Up vs Down Nervous System Regulation

It’s a buzzy topic these days to regulate your nervous system, and I find that most regulation techniques are centered around calming & grounding. This is valid and I love it! But there is more to our nervous system; it’s a deeply dynamic system that has different' needs.

Did you know your nervous system is flexible and adaptable, and can be regulated either upward or downward? 

Up regulate when we are feeling stuck or stagnant or immobile. Up regulating is energizing and engaging. When we need to feel invigorated and mobilize our energy, we can turn to up regulation. This can be great for artists feeling stuck in their process, needing to shake things up and access new levels of creativity. It’s also good for professionals in the workplace, when you’ve been spinning your wheels on a project or process and it just seems haunted or stuck. This can be great for mamas who are feeling disconnected from their bodies because of the demands of motherhood  or feeling stuck in the world of your child.

Down regulation is calming and grounding. This when we need to feel connected to our rest and gravitational pull. This is frequently what we think of when we think of regulating our nervous system, coming into a place of total peace. 

Sometimes we have to mobilize and up regulate in order to get the system unstuck before we can fully down regulate and find stillness, quiet and groundedness. 

Reach out if you are interested in exploring up & down regulation of your nervous system with a board-certified dance/movement therapist!