Clients often come to me because they suffer from digestive issues. They’ve tried every diet trend, and none of them seem to work. This is because, while what you eat is important, your body’s ability to digest what you eat is also very important.

Chronic stress is a major factor that impairs your body’s ability to digest.

Digestion and the Nervous System

You may have heard of the “fight-or-flight” state of the nervous system.

When your nervous system is experiencing a lot of unrelenting stress, it doesn’t matter how well you’re eating. Your body isn’t in a state where it will prioritize digestion.

When you’re stuck in “fight-or-flight,” your body feels as though it is under threat and must find safety. Survival is the priority. This causes your digestive system to shut down, and your digestive fire (agni) to be diverted into your extremities so that you can fight or flee from the perceived threat. Digestion is delayed until you’re in a state of safety.

But if you’re chronically stressed, that sense of safety never comes. Your nervous system remains in an activated, sympathetic state, which will wreak havoc on your digestion and your body’s ability to regenerate and repair.

The parasympathetic state of the nervous system, also known as “rest and digest,” needs to be activated so that your body can feel calm, safe, and receive nourishment. Luckily, Ayurveda has many practices that can help your body move into this parasympathetic state.

Here are two practices you can do to help you manage stress and return your nervous system to its “rest-and-digest” (parasympathetic) state:

Ayurvedic Self-Massage (Abhyanga). This technique is unique to Ayurveda, and involves mindfully anointing the body with warm oil in the direction of the heart. Warm oil nourishes the nervous system, which promotes relaxation, clarity, and rejuvenation. By allowing the oil to penetrate the skin before bathing, it protects, nourishes, and cultivates self-love and self-compassion. Learn how to do it here.

Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana). The Sanskrit word shodhana means “purification.” Nadi shodhana calms, purifies, and strengthens the nervous system, relieves insomnia, balances hormones, prevents headaches and migraines, and alleviates anxiety and stress. Learn how to do it here.