Nervous System Regulation 101: Easy Practices for Less Stress and More Calm

In this solo episode of Meaning and Moxie After 50, Leslie explores why so many women over 50 feel stuck in a constant state of stress, overwhelm, and exhaustion. Drawing on her background as a certified stress management coach and longtime yoga teacher, she explains the science behind nervous system regulation and shares a powerful message: you cannot think your way out of a stressed body—you must physically show your body that it is safe. Leslie breaks down the difference between the sympathetic ("fight or flight") and parasympathetic ("rest and restore") nervous systems, explaining how chronic stress impacts everything from sleep and muscle tension to emotional well-being.Throughout the episode, Leslie guides listeners through several simple, science-backed practices that can calm the nervous system in real time. These include an orientation exercise that uses sight and touch to signal safety to the brain, extended exhale breathing to stimulate the vagus nerve and improve heart rate variability, releasing tension in the jaw and shoulders, and a self-hug technique based on deep pressure therapy. She emphasizes that lasting change comes not from occasional wellness practices but from small, daily moments of regulation that retrain the brain through neuroplasticity. Leslie closes with a reminder that true moxie after 50 isn't about pushing through exhaustion—it's about creating a body and life that feel safe, calm, and supportive every day.Leslie's Info: https://meaningandmoxieafter50.com/**The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute  legal advice;  instead, all information, content and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this podcast  may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This podcast contains links to other third party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser.