LIFE+ Blog

The parasympathetic nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system are both subsets of the autonomic nervous system. This system works automatically and controls the internal organs.

Sympathetic

The sympathetic nervous system is also known as the fight or flight system and is the system that responds to stressful stimuli. When this system is fired it results in increased sweat production, short rapid breathing increased muscle tightness in large muscle groups (typically leading to neck pain or headaches.), and increased heart rate (McCorry L. K. (2007)).

Parasympathetic

The other subset of the autonomic nervous system is the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the rest and digest system. This system, when engaged will decrease breathing rate and heart rate, increase digestion, cause the muscle to relax, and releases epinephrine and norepinephrine. Essentially the parasympathetic system causes the body and mind of an individual to enter a more relaxed state (McCorry L. K. (2007)).

Is it possible to control one’s autonomic nervous system in order to assist it? Is it possible to switch from a flight and fright state to a rest and digest state? Not only is it possible to perform, but it is also actually quite practical and easy to perform. The secret? Abdominal breathing.

Abdominal breathing is simply the act of breathing deeply through one’s stomach. Ideally, this should be performed for 15-20 minutes. Although, health benefits can be found in as little as 5-10 minutes. This can be performed anywhere, from sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, sitting in a stressful meeting at work, or sitting in a dark cool room.

Benefits of Abdominal Breathing

By practicing deep abdominal breathing daily there are several things that will occur:

• It will become easier to break into and stay in a parasympathetic state (relaxed state).
• From being in a parasympathetic state, an individual will notice that it is easier to stay relaxed and it will become easier to relax in stressful situations.