The balance of the nervous system is central to our well-being and to the proper functioning of pretty much all the systems of the body. Learning how to upregulate and downregulate the nervous system is an important component of learning how to deal constructively with stress. Stress, as most people know, contributes to numerous diseases, including as cardiovascular disease a d cancer, as well as autoimmune, inflammatory, digestive, endocrine and psychological disorders.

In this 3-part online course, yoga therapist and physical therapist Ginger Garner explores the role of the vagus nerve in facilitating a balanced nervous system function. In recent years, increasing research has documented the importance of the vagus nerve in regulating the stress response. The vagus nerve is the largest nerve in the autonomic nervous system, extending all the way from the brain to the colon, and it plays a key role in heart, lung and digestive function. We now know that a strong vagal tone helps us cope more effectively with stress, while weak vagal tone has been linked to disorders like chronic inflammation, which in turn, is associated with chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer.

In this course, Ginger will show how yoga practices and philosophy provide us with a unique lens through which to understand how to work with the nervous system. We will explore how the practice of yoga can help us to promote vagal tone and build greater nervous system balance.

What You Will Learn:

• How the vagus nerve impacts mind-body health
• How an understanding of vagal function impacts our approach in yoga
• Critical components of polyvagal theory
• Key self-assessment and yoga techniques 
• How to create awareness for optimizing vagal function 
• Tools for teaching trauma sensitive yoga
• Boundary setting as a yoga teacher or yoga therapist
• When to refer to a healthcare provider
  
  

Take a Sneak Peek at Ginger's Course:​​