Greetings, Reader!

'Tis the season of gratitude and giving, and I want to start by thanking you for supporting my small business and enabling me to do this sacred work of building safety, connection, and nervous system resilience.

I know there are a lot of things competing for your attention, and I'm so grateful to you for inviting me into your inbox each week.

As a thank you for being part of this community, today's message includes a free gift, and an invitation to receive more gifts by sharing abundantly.

Getting Unstuck

​The vagus nerve is the primary messenger of the parasympathetic nervous system. It is the tenth cranial nerve that begins in the brainstem and travels along the spine, branching off to the organs in your chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Essentially, the vagus nerve connects your head to your heart and to your gut.

The vagus nerve is responsible for your ability to rest, digest, connect, and create.

Vagal tone refers to how responsive and flexible your vagus nerve is.

High Vagal Tone enables you to:

• Mobilize quickly in response to stress
• Focus and think clearly under pressure without feeling overwhelmed or incapacitated
• Bounce back from challenges quickly
• Rest at the appropriate times
• Digest your meals and eliminate your wastes with ease
• Connect with others

Low Vagal Tone occurs when you are stuck in survival mode, leading to:

• Shutdown in response to stress
• Difficulty problem-solving
• Feeling overwhelmed an unable to focus under pressure
• Staying stuck and having difficulty bouncing back
• Feeling threatened and protective

When you are in survival mode, your body believes there is a threat and is sending danger signals to the brain via the vagus nerve. This shuts down your ability to rest and digest, and prevents you from maintaining social connections.

If you have low vagal tone, you need to metabolize the fear that is keeping you stuck.

Stimulating the vagus nerve helps your body reestablish a sense of safety and connection.

To help you with that journey, I’ve created a resource with 10 essential practices for the vagus nerve that I'm offering for free as a thank you for supporting my small business:

🌿 FREE DOWNLOAD: 10 Tools for Everyday Nervous System Resilience

Inside, you’ll find:

• Gentle practices to regulate your body in moments of stress
• Tools to help you shift from survival mode to safety
• Quick resets you can use anytime that don't require any equipment or prep
• A beautifully simple routine you can return to again and again

👉 Click to download your free 10 Tools for Everyday Nervous System Resilience booklet.

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In love and solidarity,

​

Rachel Doctor of Physical Therapy & Integrative Pain Specialist Build a resilient nervous system to help you flow through the seasons of your life with courage, wisdom, and compassion.

PS: Want a free yoga + qigong class and a chance to win a free CranioSacral Healing Session or a free Nervous System Coaching call? Donate to the VT Foodbank this week!

To celebrate my birthday, I'll be drawing the winner on Saturday, December 6th.