The Nervous SystemEven when anatomy and pelvic positioning aren’t preventing you from touching your toes, your body might still resist a forward fold. So even if you’re not touching your toes, you’re actually experiencing more of a stretch. You can also bend your knees while in seated stretches including Seated Forward Fold by placing a folded blanket or bolster underneath them. Long, slow exhalations while you fold forward can help slow the heart rate and switch the nervous from fight or flight into rest and restore. In this way, the forward fold becomes less about achievement and more about your ability to let go of control and surrender to gravity and time.