Stimulating the Vagus nerve.

Not many people know what the Vagus nerve is or where it's even located. So here's some crucial info ..

our Vagus nerve runs from the base of our skull down to our gut, touching all our major organs on the

way. It is the longest cranial nerve responsible for carrying information between the brain and various

organs in the body, including the heart lungs, and digestive system. When people talk about

'gut feelings' or 'butterflies' these are feelings or sensations which travel up to the brain via this nerve.

This wonderful, wandering nerve's primary function is to regulate the para-sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for controlling the body's "rest and digest" response.

The neural network helps to slow down the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and facilitate digestion.

It's responsible for certain reflex actions; coughing, sneezing, swallowing and vomiting. When we're

stressed or are suffering from a traumatic experience, have had an infection or have inflammation in

the body our nervous system is working in the 'sympathetic system', the 'fight or flight' mode.

It's what you might call 'turmoil', 'hell states' or when we're 'full-on foot on the gas'.

Loss of vagal nerve tone can be a result of illness or stress which leads to disharmony in the body

and is associated with depression, cardiovascular disease, auto immune thyroid conditions, lupus

and chronic fatigue.

In addition to these functions, it also plays a role in a number

of other bodily processes including immune response, the

release of certain hormones, and regulating mood and emotions.

An active vagal tone can regulate the system and aid internal

stability and healing. So simply being active and engaging in

long, slow, deep breathing, stretching, practicing yoga, singing in

the shower, humming, chanting or dipping the face into cold water

can stimulate the nerve which then takes us into our

'para-sympathetic system', the relaxed state.

In Kundalini Global yoga classes we consciously raise our chin in certain postures which encourages activation, in turn calming our system.

Happy conscious breathing, stretching and singing!