How GYROTONIC® Stimulates the Vagus Nerve
Did you know that you have a nerve that connects your brain, heart, and gut? It’s called the vagus nerve and keeping it healthy is important for your overall health.
The word vagus comes from the Latin for “wandering” and this nerve is essentially the top commander of the parasympathetic system. When your vagus nerve is healthy and strong, your ability to chill out and relax is easily accessible. It also means you’ll have better digestion.
Fortunately, the exercise program known as GYROTONIC® stimulates the vagus nerve.
How GYROTONIC® Stimulates the Vagus Nerve
GYROTONIC® incorporates circular and three-dimensional movements to mobilize the spine and joints. Exercises are performed on specialized equipment to allow for continuous movement patterns while providing uniform resistance.
The movements in GYROTONIC® are gentle yet powerful. And they correspond with breathing patterns to nurture the nervous system. The breath and movement combo naturally stimulates the vagus nerve. Meanwhile, practitioners are able to strengthen and elongate the body though chronic tension while moving freely through space without stress or overexertion.
In other words, the aim of GYROTONIC® is to build the body up rather than break it down – to bolster it without depleting it. Doing so allows for the body to drop into the autonomic nervous system where healing can happen. Pathways such as the vagus nerve are opened up and energy can move freely.
Increasing Vagal Tone for Better Health
There are many benefits to keeping high vagal tone. One of the biggest reasons is to ward off fibromyalgia.
Patients with fibromyalgia know how paralyzing it can be. They experience unrelenting musculoskeletal pain all over the body from the moment they awaken until they finally manage to drift off to sleep. If they do drift off to sleep, that is.
Fibromyalgia can be accompanied by sleep issues that lead to fatigue and trouble with memory and mood. It’s often associated with other conditions as well such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, migraines and other headaches, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome. Patients struggling with this condition are often frustrated, discouraged, and desperate for relief.
Interestingly, it turns out that stimulating the vagus nerve can calm the symptoms of fibromyalgia, as well as the conditions associated with it. And stimulating the vagus nerve with safe and intentional movements like those found in GYROTONIC® doesn’t come with the side effects of pharmaceuticals. The result is less pain and an overall sense of wellbeing.
The vagus nerve also plays a role in digestion. It stimulates muscles in the pharynx, larynx, and the soft palate. In addition, it stimulates involuntary contractions in the stomach, esophagus, and most of the intestines to enable food to move through the digestive tract more easily.
Can Everyone Do GYROTONIC®?
Just about anyone can do GYROTONIC®. It’s low-impact and offers practitioners unfamiliar movements performed with proper alignment.
Those who practice GYROTONIC® range in ages from teenagers to seniors. And it doesn’t matter your fitness level. A highly trained GYROTONIC® instructor can meet you wherever you are.
Also, there’s no need to be intimidated by the equipment. It’s not like getting on gym equipment and figuring it out on your own. A skilled instructor who will guide you how to take smooth movements that provide the right resistance while ensuring you remain fully supported.
Plus, the unique weighted pulley systems in GYROTONIC® can be customized to fit your specific proportions and movement capabilities to ensure you achieve the natural and full range of motion in the joints. And all without the sharp starts and stops that can cause injury.
To put it simply – GYROTONIC® movements contribute to the good health of your vagus nerve while challenging you in the friendliest of ways. So it’s a win-win!
Ready to Give GYROTONIC® a Try?
If you’re interested in seeing how GYROTONIC® stimulates the vagus nerve and contributes to your overall good health, contact us today.
We are one of the very few places in Southeastern Michigan offering this amazing exercise method. We swear by it. So give it a try and we think you will too.