Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things related to the practice. In this episode, we interviewed fellow yogi and anatomy teacher, Erin Moon, to talk about the practices and tools to assist in deregulation and the role of the parasympathetic nervous system in managing stress. Resources Mentioned The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk - a book about somatic input in recovery from trauma and stress. Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Dr. Sapolsky - a book about the neurobiology of stress. Highlights from this Episode 1:30 Five Questions: Introducing Erin Moon We ask guests five questions to help us and our listeners get to know them and some of the more subtle aspects of their lives. 5:20 Aligning with the Chakras Clara, Erin, and Stephanie share which chakra they feel most connected to and why that specific part on the body resonates most. 8:00 Stressors of Online Environments Erin and Clara share their experience leading yoga teacher training online with stressors that arose, how they handled issues, and how to trust in the process of the experience. 17:28 Anatomy of Sensory Experience How we're affected in the shift to online spaces to learn and engage with others, in terms of our anatomy, somatic experience, and how we take in and process information via the body. 22:55 Downregulation: Restorative Poses and Practices Clara shares some of the yoga poses and practices to downregulate and create a state of calm in the body and mind. 26:40 Applying the Polyvagal Brake The role of the vagus nerve in stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as rest and digest, to create a sense of calm. 31:20 How to Strengthen the Vagus Tone Strengthening the vagal tone allows the person to enter a state of downregulation more efficiently; we do this through pranayama in yoga in ways that are excitatory or grounding. 34:47 Vinyasa Yoga and Responding To Stress How vinyasa yoga teaches the practitioner to react to events as they arise and practice coming back to neutral; this process strengthens our choice-making capabilities while being highly stimulated. 39:11 The Belly and Brain Relationship Polyvagal theory shows a direct link between the brain and the digestive system proving that it really does matter what we put into our bodies and our environment. 43:04 The Body Keeps The Score A book by Bessel van der Kolk, on how your mind's job is to take care of the body, and your body's job is to tell the mind how it's doing. 46:35 Practices to Alleviate Stress Clara and Erin's practices—including mudra, mantra, and pranayama— to alleviate the stress that they use themselves and provide students. 56:23 All the Ways We Cheer Ourselves Up Small things we do for ourselves or people we reach out to, to give ourselves a positive boost and endorphin rush to brighten the day.