The parasympathetic nervous system

This is our goal, right? Stimulating the para-sympathetic nervous system helps us regulate our breathing and our heart rate. So I was always curious as to the “how and why” of this statement. Why are sacral rolls and forward bends considered optimal for stimulating the para-sympathetic nervous system? Well what I’ve learned is this: “Forward folds stretch and create space between the vertebrae in the spine, which is the commander of our Autonomic Nervous System.” (Via Savanna Stevens of S3 yoga). It creates better circulation to your spinal cord and the nerve system that runs along it, stimulating the para-sympathetic nervous system. Sacral rolls involve the sacral preganglionic neurons which are considered parasympathetic, thus again stimulating the PNS as well. So keep exploring these concepts and keep them in mind during your next time on your mat~