My aerobic exercise of choice for over a decade has been cycling. It’s easy on my back and joints. However, because I live in Texas I often cycle on windy days. Sometimes the wind is in my face. I like it better when it’s at my back. That makes cycling much more pleasant, even if I’m going uphill. I’ve made a discovery a few months ago that’s turned my journey through life into a trip where I always have the wind at my back. I still need to pedal and steer, but it’s all easier and more fun.
What I discovered was the vagus nerve. It is the longest cranial nerve in the body, running from the brain stem to the intestines. Massachusetts General Hospital says, “Among the many nerves that make up this system, the vagus nerve stands out for its profound influence on physical and mental health.” It has influence over much of the brain and body, including heart/blood pressure, digestive and immune systems. A healthy vagus nerve helps me mentally, physically and emotionally.
I would devote most of my discretionary spending to feel this good. The wonderful thing is, I don’t have to spend a dime. The vagus nerve is incredibly easy to influence by natural means. Some of the more common ways are deep breathing, meditation, yoga, chanting, and humming. I combine them with things I’m already doing such as humming when I cycle or walk and deep breathing while reading or driving. That way it doesn’t take up any extra time. These techniques have been practiced for centuries by ancient cultures. They recognized the benefits. They just didn’t understand the physiology. It is a major player in the mind/gut connection.
I’ve talked about my meditation practice in several posts. I do it for the hangover. I feel good afterwards. The benefits escalated when I added a few minutes of deep breathing and humming to my day. I also put a cold wet wash cloth on my face for a couple minutes in the morning. I keep it in the refrigerator so it’s ready to go. It activates the nerve to kick start my day feeling good. Most of the day I feel ten to fifteen years younger and am in a good mood. I also sleep better and wake up on the right side of the bed. It can help with anxiety, depression and stress along with several chronic diseases.
For five years and seven months I have been writing posts about useful things I’ve learned. Most of them are not complex. However, the challenge is incorporating them into my life. Having a healthy vagus nerve makes all of them easier. I’ve kept the post How Many Fingers Do You See as the first one visitors see because looking beyond the obvious has made such a huge difference in my life. The ideas that have followed are possible because I’ve done that. It’s been the most important asset I have.
However, this post will take its place as the first one visitors see. Having a healthy vagus nerve is the best I can wish for anyone. I’ve told many of the people close to me about it. Like me, most had never heard of it. It would be a tragedy for me to keep what I’ve learned to myself.
Of all the many benefits mentally, physically and emotionally, I rank the top three for me as feeling good, being more intuitive and becoming more comfortable in my own skin. I’ve spent decades of effort and reading to become the person I want to be and I’m glad I did. Having a healthy vagus nerve is just as big a factor in that quest, and it’s so much easier.
There is a plethora of information on the internet. Many easy techniques help vagus nerve health. The key is finding the right combination for each person and being consistent in the activities. Here are three websites that have been helpful to me:
https://www.massgeneral.org/news/article/vagus-nerve
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/vagus-nerve-reset
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/five-finger-breathing
I’ve dedicated much of my life to self improvement. Determination has been my biggest asset, until now. Having a healthy vagus nerve puts the wind at my back and makes it so much easier to be the person I want to be. I wish that for any person who reads this. Nothing more complicated than perception.
May you have enough today, one moment at a time.
Let your vagus nerve help.
THIS HELPED ME 