REST (before you have to).

Rest and nervous system regulation are things i mention alot when supporting clients, especially those with inflammatory skin issues and jaw pain sufferers ~ rest and caring for our nervous systems is way up in there in terms of care (for everyone else too! I’m just as likely to recommend a yoga Nidra as I am a skincare product).

Nervous system regulation is vast and complex depending on different peoples physiology, lived experiences, stress factors and mental health. For that reason, I prefer to focus on introducing more rest as a concept instead ~ not just to support the skin of course, but the body as a whole.

Rest invites us to step out of ‘doing’ and into ‘being’ ~ from there, we can let our minds and bodies settle, let our nervous systems recalibrate and see what comes to us in the stillness (it holds potential to actually be a really creative and inspiring time. Of the Earth as you know it was born in moments of rest!). 

Below, I’ve included some inspiration on how to carve out time for rest, some (brief) info on the nervous system & it’s influence on the skin & my favourite rest practices including a Yoga Nidra, a Yin class and a facial massage class.

First of all, I’d love for you to consider what your relationship with rest is? It’s ok if you find it hard. Most of us do. We live in a culture and society that glorifies ‘busy’ and most of us haven’t been taught that it’s ok to prioritise ourselves and rest.

I love the concept of the 7 types of rest. We are all so different and my idea of rest compared to yours may be completely at different ends of the spectrum. It’s a lovely practice to journal on the following points and come up with some ideas of different ways to rest that you can reach for depending on what you need. They are Physical, mental, sensory, creative, emotional, spiritual and social rest. Have a peek below to see what I wrote for mine.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

~ What is my relationship with rest? How does the idea of rest make me feel?

~ What are my barriers to rest?

~ How can I make more space for rest?

~ What does rest mean to me?

~ How would it feel and look to be rested?

~ Use the 7 types of rest to create some ideas for ways to rest depending on your needs that moment.

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

I wanted to give you a (very brief!) overview of how the central nervous system works to give you an idea of how it can impact the skin and also what we can do to bring our nervous systems out of ‘fight-or-flight’ and into it’s ‘rest-digest’ state.

What is the Nervous System?

The nervous system is your body's communication network. It sends messages between your brain and the rest of your body so you can move, think, feel, and react.

The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems are two main branches of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), you may have heard of the terms fight-or-flight and rest-digest, these are two super important functions of the nervous system and understanding how it works will help us to understand it’s effect on our day to day life and how we can make small changes to help!

1. Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)

This is your “fight or flight” system. It gets your body ready to deal with stress or danger. Think of it like the accelerator pedal in the car.

What it does:

• Increases heart rate

• Opens airways for more oxygen

• Dilates pupils (so you can see better)

• Slows digestion (so your body can focus on survival)

• Releases adrenaline

Example:

If a dog suddenly barks loudly, your body tenses up, your heart races, and you're ready to run — that’s your sympathetic nervous system in action.

2. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)

This is your “rest and digest” system. It calms your body down after stress and helps it recover and conserve energy.

What it does:

• Slows heart rate

• Constricts pupils

• Stimulates digestion

• Helps with rest, sleep, and body repair

Example:

After you eat a big meal and relax on the couch, your parasympathetic system takes over to digest food and slow everything down.

These systems in the body are vital for us to survive. We need a balance of both, it’s not a case of one being better than the other, we definitely don’t want to be in a parasympathetic response all of the time. The thing is, we are often caught in our ‘fight-or-flight’ response way more than we need to be. Our Sympathetic nervous system is crucial or survival and was especially helpful to our ancestors who were often faced with deadly danger. But it’s like our brains haven’t caught up with our modern way of living and even the smallest of stressors like getting stuck in traffic or a difficult email at work can kick our Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) into action. When our nervous system is constantly stuck in fight or flight it can mean our bodies get stuck in a stress response and contribute to inflammation in the body.

The good news is there are many ways to influence the Parasympathetic nervous system, our PNS or Rest-and-digest state to help us find balance around our daily stressors:

1. Slow, deep breathing or diaphragmatic breathing

2. Meditation or mindfulness

3. Restorative yoga & Yin yoga (click here for a free class)

4. Massage / intentional touch

5. Positive social interactions

6. Hugs with favourite people or pets!

7. Quiet time in nature

8. Quality sleep

9. Guided relaxation (my favourite is Yoga Nidra - click here to practice!)

10. Belly laughs, joyful activities and silly conversations with friends.

FACIAL MASSAGE & THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

I always talk about how the treatments I offer are all about nurturing the whole of you, skin, body, mind and nervous system. Here’s how:

Massage therapy has a profound effect on the nervous system, influencing it in several ways that promote relaxation, pain relief, and overall well-being.

1. Activation of the Parasympathetic Nervous System (Rest & Digest)

Massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the body relax and recover. This counteracts the sympathetic nervous system ("fight or flight"), reducing stress responses.

• Result: Lowered heart rate, reduced blood pressure, and slower breathing.

• Benefit: Promotes deep relaxation and better sleep.

2. Reduction in Stress Hormones

Massage reduces levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) and increases levels of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that improve mood.

• Result: Reduced anxiety, depression, and stress.

• Benefit: Improved mental and emotional well-being.

3. Stimulation of Nerve Receptors

Massage stimulates mechanoreceptors in the skin and fascia, which send signals to the brain that can reduce muscle tension and promote calm.

• Result: Increased proprioception (awareness of body position).

• Benefit: Improved coordination, posture, and reduced muscle tightness.

4. Promotion of Neuroplasticity and Brain Health

Regular massage may enhance neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize), particularly through reducing stress and improving sleep quality.

• Result: Better cognitive performance and emotional regulation.

• Benefit: May help support recovery from neurological conditions and improve resilience.

A regulated nervous system supports healthy skin by:

• Controlling inflammation.
  
  

• Maintaining a robust barrier.
  
  

• Enhancing wound healing.
  
  

• Stabilizing sebum and sweat production.
  
  

• Supporting a healthy skin microbiome.

So yes use lovely products that make you feel good, but it’s equally if not even more important to be prioritising space for rest and to let your nervous system settle.

Below are 3 of my favourite practices for nervous system support.