are on your ascension journey you must have heard about 'activations'. Activations are light codes that are coming into the planet and into your energy field. They are essentially helping us reach higher consciousness and clear out distortions that we have been...