Harnessing Yoga and the Vagus Nerve for Stress Relief with Marie Young
Sep 26, 2024"Yoga opens the door to a lot of creativity on how to get the yoga benefits quickly, especially for people like entrepreneurs or those who work in offices."
In this enlightening episode of the Wellness Center Creators podcast, host Kendall Hagensen interviews Marie Young, an expert in stress reduction techniques focusing on yoga and the vagus nerve. The conversation delves into Marie's personal journey, the science behind her methods, and practical advice for listeners looking to manage stress more effectively.
Marie's Journey
Marie's story begins in 2001 when she first discovered yoga. This practice triggered a profound shift in her nervous system, leading her to explore various healing modalities. Her journey evolved from personal healing to becoming a yoga teacher and eventually developing her own technique called "Body Informed Resiliency."
“The vagus nerve and I are best friends.”
The Vagus Nerve and Stress Management
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the vagus nerve, which Marie describes as the "wandering nerve." Key points include:
- The vagus nerve is one of the longest nerves in the body, innervating various organs from the face to the intestines.
- It plays a crucial role in regulating the nervous system, helping to shift from sympathetic (fight or flight) to parasympathetic (rest and digest) states.
- Signs of vagus nerve activation include yawning, sighing, and swallowing.
Body Informed Resiliency
Marie's technique, Body Informed Resiliency, focuses on:
- Organic movement rather than perfecting poses
- Using humor to put people at ease
- Encouraging closed-eye exercises to promote a sense of safety
- Emphasizing the connection between movement and emotion
Chanting and the Vagus Nerve
Marie introduces chanting as a powerful tool for stress relief:
- Bija mantras, or seed mantras, correspond to different chakras and aspects of human experience.
- Chanting can help unblock energy and address various issues, from financial concerns to self-expression.
- The practice of chanting, especially "om," has been shown to tone the vagus nerve.
- Chanting can be particularly beneficial for women in helping them vocalize and express themselves.
Practical Advice for Stress Relief
Throughout the conversation, Marie and Kendall offer practical tips for listeners:
- Start with short periods of closed-eye breathing exercises to become aware of your nervous system state.
- Incorporate movement, even small gestures, to help process emotions and stress.
- Try silent chanting if vocalizing feels uncomfortable at first.
- Use before-and-after check-ins to notice the effects of stress relief practices.
Marie's Coaching Program
Marie offers coaching packages that combine stress reduction techniques with productivity strategies:
- A three-session package and a twelve-month transformational package, both currently offered at a 50% discount.
- The program aims to help clients reduce stress, increase productivity, and uncover their purpose.
- By consistently practicing stress reduction and vagal toning, clients can more easily return to a state of equanimity and focus on their goals.
Key Takeaways
- Stress relief techniques like yoga and chanting have both "magical" and scientific components, making them accessible to a wide range of people.
- Body awareness is crucial in managing stress, but it's a skill that needs to be developed over time.
- Simple practices like organic movement, breathing exercises, and chanting can have profound effects on stress levels and overall well-being.
- The vagus nerve plays a central role in stress management, and activities that stimulate it can quickly bring about a sense of calm and alertness.
- Incorporating these practices into daily life can help professionals and entrepreneurs better manage stress and focus on their goals and purpose.
This episode provides valuable insights for anyone looking to manage stress more effectively, especially busy professionals and entrepreneurs. Marie's approach combines ancient wisdom with modern understanding, offering practical tools that can be easily integrated into daily life.
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About Marie Young
I coach stressed out professionals and entrepreneurs and offer relaxation and productivity techniques, mindset optimization, and metrics to increase satisfaction in both work and professional lives.
Marie’s Website and Links
- Website: http://www.mariebyoung.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marieyoungmedandmore
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marieyoungcoach/
About Anna Rudel
Anna Rudel, L. Ac is the owner and founder of Lokahi Acupuncture Clinic in San Jose California, founded in 2003. Anna is a master organizer and clinician, and as a Coach she specializes in working with Clinic Owners in the state of California, and Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Clinic Owners, or groups wanting to add Acupuncture worldwide, as well as teams that need support with employee retention and satisfaction. Born in the UK, Anna has traveled extensively in Asia and now has a thriving multi-practitioner clinic in the US!
Anna's Website and Links
- Website: https://lokahiacupuncture.com/
- Learn Group Coaching: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/group-coaching
- For info about Individual Coaching: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/individual-coaching
About Kendall Hagensen
Kendall is a Somatic Mental Health Therapist, Multidisciplinary Clinic Owner and Business Coach. She specializes in, and is passionate about, working with healthcare professionals to create the businesses of their dreams. Big goals always have a psychological component beneath the surface, so Kendall uses her background in Somatic Psychotherapy and EMDR Therapy mixed with Business Coaching tools to help clients develop a healthy relationship with their business and their strength as a leader.
As someone who lives with a chronic illness herself, Kendall feels that health happens best within community, which is why she takes a holistic, integrative, and collaborative wellness approach to her personal and professional life.
Kendall’s Web/Social Links