What Is This Vagus Nerve Everyone Is Talking About —And Why Should You Care?

How Realigning Your Body Helps You Find Balance and Relief

Feeling anxious, burned out, or stuck in fight-or-flight mode? Your vagus nerve might be

the key to getting your body and mind back into balance. The vagus nerve is like your body’s calm-down switch. It’s the main nerve of your parasympathetic nervous system—the part responsible for rest, digestion, recovery, and healing. When activated, it signals your body to slow your heart rate, relax your

muscles, improve digestion, and lower stress hormones. In short, it helps you shift out

of survival mode and into recovery mode.

When your vagus nerve isn’t functioning well, you may feel stuck in a constant state of

stress—leading to anxiety, fatigue, inflammation, poor sleep, and more.

Here’s the good news: you can improve the function of your vagus nerve—and

realigning your body helps support it.

How Realigning Your Body Activates the Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve passes through the upper part of your neck, near the first two

vertebrae—called the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). These are the top two bones in your spine

that support your head and allow it to move. When these bones are out of

alignment—even slightly—they can put pressure on the nerve or nearby tissues,

disrupting the nerve’s ability to send clear signals.

Gentle chiropractic adjustments help remove this pressure, restore proper nerve flow,

and support your body’s natural rest-and-digest response.

Experts have been supporting the nervous system and its vital connections for over a

century—helping people restore balance, reduce stress, and improve overall health.

8 Fun & Easy Ways I Love to Activate the Vagus Nerve at Home (and Why They Work!)

Keeping your nervous system calm and balanced doesn’t have to be complicated. These simple, enjoyable techniques are my go-to favorites to help your body tap into its natural ability to relax, reset, and feel more connected—anytime, anywhere.

1. Gargling: Vigorously gargling for 30–60 seconds a day isn’t just quirky—it engages the muscles in your throat and pharynx, which are directly connected to branches of the vagus nerve. This stimulates vagal activity and helps tone your parasympathetic response.

2. Diaphragmatic (Belly) Breathing: Take slow, deep breaths that expand your belly, then exhale even more slowly. This stretches your diaphragm (which the vagus nerve runs through) and signals your body to slow down your heart rate and enter a calm, restorative state.

3. Cold Exposure: Splash your face with cold water, take a cold shower, or take the plunge in a chilly lake or river (like my regular winter swims in the Hudson!) Sudden cold activates sensory receptors in the skin, which stimulate the vagus nerve through reflex pathways—instantly kicking in your calming parasympathetic response.

4. Humming, Chanting, or Singing: Whether it's your morning mantra or singing in the car, vibrating your vocal cords stimulates vagus nerve branches in the larynx. This boosts vagal tone and brings on a sense of ease and emotional regulation.

5. Laughter: Your favorite comedy special isn’t just entertaining—it’s therapeutic! Laughing engages the diaphragm and abdominal muscles, creating rhythmic movements and breath control that activate the vagus nerve and help you release stress.

6. Mindfulness or Meditation: Even just 5–10 minutes of stillness and deep breathing each day helps calm your sympathetic nervous system. Focused attention and slow, steady breath patterns increase vagal activity and create a deep sense of internal calm.

7. Gentle Movement: Walking, yoga, and tai chi aren’t just good for your body—they also regulate your nervous system. These mindful movements encourage rhythmic breathing, enhance body awareness, and activate the vagus nerve through movement and breath coordination.

8. Social Connection: Eye contact, a warm hug, or an honest, heart-to-heart conversation all activate the social engagement system tied to the vagus nerve. Emotional safety and physical connection boost vagal tone and support feelings of calm, trust, and belonging.

Ready for Lasting Relief?

If you’re tired of running on stress, it’s time to work with your body—not against it.

Chiropractic care doesn’t just support your vagus nerve—it can also help with

headaches, neck and back pain, posture issues, poor sleep, and fatigue. By restoring

balance to your nervous system through precise spinal realignment, your whole body

can function the way it’s meant to.

Schedule your chiropractic appointment today and give your body the reset it deserves.