read time: 3 minutes | guided practice below: 3 minutes

original publish date Feb 22, 2023

disclaimer: This is not medical advice. This is intended to educate, inspire and support you in your self healing journey. Speak to your medical professional. Some content might be sensitive; I invite you to practice self-harmonizing.

There is a cranial nerve that wanders to/from the brain and EVERY visceral organ that’s vital for safety and survival!

It’s the longest nerve and the primary influencer of the parasympathetic nervous system (aka the rest, digest, heal nervous system)

It’s called the vagus nerve (vagus, like vagabond, is latin for wandering) and the vagus nerve is the most important cranial nerve for reducing stress and expanding into growth.

When we stimulate the vagus nerve, we dial down the sympathetic nervous system (stress, fight/flight) and we increase our capacity to heal bodymind.

Learn more about the Vagus Nerve here.

there are many ways to stimulate the vagus nerve and my favorite way to stimulate the vagus nerve is chanting

If you don’t like the idea of chanting words, humming, singing or gargling are wonderful alternative… you have options!

chanting to stimulate the vagus nerve

Chanting combine several vagus nerve stimulators in one!

Chanting includes:

diaphragmatic breathing,
resistance breathing,
emphasizing the exhale
vibration of the throat and inner ear
often the power of a mantra or intention
opportunity to improve posture and spinal alignment if you’re mindful of that as well!
maintaining focus, stillness, and meditative awareness but still allowing the mind and body something to concentrate on which additionally supports activating the prefrontal cortex also supporting stress release.

Such an efficient exercise, right?!

how to chant

If you would like to explore chanting as a vagus nerve stimulator:

sit cross legged on a pillow or cushion, or sit on a chair with your feet flat on the floor
sit tall, elevate the crown of your head, maintain straight, but not rigid spine
pick a song (or mantra), preferably one with repetition so you're not thinking; alternatively you could hum or chant VOO
if you try chanting, and you feel it to be beneficial, chant for 2-10 minutes, 1-2 times per day, for 1-2 weeks then re-evaluate
sense how you feel before/during/after chanting
trust you are stimulating or encouraging your body’s innate capacity to heal itself