This is my favourite stress management tool.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation.

For years I tried talk therapy, hard exercise and journaling to shift my anxiety and stress, but nothing worked... until I started using my body to loosen up & shift these things.

Vagus nerve stimulation was one of the fastest physical tools I have used, where the effects were instantaneous.

Let's start with what the vagus nerve actually is.

The vagus nerve runs through the body from the brain to all major organs. It acts as a pathway for communication and stimulator for the parasympathetic nervous system (telling our body it's safe).

How to:

Apply firm pressure and massage in small circles, while taking deep breaths for 30 seconds per point. You can do both ears simultaneously.

Start with top dot; insert thumbs onto the pressure point, as you apply pressure pull the ear forward with pointer finger, rub point in circle with thumb.

Point 2 (conch) (middle left); apply pressure with pointer finger, use thumbs to gently pull ears away from head and forward, rub point in small, firm circles.

Point 3 (ear lobe) (bottom); use point finger, just above knuckles, to gently pull lobes down, massage in small circles.

Point 4 (tragus) (middle right): insert pointer finger behind tragus, push forward & hold.

As you move through the conch & tragus points you'll feel a stimulation deep in your ear.

You'll know you've got the right spot!

I do this multiple times a day.

There are a couple more vagus nerve stimulation exercises I love, but this was the absolute cherry 🍒!

If you've love more info, or the other vagus nerve stimulations I use, then please feel free to reach out to me @gymandtonicmovement

If you give this ago please let me know how amazing it made you feel!

Vagus Baby,

Shea.