Vagus nerve, Somatic exercises online for trauma

[Eyelashesoffire]

Hi, has anyone tried buying a package of somatic exercises online? I've seen some on Instagram. Are they any good? Or does anyone know of somewhere I can get exercises for the vagus nerve? What I've found on YouTube is brief.

Trauma is (generally) in the mind, with the body reacting accordingly. Identifying and dealing with the root cause is the best way of putting the trauma to rest.

I don't think its necessary to spend money on a package, there is plenty of free information online for soothing the vagus nerve.

Yoga nidra is very good (can listen to via podcast or youtube) and there are books in amazon with exercises.

@Eyesopenwideawake there is a physical link and current thinking is that the vagus nerve plays a role. It's to so with the physical impact of trauma and the role the vagus nerve plays in the fight or flight response. By soothing the vagus nerve, one can reduce it's 'alarm' activity, thereby reducing the physical symptoms trauma on the body.

Thanks @StBrides I'll have a look. Unfortunately there's a limit to what I can do to change my circumstances, I'm just trying to find a way to live with the stress.

If anyone else is looking for a similar thing, I just found this 5 min exercise, very easy to do and it has felt very relaxing!

@StBrides - would be interested in reading info on the role of the vagus nerve in mental health.

I have used a sensate with some good results. Unfortunately, I can't afford to buy one but have borrowed one from the place where I have trauma therapy.

https://www.getsensate.com/

I've also found Qi-gong very grounding.

@Gingerkittykat thanks that looks really interesting, shame it's so expensive! I love qi gong and tai chi, but there aren't convenient classes near me unfortunately.

I have done a somatic stretching course from Daily Om - it’s been really helpful at unlocking years-old tension in my body, but it’s not marketed specifically at trauma.

Here’s the link https://www.dailyom.com/courses/somatic-exercises-to-relax-and-release/

@Eyesopenwideawake

Books on trauma and the body:

• Bessel van der Kolk: The Body keeps the Score
• Peter Levine: Waking the Tiger (Somatic experiencing)
• Polyvagal theory: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3108032/#:~:text=The%20polyvagal%20theory%20proposes%20that,of%20behavior%20and%20psychological%20experience. Porges has also written books.

EMDR can also be a very helpful approach if you are looking for something that tackles trauma in the brain while involving the body.

You can find interviews with all the authors on youtube.