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What is nervous system regulation?
Your nervous system has two modes: active (sympathetic - fight/flight) and rest (parasympathetic - rest/digest). When you're stressed, burnt out, or dealing with trauma, your nervous system can get stuck in active mode—constantly alert, unable to switch off.
This isn't a choice. It's your autonomic nervous system doing what it's designed to do: keep you safe. But when it stays in survival mode long-term, you get chronic tension, insomnia, anxiety, digestive issues, and exhaustion.
Nervous system regulation is about teaching your body it's safe enough to rest. Not through thinking or talking, but through body-based practices that work directly with your nervous system.
Somatic work. Breathwork. Progressive muscle relaxation.
These aren't relaxation techniques. They're regulation practices backed by neuroscience and proven to shift your nervous system out of survival mode.
Explore our services and get in touch
Our Services
01.Settle the Storm Class
90 minutes of nervous system regulation for bodies that won't settle. Somatic movement, breathwork, and progressive muscle relaxation. We close with cacao and quiet. For people experiencing burnout, chronic stress, insomnia, or nervous systems stuck in survival mode. Gentle, grounded, accessible. Some people come weekly. Some drop in when needed. Everyone's welcome. Thursday evenings, 6:30-8pm, Our Lady Immaculate Church Hall, Newmarket.
02.1:1 Personalised Support
Personalized nervous system work tailored to what your body is holding. Chronic tension, insomnia, anxiety, panic, trauma responses, or bodies that won't settle. Somatic release, breathwork, guided regulation—adapted to your needs and capacity. Primarily online (work from your own space) or in-person if local to Newmarket. 1 hour (£45) for full nervous system work. 30 minutes (£30) for focused rest and regulation. Not sure? Start with 30 minutes.
03.Children's Nervous System Sessions
Gentle regulation work for children (ages 5-12) in schools, nurseries, events, or at home. Playful 30-45 minute sessions building regulation skills, emotional literacy, and confidence through movement, creativity, breathwork, and grounding. Trauma-informed, neurodivergence-friendly, adapted to each child's needs. Can act as bridging provision where SEN support isn't yet in place or complement existing services. Block bookings and term contracts available for schools/nurseries.
04.Workshops & Retreats
Half-day and full-day immersive sessions for deeper nervous system work. Extended time to explore somatic movement, breathwork, and regulation practices. Seasonal and themed workshops throughout the year. Upcoming: Release (May 16th, Super New Moon), The Quiet (June 6th, outdoor session at Milton Country Park). Small groups (8-12 max), trauma-informed, fully accessible with seated options. Perfect for when you need more time to settle, release, and restore.
Upcoming Events
The Quiet: Somatic movement, breathwork & cacao in natureSat 06 JunMilton Country Park
Early Bird AvailableRelease. An embodied movement workshopSat 16 MayOur Lady Immaculate Parish Centre
Why it works & what it can do for you
POLYVAGAL THEORY
Dr. Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory shows that the vagus nerve (the main nerve connecting your brain to your body) regulates your nervous system state. When it's
toned and active, you can rest. When it's underactive, you stay stuck in fight/flight.
Somatic practices, breathwork, and progressive muscle relaxation all activate and
tone the vagus nerve, signaling to your body that it's safe to settle.
SOMATIC MOVEMENT
Research shows that gentle, mindful movement:
- Reduces cortisol (stress hormone) levels
- Activates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest mode)
- Releases stored tension in muscles and fascia
- Improves interoception (your ability to sense what's happening in your body)
Unlike exercise (which activates your sympathetic system), somatic movement is slow,
intentional, and designed to calm—not energize—your nervous system.
BREATHWORK
Controlled breathing directly impacts your autonomic nervous system:
- Slow exhales (longer than inhales) activate the vagus nerve
- Box breathing (4-4-6) shifts you from sympathetic to parasympathetic
- Diaphragmatic breathing reduces heart rate and blood pressure
- Vagal toning exercises strengthen your nervous system's ability to regulate
Studies show breathwork reduces anxiety, improves sleep, and increases heart rate
variability (a measure of nervous system resilience).
PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION (PMR)
PMR works by systematically tensing and releasing muscle groups, which:
- Releases chronic muscle tension (where stress gets stored)
- Trains your body to recognize the difference between tension and relaxation
- Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
- Reduces physical symptoms of anxiety and stress
Research shows PMR is effective for insomnia, chronic pain, and anxiety disorders.
EVIDENCE BASE
These aren't alternative therapies. They're evidence-based practices used in:
- Trauma therapy (somatic experiencing, sensorimotor psychotherapy)
- Pain management clinics
- Sleep medicine
- Stress reduction programs (MBSR - Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction)
The research is clear: when you work with your body, your nervous system can shift.