Author: Melissa Romano
A deck with 75 accessible exercises for toning the vagus nerve to manage symptoms related to stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and auto-immune discomfort. Informed by polyvagal theory, these exercises focus on creating a sense of calm, vitality, and connection—inspiring a deeper feeling of safety while activating the body’s natural ability to restore balance.
The vagus nerve, often called the "soul nerve," plays a special role in our autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS regulates many bodily processes, including our stress response. When we encounter an external threat, our stress response kicks in, triggering a cascade of physiological changes to help us adapt and protect ourselves. Like a helpful friend, the vagus nerve steps in to restore balance. It exerts anti-inflammatory effects, promotes relaxation, and supports immune system regulation. With the exercises in Vagus Nerve Deck, you’ll learn to harness this power and foster resilience in the face of life's challenges. Inside this deck you will find:
EXERCISES FOR CALM, VITALITY, CONNECTION. A key to feeling balanced is nervous system regulation—understanding when your body needs to rest, activate, and find safety in connection. Cards help readers identify what the body needs and respond with a related exercise.
AN INTEGRATIVE, SCIENTIFIC APPROACH. Exercises are founded in scientific research, offering accessible techniques proven to regulate the nervous system and create a sense of physical and emotional relief.
A NERVOUS SYSTEM PRIMER. An introductory booklet breaks down how the nervous system works, what role the vagus nerve plays, and how our safety responses are best understood through the lens of polyvagal theory.
USER-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE. Many resources on the vagus nerve are clouded by confusing, clinical terms. This deck gets down to the science of safety in a way you can relate to, understand, and put into practice right away.
