NeuroWellnessVagus Nerve 101: What It Is + A 5-Minute Activation Practice.
What it is, what it does, and why it explains so much.
Have you ever noticed that a long slow exhale settles something in you? That is your vagus nerve doing its job.
In this video I walk you through Vagus Nerve 101 — what this nerve actually is, what it does, and why it explains so much about how you feel day to day. Then we move into a short 5-minute practice you can do anywhere, any time.
The vagus nerve is the primary pathway of your parasympathetic nervous system. When it is functioning well, you digest, you sleep, you recover, you feel regulated. When it is depleted, everything feels harder — sleep is off, digestion is sluggish, you cannot wind down. You feel stuck on.
These practices change that. They are free, immediate, sustainable and evidence-informed.
What we cover in this video
- →What the vagus nerve is and why it's called the "wandering nerve"
- →Its role in the parasympathetic nervous system (rest, digest, recover)
- →The gut-brain connection and why 80% of vagal signals travel upward
- →5-minute activation practice: belly breathing, ujjayi breath, humming, ear lobe massage, gentle forward fold
Coming up in person
Workshop
Restorative Embodiment & Resilience Immersion
Friday 14 August · Verve Wellness Studio, Bedford · 90 minutes · £28
Retreat
Women's NeuroWellness Retreat · Slovakia
24 November · 4 nights · Small group immersion
Summer offer till 30 August.
Want to go deeper?
Read the full companion post on the vagus nerve, vagal tone, and simple ways to support your nervous system day to day.