When you stimulate your vagus nerve, the relationship between your brain and body strengthens. One way to stimulate it is by increasing your blood flow. As the blood flow through your brain, organs, and gut increases, your body will learn to relax, soften, and fully digest its emotions. Activities like exercise, chanting aloud, prayer or meditation, deep diaphragmatic breathing, laughter, and cold-water face splashes help stimulate the vagus nerve and calm your sympathetic (fight-or-flight) nervous system. Clearing reactivity is best done in the morning because when you sleep your body is digesting the stressors of the day. Take 10 seconds out of your morning to do the following scan: Today, Boyle is a professional speaker, adjunct Psychology Professor, seasoned yoga instructor, and a C.L.E.A.N.S.E. Coach (a method which she founded).
