The Resilient Nervous System: Synthesizing Polyvagal Theory and Ancient Yoga Philosophy

This webinar provides licensed mental health professionals with a science-based framework for understanding how the autonomic nervous system shapes emotional regulation, stress responses, and trauma recovery. By examining neuroception, hierarchy, and co-regulation, participants will explore why physiological stabilization is a prerequisite for successful psychological interventions.

The presentation further bridges the gap between modern neuroscience and ancient wisdom by exploring conceptual parallels found in traditional yoga and meditation philosophies. Discussion will highlight how these insights enhance holistic therapeutic frameworks, offering clinicians a more comprehensive understanding of the body’s role in psychological health.

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Analyze the three primary autonomic states (Ventral Vagal, Sympathetic, and Dorsal Vagal) and their specific impact on clinical presentation.

2. Evaluate the mechanism of neuroception and its role in unconscious threat detection in survivors of chronic stress and trauma.

3. Synthesize Polyvagal insights with therapeutic frameworks to better address the physiological drivers of maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.

4. Identify the conceptual intersections between Polyvagal Theory and traditional ashtanga yoga concepts

Ananya Dhoundiyal, LMSW and LCSW Supervisee

Ananya Dhoundiyal is a therapist based in Reston, Virginia, specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress‑related concerns. She has previously worked in India, Canada, and the United States. Ananya integrates somatic awareness and nervous‑system education with evidence‑based therapeutic approaches, including CBT and CA-CBT (Culturally Adapted CBT). Her work focuses on how physiological regulation, embodiment, and mindfulness support emotional resilience, drawing conceptual links between polyvagal theory and contemplative traditions.