Yoga Medicine for the Vagus Nerve

What is the vagus nerve and why does it matter in yoga?

The feeling I get when I practice yoga is something I’ve always struggled to put into words. It connects my body and my mind in a way that makes me feel present, aware and at ease. While there are multiple elements at play on the mat, one of the key factors facilitating this feeling is the vagus nerve.

Where is the vagus nerve and what does it do?

The vagus nerve is the largest cranial nerve in the body. It extends through the stomach, the diaphragm, the heart, the lungs, the throat, the inner ear and the facial muscles. It relays information between the brain, the nervous system, the respiratory and the digestive systems, directly influencing functioning in all of these areas.

What happens when the vagus nerve is stimulated?

The nervous system is made up of two complimentary but opposing forces — the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body’s “fight or flight” response, whereas the parasympathetic nervous system is associated with “rest and digest”. The two systems alternate, each playing equally important roles in our daily lives. What’s essential is that both…