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The Vagus Nerve: The Body’s Pathway to Safety, Calm, and Deep Regulation!
- Somatics Embodied Therapy
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
The Vagus Nerve and Supporting the Nervous System
The vagus nerve is one of the most fascinating parts of the body.
It travels from the brain, down the neck, into the chest, and all the way through the gut, touching the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, and intestines.
It is the main communication highway between the brain and the body, constantly sending messages about safety, stress, and regulation.
In my work as a hypnotherapist, I’ve seen how powerful the vagus nerve is when the body is supported in the right way.
The nervous system doesn’t respond to force; it responds to gentle, consistent cues of safety.
Why the Vagus Nerve Matters
When the vagus nerve is active, the body naturally shifts into a state of rest and repair:
Digestion improves
Inflammation settles
Breathing deepens
Heart rate slows
Lymphatic flow increases
Muscles soften
Energy begins to return
This is the parasympathetic state where the body feels safe enough to heal, restore, and regulate itself.
When the vagus nerve is underactive or overwhelmed by chronic stress, the body can remain stuck in survival mode. This often shows up as:
Tightness and holding in the body
Chronic inflammation or pain
Bloating and digestive issues
Shallow breathing
Fatigue or burnout
A nervous system that never fully “switches off”
This isn’t a failure of willpower it’s a nervous system that hasn’t received enough cues of safety.
Working With the Vagus Nerve
Using different modalities and mindful practices can help regulate the nervous system.
The vagus nerve responds to gentle, consistent signals, not force.
Through a combination of approaches I use with clients:
Breathwork that slows the nervous system and lengthens the exhale
Intentional touch that helps the body soften and release held tension
Lymphatic drainage to support flow, detoxification, and immune health
Slow, mindful movement that brings awareness back into the body
Somatic safety cues that help the nervous system feel grounded and supported
Working with the subconscious mind through hypnotherapy to rewire patterns, release tension, and reinforce safety
… the nervous system can settle, allowing the body to shift into rest, repair, and regulation.
From My Experience
Through my own experience, I’ve learned how much the body already knows how to settle when it feels safe.
Tuning in, noticing what’s happening, and supporting the nervous system gently can change everything.
I’ve seen how the body softens, the breath deepens, and energy returns when we stop forcing and start listening.
I work directly with the body’s natural regulatory pathways not overriding them, but reminding them how to function.
When the vagus nerve is supported, the body naturally follows.
Calm doesn’t need to be forced.
Healing doesn’t need to be rushed.
Quiet power.
Deep regulation.
Lasting change.
True regulation is subtle and powerful. In my work, it’s not about doing more; it’s about creating the conditions where the body feels safe enough to let go.
As the nervous system settles, everything else begins to reorganize around it digestion, immunity, energy, mood, and resilience.
This is the work I do as a hypnotherapist.
This is the space I hold for my clients ❤️
Ready to Support Your Nervous System at the Root?
If your body feels stuck in survival…If rest does not feel restful…If you’re ready for regulation instead of coping…
Book a call with me. Free Discovery call
Together, we’ll explore how my approach can calm your nervous system, support your vagus nerve, and guide your body back into balance.
Your body already knows how to heal. ❤️🩹
Sometimes it just needs the right signals and the right guidance to remember.❤️
Best to you,
Ashley
Google: (415) 634-7481
Somatics-EmbodiedRTT® Clinical Hypnotherapy & NLP-IFS, and Somatic Counseling
Rewiring Mindset: Conquer Anxiety-Self-Sabotage.
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