Parasympathetic Activation: Why It Matters & How Inner Nova and Nova Soma Can Help
Parasympathetic activation is essential to being human—without it, we wouldn’t survive.
“Parasympathetic” refers to the mode your autonomic nervous system (ANS) is running in—aka the glorious “rest & digest” mode. Honestly, this is the premium setting. Your ANS is basically the autopilot for all the vital stuff your body does without you thinking about it—breathing (mostly automatic), heart rate, blood pressure, temperature regulation, digestion… without it, well… you’d be dead.
Think of the parasympathetic nervous system as the orchestra of your body. Just like an orchestra keeps every instrument in harmony during a performance, your parasympathetic system keeps everything in balance inside you.
For example:
Your heart rate slows to a calm, steady rhythm
Digestion kicks in efficiently, breaking down food while you relax on the sofa after a meal
Breathing deepens naturally
Blood pressure stabilises, keeping circulation smooth, just like the conductor keeping the tempo steady
The opposite? Sympathetic activation, a.k.a. stress mode—the mosh pit of your body (as fun and adrenaline-fuelled as it is at the time). Everything goes into overdrive: your heart races, your blood pressure spikes, your breathing becomes shallow, and your digestive system basically hits pause.
Both systems are necessary, but life is a lot nicer when you spend more time calm & balanced rather than stressed & wired.
So let me introduce Inner Nova and Nova Soma—two new offerings grounded in science and led by soul. Each of these guides your nervous system into that much-coveted parasympathetic mode, leaving you feeling calm, relaxed, balanced, and… well, regulated.
Inner Nova uses hypnosis techniques to guide you through relaxation exercises and visualisations—deepening your calm with every word. Guided hypnosis has been shown to calm the nervous system, lowering heart rate and blood pressure—classic signs of parasympathetic activation (Hammond, 2010).
Nova Soma uses ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) to nudge your nervous system into parasympathetic mode through gentle, targeted touch on your scalp, neck, shoulders, and back. Research shows that ASMR can reduce pulse rate, increase parasympathetic activity, and promote a calmer, more relaxed state (Tada et al., 2021).
Both Inner Nova and Nova Soma activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping your body switch from stressed & wired to calm & balanced.
Research
ASMR and Parasympathetic Activation
1. Poerio et al. (2018)
This study found that ASMR videos were associated with reduced heart rate and increased skin conductance levels, indicating a calming effect and potential stress reduction. journals.plos.org
2. Engelbregt et al. (2022)
Their research demonstrated that ASMR videos induced relaxation in individuals, with evidence of a reduced heart rate, suggesting activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3. Idayati et al. (2021)
This study observed significant reductions in heart rate and blood pressure after participants watched an ASMR video, further supporting the calming effects of ASMR. researchgate.net
4. Tada et al. (2021)
This study found that ASMR experiences were associated with decreased pulse rates and increased photoplethysmography (PPG) amplitudes, suggesting activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.
🔗 Read the study
Hypnosis and Parasympathetic Activation
1. Hammond (2010)
This review highlights that hypnosis can significantly impact autonomic nervous system functions, lowering sympathetic activity and enhancing parasympathetic tone.
🔗 Read the study
2. Leo (2024)
This study suggests that hypnosis has shown promising results in regulating heart rate and blood pressure, decreasing sympathetic activity, and increasing parasympathetic dominance.
🔗 Read the study
3. VandeVusse et al. (2010)
Their research indicates that clinical hypnosis can prevent the deleterious effects of surgery on heart rate variability by preserving pre-operative vagal activity, underscoring its role in maintaining parasympathetic function.
🔗 Read the study
