The Quiet Intelligence Within: Gut Health, Hormones & Yoga
Jul 01, 2026
Some have referred to me as a yoga activist and I guess I can see that.
Deeply passionate for deeper learning within living the incredible teachings of yoga, there are moments I can get totally absorbed into the practice and its philosophy…and I love it!
I love what I learn and I love how I live through it and for sure I love sharing it.
I truly believe that if there were more people practising authentic yoga, we would have less dis-ease (meaning not being comfortable something is of–not at ease).
I have been noticing something beautiful unfolding…and yes, I need to share my belief in yoga and how...
Something that, deep in my bones, I have always known through yoga…
is now being spoken of in science, researched in laboratories, and confirmed in medical journals across the world.
Yes, there is now an awakening within the medical field and more research is thankfully being done around the effect of stress on the human body and mind.
We now hear more mainstream talk about:
- emotional overwhelm being stored in the body
- the importance of the vagus nerve
- the gut-brain connection
- how imbalances create a knock-on effect throughout the body when left unaddressed
I must admit I feel a quiet excitement in my heart.
Because what once felt a little "woo woo"...
a little intuitive...
sensed...
embodied...
...is now coming to light in a language the modern world understands.
The connection between the gut, the brain, nervous system, our hormones…and the way we move, breathe, and live is now suddenly becoming a "trend" as if it's new information.
It is not a trend.
It's deep human science that has always been there, and thank goodness we are now learning more about our incredible body so we can listen more deeply and accommodate.
In the next coming monthly blogs I will look at the above subjects a little more in depth and share with you, hopefully activating a spark within which will help you make even more positive choices in your life.
The Gut: Our Second Brain
In yoga, we have always honored the belly as a center of intelligence.
A place of feeling.
A place of truth.
A place where we digest life.
Now science calls it the gut-brain axis.
Research published in journals such as Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology and The Journal of Clinical Investigation describes a constant, two-way communication between the gut and the brain, through the nervous system, hormones, and even our immune pathways.
And here is something that still amazes me…
- Around 90% of serotonin, one of our key "feel-good" neurotransmitters, is produced in the gut.
- Nearly 70% of our immune system resides there too.
So when your gut feels off…
It is not "just digestion."
It can influence:
- your mood
- your energy
- your clarity
- your sense of self
Yoga has always whispered this truth.
Now science is speaking it out loud.
Hormones, Stress & the Body in Conversation
When we live in a constant state of doing, rushing, pushing…the body shifts into stress.
▶︎ Cortisol rises.
▶︎ Digestion slows.
▶︎ Hormonal balance is disrupted.
This is where so many people are living today, without even realizing it.
Studies in journals like Psychoneuroendocrinology have shown that chronic stress directly impacts hormonal regulation and gut function.
The body simply cannot prioritize digestion, healing, and balance when it feels under threat.
And this is where yoga becomes more than movement.
It becomes medicine.
Through:
- slow, mindful practice
- breath that softens the nervous system
- twists that gently massage the organs
...we begin to send a new message to the body:
★ You are safe now.
★ You can rest.
★ You can digest.
★ You can restore.
Twisting, Lengthening & Creating Space Within
You may have noticed this in your own body…
How a gentle twist can feel like wringing out tension, like releasing something held too long.
In yoga, twists are known to:
- stimulate digestion
- support detoxification
- bring fresh circulation to the abdominal organs
Modern research is beginning to explore how movement, breath, and gentle compression can support gut motility and reduce inflammation.
And also lengthening…
Creating space through the spine.
Through the belly.
Through the breath.
This is not just physical.
It is energetic.
It is emotional.
It is a soft unwinding of everything we have been holding.
The Vagus Nerve: Your Inner Bridge
One of the most fascinating bridges between ancient yoga and modern science is the vagus nerve.
This beautiful, wandering nerve connects:
- the brain
- the gut
- the heart
- many of our internal organs
When stimulated in a gentle, supportive way through:
✓ slow breathing
✓ humming
✓ relaxation
✓ mindful movement
...it activates the parasympathetic nervous system.
The "rest and digest" state.
Studies in journals such as Frontiers in Psychiatry highlight how vagal tone is linked to:
- emotional regulation
- digestion
- overall well-being
In simple words…
When we breathe slowly…
when we soften…
when we rest deeply…
We are quite literally healing from the inside out.
(More in depth on the vagus nerve in next month's blog.)
And Then There Is Food…The Quiet Conversation Between Gut and Mind
We cannot speak about gut health without speaking about what we take in.
Not only through the mouth…
But through the senses.
Through our environment.
Through our daily lives.
But yes, also food.
Whole, nourishing, living foods support the diversity of our gut microbiome—those trillions of bacteria that play a role in everything from digestion to mood.
Research from journals like Cell and The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology continues to explore how diet shapes gut health and, in turn, impacts mental and hormonal balance.
What is becoming even more common knowledge now is to stay away from ultra processed foods which will upset our digestive fire, your gut.
Our bodies are not able to digest these types of foods properly and sets our digestive system out of balance.
There is a deep and ongoing dialogue happening within us, between the gut and the brain, often referred to in science as the gut-brain axis.
What we now understand through modern research is something yogis have long felt intuitively:
The state of our digestion shapes the state of our mind.
As mentioned earlier:
✓ Around 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut.
✓ A large part of our immune system resides there too.
Yet, in today's world, this inner ecosystem is often challenged.
Studies suggest that in many Western countries, over 60% of supermarket foods are ultra-processed.
These products are often:
- heavily altered
- stripped of natural nutrients
- filled with additives
- preservatives
- refined sugars
These foods can disrupt the delicate balance of our gut microbiome, leading not only to digestive discomfort, but also to increased anxiety, fatigue, and inflammation.
To support the gut is to support the whole self.
Choosing foods that feel alive can begin to restore harmony from within, including:
- fresh vegetables
- fruits
- whole grains
- healthy fats
- fermented foods
But beyond what we eat lies the deeper practice of how we eat.
This is where intuitive eating becomes a quiet guide.
To listen inward.
To notice how the body responds.
To feel the difference between nourishment and depletion.
Yoga teaches us this same awareness on the mat subtle, present, non-judging and invites us to carry it into our relationship with food.
When we slow down, breathe, and truly listen, the body speaks.
And in that listening, we begin to remember something simple, yet profound:
The body knows.
Yoga gently reminds us…
It is not only what we eat.
It is how we eat.
Are we:
▶︎ rushed?
▶︎ distracted?
▶︎ disconnected?
Or are we:
▶︎ present?
▶︎ grateful?
▶︎ receiving?
A Return to What We Have Always Known
This is what moves me the most.
That yoga has never needed to prove itself.
And yet now…
Science is catching up.
Not to replace the wisdom…
But to reflect it.
To validate what so many of us have felt in our own bodies:
That when we move gently…
when we breathe deeply…
when we listen inward…
The body knows how to heal.
An Invitation
If you have been feeling a little off in your digestion…your energy…your emotional balance…
You are not alone.
And you are not broken.
Perhaps your body is simply asking for a different rhythm.
A softer way.
A return.
Inside the portal, you will find practices created with this in mind:
✓ gentle flows
✓ twisting sequences
✓ breathwork
✓ restorative sessions
Designed to support:
✓ your gut
✓ your hormones
✓ your nervous system
Small moments on the mat…
That ripple into your whole life.
Come back to your belly.
Come back to your breath.
Come back to yourself.
With love,
Wenche 🤍
