How Breathwork Supports Gut Health
And Why Your Nervous System is the Missing Link
By Robyn Parets, Founder of New England Breathwork
If you've spent years chasing gut health through diets and supplements, you're not alone. But there might be a missing link to your healing path: your nervous system.
I discovered this firsthand through my own health journey. After trying nearly everything conventional and holistic medicine had to offer, it was breathwork and other somatic healing tools that shifted the state of my nervous system and finally moved the needle for me. I became obsessed with learning why this helped me, and how it can help others.
Your Gut and Nervous System are in Constant Conversation
Most of us think of digestion as a purely physical process. Food goes in, nutrients are absorbed, waste comes out. But your digestive system is actually one of the most neurologically complex organs in your body. The gut contains hundreds of millions of nerve cells and is in continuous communication with the brain via the vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve in the body.
Vagal tone (which is essentially how well your vagus nerve is functioning) is directly linked to digestive health. And low vagal tone is associated with slower gastric motility, increased gut permeability, and higher inflammatory markers.
For added context on how the nervous system and gut health can be in or out of alignment, let’s talk a bit about the gut-brain axis. This refers to how your nervous system affects the function of your gut—and vice versa. When you're in a chronic state of stress or survival mode (the sympathetic or "fight-or-flight" state), digestion takes a back seat. Blood flow is redirected away from digestive organs, motility slows or becomes erratic, the gut lining becomes more permeable, and the balance of gut bacteria can shift. Over time, this chronic stress response is associated with conditions like IBS, SIBO, bloating, constipation, and leaky gut.
The parasympathetic state, on the other hand (often called "rest and digest") is where healing happens. In this state, blood flow returns to digestive organs, motility normalizes, and the body can properly absorb nutrients and repair the gut lining. The question is: how do you get there and, more importantly, how do you stay there?
Note to reader: The above is a simplified explanation of the gut-brain axis, as well as the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system states. In reality: It’s much more nuanced and complicated. For this reason, I recommend seeking a health coach or medical provider if you need further direction when it comes to your gut health.
How the Breath Helps
The breath is one way (yes, there are others!) to build capacity in your nervous system. What do I mean by that? I mean that you can use specific breathing techniques to both activate your parasympathetic nervous system, leading to a calm and relaxed state, as well as activate the sympathetic nervous system, which can help energize you. (Note: We are talking about healthy activation here).
Here's what makes breath uniquely powerful when it comes to shifting your nervous system state. Breathing is an autonomic function, meaning it’s something your body does automatically. Yet, you have the power to control this autonomic function. This gives you direct access to your nervous system that no supplement or diet can offer.
Some breathing techniques, like Voo breath, can stimulate the vagus nerve and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. How cool is that?
Somatic breathwork goes even deeper, helping the body release stored stress and trauma that may be keeping the nervous system in a state of chronic activation or shut-down. This type of breathing is healing on an emotional level, and it can also help heal your gut. For example, you might be surprised to learn that your gut symptoms can start to dissipate when your body finally feels safe enough to digest. And, you can get to this place of safety—you guessed it—via breathing practices!
Breathwork is a Free Resource
I want to clarify this: breathwork isn't a replacement for working with a qualified practitioner when it comes to your gut health. Addressing your diet, testing for hormonal imbalances, and identifying root causes is mission critical. But, breathwork can be a powerful complementary tool.
Think of it this way: if your nervous system is chronically dysregulated, your body may be too stressed to absorb the supplements you're taking or even the nutrients in your food. Yet, breathwork can be a free resource that can help you heal.
Where to Start
If you're curious about how breathwork might support your gut health, you can start with diaphragmatic breathing, or slow, deep breaths through the nose. Even five to ten minutes a day of this simple breathing practice can begin to shift your nervous system toward the parasympathetic state. For deeper work, somatic breathwork can help release the stored stress and tension that may be driving chronic dysregulation.
Remember: your gut is listening to your nervous system. The good news is that you have more influence over that conversation than you might think.
About Robyn Parets
Robyn Parets is a certified Breathwork Energy Healer (Levels 1–5), retreat leader, yoga teacher/trainer, meditation guide, former journalist, and the founder of New England Breathwork. She offers somatic breathwork sessions, group journeys, and retreats focused on nervous system regulation and healing. She is also working on a forthcoming memoir about healing chronic illnesses through nervous system regulation and, of course, breathing practices.
Dee’s work centers around empowering women to finally feel safe, seen, supported, and confident in their bodies — without restriction, overwhelm, or confusion.