Healing Through Joy: How Pleasure and Play Reset Your Nervous System

NERVOUS SYSTEM RESETPELVIC HEALTHSELF CARE

Jodi Bremner PT, Founder of Hervana Women's Wellness

5 min read

Smiling woman walking through a meadow at sunset with the text Healing Through Joy.

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There is a certain magic that arrives with the late June sun: a shift in the wind that carries the scent of wild roses and the promise of longer, slower days. As we cross the threshold into July, the world seems to open up, inviting us to do the same.

At Hervana, we often talk about the seasons of self. We speak of the winters where we go inward, and the springs where we begin to bloom. But July? July is for the sun-soaked heart. It is a month dedicated to noticing pleasure in the simplest of things: the feeling of cool grass under bare feet, the taste of a sun-ripened strawberry, or the sound of a deep, belly-aching laugh shared with a sister.

We often think of "healing" as something serious. Something clinical, quiet, and perhaps even a little bit heavy. But what if I told you that joy is actually medicine? What if play was the very thing your body, mind, and nervous system have been begging for?

This month, we are leaning into the ease. We are inviting our inner child out to play. Because when we find pleasure, our bodies find peace.

The Quiet Language of Your Nervous System

To understand why play is so vital, we have to listen to the quiet language of the nervous system.

Your body is constantly scanning the world, asking one simple question: Am I safe?

When we are rushed, stressed, or feeling the weight of our "to-do" lists, our system often slips into what we call the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): the "fight or flight" mode. It’s a state of high alert. Your breathing becomes shallow, your heart rate quickens, and your muscles: especially the ones deep in your core and pelvis: begin to brace. They are preparing for a battle that never quite comes, leaving them tired, tight, and overworked.

But there is another side. The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). This is our "rest and digest" sanctuary. It is where healing happens. It is where our breath deepens, our heart rate softens, and our muscles finally receive the signal that they can let go.

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Why Play is the Ultimate Reset

Play is the bridge that carries us from the high-alert of stress into the soft-embrace of safety.

When you engage in something purely for the joy of it: without a goal, without a "why," and without a deadline: you are telling your nervous system that the world is safe. You are signaling to your brain that there is no predator to run from.

In that state of play, your body releases a beautiful cocktail of endorphins and dopamine. These aren't just "feel-good" chemicals; they are physiological signals that help lower cortisol levels and move energy through the body.

Think back to when you were a child. You didn’t run to "get your steps in." You ran because the wind felt good against your face. You didn’t dance to burn calories; you danced because the music moved you.

When we reconnect with that inner child, we aren't just being "silly." We are practicing nervous system regulation. We are teaching our bodies how to be rooted in the present moment, rather than lost in the anxieties of tomorrow.

The Pelvic Floor: A Mirror of Your Inner State

As a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, I see the physical toll of a life lived without enough play.

The pelvic floor is a deeply intuitive part of our body. It is often the first place to "guard" when we feel overwhelmed. If you are constantly in a state of "holding it all together," your pelvic floor is likely doing the same. This chronic bracing can lead to pain, tension, and a disconnect from your own body’s wisdom.

But here is the beautiful truth: When the mind plays, the pelvis relaxes.

When you shift into that rest-and-digest state, your breathing and pelvic floor connection becomes rhythmic again. As you inhale with a sense of ease, your diaphragm drops, and your pelvic floor yields and softens. It’s a gentle dance of expansion and release.

By prioritizing pleasure, you are literally giving your pelvic floor permission to stop bracing. You are allowing those deep muscles to find their natural, supple state. It is a form of mindful movement that starts from the inside out.

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Finding Your "July Ease"

How do we actually "do" pleasure and play? The secret is that there is no right way: only your way. Here are a few gentle invitations to help you find your room to breathe this month:

1. The Sensory Sanctuary

Pleasure lives in the senses. Take a moment to notice the small things. The feel of a soft linen shirt. The scent of lavender in your restorative sauna session. The warmth of a cup of tea held between your palms. When we anchor ourselves in our senses, we anchor ourselves in safety.

2. Joyful Movement

Forget the gym for a day. Put on your favorite song: the one that makes you want to wiggle your hips: and just... move. Let it be messy. Let it be uncoordinated. Let it be fun. Shaking, swaying, and dancing are incredible ways to "shake off" stored tension and reset your vagus nerve.

3. The Power of Laughter

Laughter is perhaps the quickest way to stimulate the vagus nerve and shift your body into a parasympathetic state. Watch a movie that makes you giggle, call that friend who always has a ridiculous story, or simply allow yourself to see the humor in the daily chaos of life.

4. Barefoot Presence

If you can, find a patch of grass or sand. Take off your shoes. Feel the texture of the earth. This simple act of "earthing" or "grounding" helps calm the nervous system and brings you back to your body’s natural rhythm.

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A happy woman dancing in a sunlit living room wearing a white crop top and flowing yellow skirt.

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Upcoming Experiences

Two women laughing while enjoying a summer picnic at golden hour in a grassy field.

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Creating a Haven for Your Whole Self

At Hervana, we believe that wellness isn't a destination: it’s a way of being. It’s about creating a haven where you can pause, breathe, and heal naturally.

Whether you are coming to us for Pelvic Physiotherapy to address a specific concern, or joining us for one of our restorative experiences, our goal is always the same: to walk beside you with compassion as you learn to listen to your body again.

Healing doesn't always have to be hard work. Sometimes, the most profound healing happens when we let go of the "work" and embrace the "play."

This July, I invite you to ask yourself: What would feel like pure, unadulterated pleasure today?

Maybe it’s a nap in a sunbeam. Maybe it’s a slow walk through the woods. Maybe it’s finally booking that appointment you’ve been putting off because you know you deserve to feel better in your body.

Whatever it is, know that it is enough. You are enough.

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A serene pregnant woman with dark hair rests peacefully in a hammock outdoors, gently cradling her baby bump in the warm

Woman in a cozy sweater sips coffee on a porch swing, enjoying a peaceful autumn morning view.

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Join the Circle

If you are looking for a space to reconnect with your body and find your own sense of ease, we would love to welcome you into our sanctuary.

From our gentle movement sessions to our one-on-one compassionate care, Hervana is a place for women at every phase of life to find their path to inner peace.

Come and visit us: let’s find your joy, together.

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Your inner child is waiting. Go find her — in a dance, a laugh, or a barefoot moment in the grass.