You've probably heard a lot about mindset and mental shifts (which are super valuable!), and yes, top-down approaches are essential.
But integrating a bottom-up approach may be exactly the shift you need to get unstuck—and here's why: 20% of the communication runs brain to body (which is crucial and we’re definitely not overlooking that!), but 80% of communication runs from body to brain.
Yes, 80%! We want healthy, open lines of communication going both ways.
Which is why I do encourage you to keep your mindset practices, but also integrate what I am teaching here today.
Today, I’m talking about how this body-to-brain communication matters so much for your relationship with food, your body, and your overall health.
I also guide you through a practice that I personally do multiple times a day—one that helps strengthen the line of communication from your body to your brain, supports a shift into a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state, and even helps build gray matter in both the insula and prefrontal cortex.
This practice is particularly effective because it stimulates the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in regulating your nervous system and helping your body feel safe and calm.
In this practice, we focus on grounding and noticing physical points of contact beneath us, like the chair or floor supporting us.
You’ll also bring attention to subtle sensations like your tongue resting in your mouth, your eyes gently resting in their sockets, and the breath flowing in and out of your nose, making contact with your skin.
These simple actions signal safety to the brain and help regulate your nervous system, encouraging it to feel more grounded and at ease.
It’s simple, accessible, and something you can do pretty much anywhere—especially helpful when you're feeling stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed.
Whether you're working on your food and exercise patterns, managing stress, or just looking for ways to regulate your nervous system, this somatic practice can help you build awareness and bring more ease into your daily life.
👉 Note: In this video, I mention that if you have neuropathy (nerve damage), you may not be able to feel certain parts of your body, which could make this practice less accessible for you.
The same applies if you’re experiencing pain due to neuropathy.
There are alternatives and gentle shifts I would recommend to make this practice more comfortable and accessible.
If you’d like some insight or support around that, feel free to reach out at eileen@foodfreedomyogi.com.
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Eileen Mitchell, 500 RYT
Specializing in Therapeutic Practices for Nervous System Regulation | Holistic Health Coach | Intuitive Eating Counselor
🌎 Website: www.foodfreedomyogi.com
📩 Email: eileen@foodfreedomyogi.com
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