Befriending Your Nervous System
This course is held over five weeks and is a gentle yet deeply embodied understanding of Polyvagal Theory supported by compassionate inquiry. It is designed to increase self-awareness through embodied practice, education, group work and personal inquiry. Each session will finish with a guided relaxation practice so you can switch off your camera and transition smoothly into the rest of your evening.
Feeling into your unique nervous system
One thing we all have in common is that we all have a nervous system. Therefore, understanding your Nervous System patterning and experimenting with ways to traverse your inner landscape is an empowering enquiry.
Part of this system is the Vagus nerve, also known as ‘the wandering nerve’. It sprawls out from the brain and into the body like an intricate network of roots, connecting to the lungs, heart, gut, immune system, and many organs. It feeds information into all of our bodies’ systems, creating our physiology. Our Nervous System determines how we experience ourselves, other people and the world. More and more, we’re learning how critical vagal activity is to attention, mood and overall well being.
Science shows us that heightened vagal activity counteracts the stress response, which involves the Sympathetic Nervous System. Working with the Nervous System can unlock new doors to treating all manner of human suffering and take part in life or lead us to shelter when we feel a need to rest, recuperate, or protect ourselves.
Something happens when we befriend our inner workings rather than fighting with them. This course intends to empower you to utilise the wisdom of the nervous system through practice and compassionate inquiry to promote health and vitality in your system and your relationships.
Course Structure
All live sessions will be taught and recorded via Zoom.
Each module may include worksheets, guided video and audio practices, and other resources to support your learning and integration.
The recordings and resources are all stored on our online learning platform, which you will have access to for 12 months post the course.
You will learn through the group process, embodied practice, inquiry, simple movements, breathwork and sound in a trauma-informed way.
Course Modules
This acronym BASIC themes each week of our course
Befriend
Here we get a clear overview of Polyvagal Theory, including its three principles. Hierarchy, Neuroception and Co-regulation.
Attend
Here we inquire further into Neuroception by bringing what is feeding our Nervous System into conscious awareness.
Shape
Once we can identify where we are in our Nervous System, we get practical learning simple ways to shape our system.
Integrate
Taking what we are learning about our system to the next level, integrating what we know into a language we can use with ourselves and our relationships. Increasing our ability to communicate and connect to others compassionately and authentically.
Co-regulate
From the moment we are born, we are wired for connection. However, self-regulation is only one part of the picture. Here we explore safe ways that we can move into our social engagement system with others.
To book your place head to our events page.
“Befriending the nervous system has been so helpful in understanding the different stages of the nervous system. It has inspired me to take better care of myself and feel better supported. Thank you, Rachel.”
About your mentor - Rachel Nokes
Principle teacher trainer / Yoga Therapist / Yoga Teacher / Psychotherapist / Ayurvedic Practitioner
Rachel has found her life’s purpose, and she would love to inspire you to find yours. Over the past eleven years of teaching yoga Rachel has integrated her learning, creating a methodical approach to Vinyasa Yoga inspired greatly by the Krishnamacharya lineage. This includes intelligent sequence design, the weaving of Yogic philosophy and real-life storytelling, and chanting into the Yoga practice. In addition, Rachel loves how her students can choose from a range of Yoga tools so that the practice can really be made available to all students.
Rachel teaches the courses and workshops at her home studio in Bulli, which she has created over the past nine years with the loving support of her husband, Michael. She leads retreats in Australia, Europe, Bali and India. Rachel also offers ongoing mentoring to teachers who have completed the Ray of light teacher training or those looking to continue their exploration of Yoga philosophy and teaching. She loves how the Yoga family expands and celebrates the rich diversity in the students who attend her courses.
