So here’s a weird question:

Have you ever been really stressed... and then your tummy went rogue?

Bloating, cramping, weird appetite swings, digestion slower than a slug after falling into a pint of beer?

It's not just coincidence - it's your gut and brain doing their usual double act

Your brain and your gut are BFF (whether you like it or not)

Inside your body is a magic highway called the gut-brain axis, and it's a two-way chat line between your digestive system and your nervous system.

You've heard of the sympathetic nervous system (fight/ flight/ freeze) and parasympathetic nervous system (rest/digest).

But you might not have heard of the enteric nervous system. This is the part of your nervous system that directs the work of digesting food.

Together, these three branches are known as the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

How do they communicate?

I said it's like a chat line. And that chat line is called the vagus nerve. It communicates between the brain and all three branches of the ANS.

It’s like your body’s in-built therapist—as well as regulating digestion, it also calms things down, manages inflammation, and generally helps you feel okay. 

So when you’re stressed—mentally, emotionally, physically—the chat line starts sending messages and things get a bit off.

What happens when you're stressed?

Your sympathetic nervous system tells your body to divert energy away from digestion and into emergency mode.

So suddenly:

• You’re eating, but not really digesting.
• You’re bloated for no reason.
• Your appetite’s up/down/nowhere.
• You feel wired and weirdly sluggish.



How do you calm the chaos?

By engaging the parasympathetic nervous system—aka rest and digest mode.

We want to be here more often.

Because this is when:

✅ Your gut functions properly
✅ Your neurotransmitters (like serotonin and dopamine) balance out
✅ You stop feeling like a fizzy can of stress and start feeling like yourself

And guess what helps activate the vagus nerve?

Err, all the things we've been talking about in the last few blogs:

✨ Breathwork 

 ✨ Humming/ singing

✨ Moving 

✨ Cold water

 ✨ Reflection/ mindfulness/ meditation

✨ Taking time to just be in your body

How does Pilates help activate the vagus nerve?

We're breathing properly. We're moving. We're being mindful as we pay attention to our body.

Want to feel a bit more balanced—gut, brain, and everything in between?

Come and try it. Your nervous system will thank you. Your digestion probably will too.

Not only will you calm your nervous system, you'll also feel physically better in your back and hips. It's an absolute win-win!

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