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clear search termsThe Parasympathetic Nervous System and the Vagus Nerve: For Practitioners
Hi!
Although you may already be a savvy practitioner, I am certain you will learn something new in this video about The Parasympathetic Nervous System and the Vagus Nerve: For Practitioners. You’ll walk away with pages of notes and practical pearls you can use in your practice right away.
Here are some of the things we’ll be discussing:
- The X-factor for sympathetic/parasympathetic balance – and why it’s unfortunately almost always overlooked!
- Why the PNS and Vagus are even More important for practitioners embrace during the pandemic (and its aftermath). This one is key.
- The What and Why of Vagal Tone. Any why you Really need to Know! Plus the fun, simple hacks anyone can do to improve it.
- Parasympathetic good; Sympathetic bad. Right? Not really. You need to remember this important devil-in-the-detail.
- Surprising measures that can shed light on autonomic nervous system health.
- Easy but oh-so effective hacks for improving autonomic balance.
- How and why this area of physiology is intimately tied to digestion, detoxification, and immunity. Do You know the mechanisms?
- The Biggest practitioner mistakes when talking to patients about stress.
Done-for-you patient handouts that can be helpful in encouraging your patients to explore the effects of stress and making tangible steps in reducing its impact can be found here and here.
Thank you very much for joining in the fun and learning! Please share your thoughts (please be thorough) in the “Ask a Question” area below about what inspired you in this presentation! Include what type of practitioner you are, so that we can all see your unique perspective.
P.S. If you are passionate about transforming healthcare through the power of functional medicine, we encourage you to learn more about SAFM’s practitioner training programs. Enrollment for our next cohort is now open!
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196 Questions for “The Parasympathetic Nervous System and the Vagus Nerve: For Practitioners”
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Brooke Boggs says:
I want to play this on a loop on my waiting room tv for all to hear! I was reminded of so many great pearls today but I love the reminder of how our nervous system is eves dropping on all our internal thoughts, fears etc and how negative self talk and ruminating on negative things is signaling to our bodies that our world is not safe! This is absolutely something I am going to educate my patients (and myself) about!!!
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Maria Gabriela Moreno says:
I have been waiting for this very powerful information from Tracy! not only the importance of managing stress but being aware of the power of our thoughts, how it is the most prevalent source of stress for out body!
I loved all the pearls tools and the wonders of the vagus nerve!
It would be great to get some reading material for the vagus nerve stimulation and testing
thank you SAFM!!! -
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Laura haydon says:
I loved your talk! So much info in there. Many things I’ve known and so much more.
Wanted more info on parasympathetic nervous system activation and this class not only explained the how, but also why it’s so important. I shared and will watch again! Looking forward to better explaining it to my patients in clinic (PT and specialty in lymphedema and cancer). Also in my yoga practice and my health and wellness business! Thank you! -
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Zoe says:
Hi! I am a Health and somatic coach. I found this information so so helpful. I just finished a program named the Neuroscience of change through Coaches rising and we did touch a lot on the Vagus nerve relating to how change can be sustainable with our clients. A lot of what you said in the live was confirmation of that and taking it towards the functional medicine lens is enlightening. Most of my clients are struggling with anxiety and digestive issues. Keeping these pearls through my coaching sessions will certainly be useful. I found that simply telling someone to get out of their own head is often making it worse so breathing and getting down to the physical sensations, connecting with their food and their environment is doing something similar yet without saying that they are doing something wrong which is something that might be felt with the ” Get out of your own head ” type of statement.
It would mean the world to me to dig deeper in this topic with your deep dive! I am truly passionate about this topic.
Thank you for what you do! I am planning on enrolling in September!
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Meg Mill says:
Thank you for the great presentation. I loved how you said to help someone reverse disease we need to teach people about stress and the most insidious part of stress for peoples is their thoughts. This is such a simple yet difficult thing for people to change.
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Shannon Ford says:
Thank you so much, Tracy.
Your courses are truly a gift and continue to help so many people.
I appreciated hearing the original meaning of wanderer. The vagus nerve is amazing as it connects/impacts every system! I had not about “wander” or that it is 80% afferent. I am thankful for you and thoroughly enjoy your teaching style. Cheers, Shannon -
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Tina says:
Thank you Tracy for the wealth of information! I am a holistic nutritionist and definitely include stress as a factor in weight loss resistance and overall health. I will admit I was surprised that our thoughts (ANTS) were the primary factor in stress! It all makes sense, but I guess we are too engrossed in the constant reels playing in our minds to recognize the impact they are having. Guilty as charged!
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Lindsey Volz says:
This is my favorite topic and the more I learn the more I love it! Thank you for your information Tracey!
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Sara says:
Thank you for another wonderful presentation. Always a great reminder of the power of our thoughts. Loved the gargling tip; always looking for a new tool to center, calm and activate the parasympathetic mode. I am a NP.
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Linda Case says:
Thank you for sharing so many wonderful pearls, Tracy. One of the biggest take always is the reminder that our body follows our thoughts and learning to re-frame our perception in a positive way is a legit superpower! I also really appreciate being reminded of the many ways to active the parasympathetic system and added them to my Pearls notebook.
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Jodi says:
Thank you for the wonderful reminder to embrace simple things like breathing and gargling! Often we forget how powerful these things are! Despite “ knowing” how powerful automatic negative thoughts are, sometimes , we forget they can drive physiologic processes and recognizing this is so key in healing.
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Another inspiring Facebook live! Put a smile on my face as I just published a piece for my clients talking about parasympathetic and sympathetic dominance and ways to incorporate stress reduction techniques in their daily routine. “Resilient vitality in the face of challenge” – thank you, Tracy, for these beautiful words! And of course the most important thing to work on are our thoughts and emotions. This is where physical work blends with spiritual and one cannot succeed without the other.
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Anya says:
I`m a health coach and love to teach my clients about the importance of stress management. Thank you so much Tracy for sharing your wisdom as always. It`s a good reminder that 10% is what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. It`s so empowering to know that we are in so much control of managing stress. Mind body connection is so powerful – knowing that we can change the way we feel by changing our thoughts!
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Sandy Anderson says:
Thank you for a fantastic Facebook Live Tracy–I always appreciate your wisdom and sharing, especially around our automatic negative thoughts keeping us in a sympathetic dominant mode, moving us toward dis-ease in the body. Love the reminder to schedule in brief times throughout the day to emphasize parasympathetic response, which is so critical for our own well being and the well being of our clients.
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Kendra Barnett says:
I am a board certified health and wellness coach as well as a functional nutrition counselor. I always find your talks super interesting and packed with great information. It was really interesting to hear that our THOUGHTS are the most dominant part of stress. Makes lots of sense but sometimes until you hear it said that way, you don’t realize it. Nice to be reassured to slow down and live
more in the parasympathetic. Thank you so much! -
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Meghan Smart says:
Thank you for this informative live event! I’ve been teaching yoga for many years and I am no stranger to the power of the breath in stimulating the vagus nerve, but gargling is new to me! Loved this tip because it reminded me to keep my mind open to new things!
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Tracy Kowalski says:
Thank you for the great video. I often forget the simple techniques of mindfulness and breathing. I reset the timer on my phone to remind me to breath. It’s a practice I can easily forgot to practice for myself as well
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Jen says:
The badge of honor comment is so true. I find that happening so often.
That is a competition I rather not be apart of but unfortunately so many
do find it to be almost like a compliment to themselves that they can
actually keep going on while dealing with all their stress. One client is post
Covid, type 2 diabetic, highly stressed, and recently broke off a 3 year
relationship. This person always seems to be in a fight or flight position.
Going to keep these pearls of your talk handy and will be useful with helping
This person to be mindful, grateful and to more importantly to be present and get out
Of their own head. By the way, I like the earrings you were wearing. -
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Noor Brifkani says:
Hi,
Yet again, thank you so much for an informative session. I am new to functional medicine and have found your monthly series so valuable. Thank you for the reminder to “just breathe”. I have to practice this more often when in stressful situations.
Noor
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So interesting how 90% of strew is our thoughts and how we react to it!! also love learning how it’s more so the gut talking to the brain not the other way around. Thanks so much Tracy for all that you do!