I first learned about the vagus nerve during my yoga teacher training in 2024. In Ukrainian, itʼs literally called the “wandering nerve,ˮ and that word — wandering — immediately resonated with me. It felt like the perfect metaphor for our inner journeys: this remarkable nerve that travels through the body, linking the brain with the heart, lungs, and gut — and ultimately, with our emotions.
In my yoga practice, I began to notice those moments when breath became a bridge between body and mind. Thatʼs when I started to explore more deeply how the parasympathetic nervous system works — the part responsible for calm, restoration, and balance. I realized that every deep exhale, every soft “omˮ, is more than just a ritual — itʼs a way of communicating with your own vagus nerve.
At the start of each class, I dedicate a few minutes to grounding and reconnecting with the body: slow nasal breathing, one hand on the chest and the other on the belly, simply observing the flow of air and noticing whatʼs happening within.
After just a few minutes, something shifts — the heartbeat slows down, the tension in the chest melts away, and the face softens. Itʼs a reminder of how the body knows how to help itself when we give it the chance.
Alongside breathwork, I often use other simple techniques to stimulate the vagus nerve with my students:
- Breathing “6x6ˮ — slow inhales and exhales for six seconds each;
- Humming or chanting, which creates soothing vibrations in the head and throat;
- Gentle flows and restorative poses that calm the nervous system.
Each of these practices is a small reminder to the body that itʼs safe. And from that sense of safety, a different quality of life begins to unfold — fuller, brighter, more alive.
Over time, Iʼve learned that working with the vagus nerve isnʼt just about yoga — itʼs about wholeness. Thatʼs why I resonate so deeply with the Leaply approach, where movement practices are combined with mindful attention to sleep, nutrition, supplementation, and emotional wellbeing. When we support ourselves from all angles, the body, nervous system, and mind begin to move in harmony — and that rhythm feels a lot like peace.
