This exercise is designed to release tension that many of us carry in our core without realizing it. The vagus nerve runs from the brainstem all the way down to the abdomen, where it helps regulate digestion, and this exercise pairs slow belly breathing with gentle pressure and twisting along the waistline.
Lying on a rolled towel between your ribs and hipbone, you move your arm, head and spine together, then notice how the two sides of your body compare. The long exhales do much of the calming work, and the pressure brings your attention to an area most of us ignore until it hurts.
People often notice their belly softening, or hear their digestion start to move.