3 Ways to Reset Your Nervous System in Community
Usha Anandi. 20 | DECEMBER | 2023
When we asked the womben of our community what they needed the most right now, the number one response we received was “nervous system reset”.
And looking at the current state of the world and everything we’ve been through both individually and collectively in the last few years, I can understand why.
In these last years, our work at Womben Wellness has been almost exclusively online.
After teaching in-person trainings for years before I ever posted a single teaching video online, I’ve got to admit.
I was skeptical.
I was skeptical as to how much could be transmitted through the screen, but I have been consistently amazed at the ways in which womben continue to connect, despite the physical distance and all around strangeness in the world.
For those of you who have been with us in these online years, from the deepest place within me, thank you.
We can be grateful for technology and the connection it offers us while also admitting that we’re so damn tired of looking at a screen all day.
I know I am.
So when our community asked for a nervous system reset, I wanted to offer something that doesn’t involve looking at a screen and following another practice.
I wanted to give you something that gets you outside, into your body, and reminds you of what it feels like to be connected to something bigger again.
Voilá, an in-person retreat in one of my favorite places in the world was born.
Did I mention they serve food that is a fusion of Greek and Ayurvedic cuisines? YES, THAT EXISTS.
Our last retreat sold out in just a few weeks – because the womben on the Waitlist had first dibs and couldn’t wait to connect with us in person.
Connecting for a week of womb work, ceremony, and nourishing time with other womben was an offer they couldn’t refuse.
So if no more looking at a screen… No more feeling alone… And just you, me, my badass assistant, and 25 other womben singing, dancing, and remembering what it feels like to be alive sounds like your cup of tea, get your name on our Waitlist to be the first to know when our next retreat hits the calendar.
I want to give you the nervous system reset that you desire, but it’s not going to involve looking at a screen.
Whether you come to our Womb Healing Retreat in Greece or not, the invitation is to practice these steps in community.
There’s only so much we can do on our own. And in the self-help, self-development world, it almost feels taboo to name that.
But the truth is that our wellness is deeply connected with the wellness of our community, and after these last few years, many of us are starting to recognize this…
We are tired of walking alone for our mental health, yoga classes online, and meditations on Youtube.
What I’m craving, and what I think you are too, is co-regulation.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to experience nervous system reset in community below:
1. Hugging for more than 20 seconds
If you’ve read this far and found out that hugging is something you can do to reset your nervous system, stay with me.Hugging for less than 20 seconds is great, but hugging for more than 20 seconds starts the flow of oxytocin.
Known as the love and bonding hormone, oxytocin not only makes you more open to receiving and giving love, it also reduces stress, decreases inflammation, and balances hormones.
And we rush through everything, hugging, making love, and even self-pleasuring, most of us don’t get enough of the good stuff.
Find someone who you can glob onto for 20 seconds or more for a nice long, nourishing hug.
And remember, consent is key.
We’ve all had that weird new age guy try to hug us for way too long. So if you’re going to co-regulate with someone, make sure it is indeed co-regulation and not just you desiring for it to be.
2. Moving bodies together
Do you know the dances associated with your culture and heritage?
Most cultures have their own traditional dances, and there’s a reason why. Dancing is a way to celebrate being alive, and to keep cultures alive.
When words don’t suffice, dancing with others is a powerful way to bring our emotions and experiences to life.
By moving our bodies together, we express what needs to be shared while being witnessed by others doing the same.
When was the last time you danced? When was the last time you got up in the morning and moved your body for no reason other than celebrating being alive?
Everyday in Greece, we will dance. Everyday in Greece, we will share our stories, experiences, and heritage through moving our bodies.. If you feel called, check out our upcoming in-person events here.
3. Singing together
If you know me, you know I love to sing.
Growing up, my parents were often yelling and fighting with each other. Singing was my way of making myself feel better. Without needing to go anywhere, singing would transport me to a different place…
A place where I felt safe, where life made sense, and where I was free. .
Perhaps the most-judged art, thanks to shows like American Idol or The Voice, most of us learn early that if we don’t sound good, we shouldn’t sing.
But what if I told you that no matter how you sound, your voice has medicine?
When you sing, you create a vibration.
This vibration oscillates your vagus nerve, which turns on your relaxation response.
There’s a reason why birthing mothers make a lot of noise… because creating sound with the voice is a profound way to open, find presence, and relax.
You can practice these steps with anyone, perhaps with a friend, in a group of those you love, or with your family.
And if you want to join us womb-to-womb for our next in-person retreat?
Tap the button below to be the first to get those deets.
