Your autonomic nervous system (ANS) runs all of the involuntary mechanisms in your body  — heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, respiration, cell activity and even body temperature.

The two branches of your ANS include the sympathetic nervous system, which mobilizes your body and brain into your “fight or flight” response to danger, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which initiates a relaxation response to restore reparative function after the threat has passed. These two branches operate with a push-pull dynamic and activate very different physical and mental states of being.

A balanced nervous system supports healthy brain function, mood and emotional stability and enhances physical health, including supporting healthy digestion, detoxification and immune function, minimizing pain and calming inflammation. Your parasympathetic nervous system activates your ability to relax and heal, routing blood flow to your organs of digestion and detoxification, slowing your heart rate, normalizing your breathing and calming anxiety and depression.

You should optimally be in a parasympathetic state 80 percent of the time, but many people struggle to be in this state at any point during their day.