Mind Body Skills for Regulating the Autonomic Nervous System
Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, more than two million U.S. troops have been deployed. The operational tempo associated with these conflicts, in conjunction with extended and multiple deployments, exposure to nontraditional combat (e.g., urban settings and use of improvised explosive devices), and shortened dwell time between deployments, has placed unprecedented stress on service members as well as their families. With the complex, varied and prolonged operational demands of these missions, it is crucial that the military continue to develop and refine strategies for promoting and sustaining the health and resilience of service members. A systems perspective on health and resilience seeks to establish good functioning and balance across all body systems (e.g., homeostasis and harmony) through integration of beneficial health and mind body practices.
