Work with your Vagus Nerve to regulate your nervous system and connect to a sense of calm

Our NERVOUS SYSTEMS TALK TO EACH OTHER and the ENVIRONMENT all the time. The VAGUS NERVE is a sensory nerve and forms part of the autonomic nervous system, playing an IMPORTANT role in keeping us well, from a PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL and COGNITIVE point of view.

When we are TRIGGERED, we might notice a TIGHTNESS in our CHEST, a CHURNING in our STOMACH and SHORTNESS of BREATH. This is our BODY”S INTERNAL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, via the VAGUS NERVE, letting us know that we are presented with a challenge and that WE NEED TO ACT so we can KEEP OURSELVES SAFE. The excess energy, thanks to a surge in ADRENALINE, allows us to MOBILISE quickly so we can act accordingly (i.e. fight or flee).

When the STRESS becomes TOO MUCH, our system can become OVERWHELMED, contributing to feelings of numbness, lack of motivation and exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest.

Once the DANGER has PASSED, we may CONTINUE to FEEL ACTIVATED, and/or NUMB, and feel like we can't think straight and like there is an INTERNAL ALARM BELL RINGING in our system. Our body believes we are still under threat, even though our mind may logically know that the challenge has passed.

It is for this reason that WE NEED TO INVITE THE BODY TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.. What our body needs to restore a sense of calm, ease and comfort is safe connection.

One way of doing so is through CO-REGULATION. By being safely guided to work with the body to ENGAGE the VAGUS NERVE, letting our system know that it's ok to for the ALARM BELLS TO STOP RINGING, we learn how to SELF REGULATE.

A FELT SENSE OF SAFETY helps us to turn down the intensity of the emotional part of our brain, bringing the logical part of our brain back online. This helps us to THINK more CLEARLY, to LISTEN, to RETAIN INFORMATION, to PROBLEM SOLVE.

When we can build our capacity to feel safe, this helps us to be MORE EMOTIONALLY REGULATED, to benefit from IMPROVED PERSONAL and PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS and to be more FLEXIBLE in how we APPROACH LIFE's challenges and opportunities.

This can be supportive for PERI and POST MENOPAUSAL women, EXPECTANT MUMS and women who are BREASTFEEDING to reduce the level or adrenaline and cortisol in their systems.

Everyone’s nervous system is different, based largely on our past experiences. This tailored program consists of six (6) 45 minute sessions to CO-REGULATE with me as your live facilitator to provide you with the RESOURCES and SUPPORT you need to SELF REGULATE in daily life as you navigate life’s challenges and opportunities.

For maximum benefit, sessions are to be used within a twelve (12) week period.

The sessions are a combination of:

• education about the nervous system,

• experiential techniques and exercises that will help your system to experience a slowing down/gently inviting in more energy, (based on how you are feeling on the day)

• gently leaning in and attuning to how your system experiences the changes and becoming familiar with how your body regulates, given the right conditions

• Feeling LESS ANXIOUS and HYPER VIGILANT

• A quick way to SLOW DOWN and feel a sense of BALANCE

• Helps me CALM DOWN when i’m feeling OVERWHELMED

• Helps me to TURN OFF my BODY’S ALARM BELLS after a prolonged period of stress

• Providing the ability to take in DEEPER BREATHS and feel LESS ANXIOUS

• Feeling a sense of CALM by doing the exercises and being guided to notice how it feels to CONNECT TO MY BODY

• QUIETENS the MIND, so I can think clearly

• EASY to implement in REAL LIFE situations

• Build RESILIENCE allowing me to RECOVER FROM CHALLENGES quicker than before

• Forms part of my SELF CARE ROUTINE

• Helps me FALL ASLEEP if I wake up in the night

• Allows me to feel MORE ENERGISED, in a CALM way

• Helps me feel more HOPEFUL and able to go about daily tasks

• Helps me to FEEL LIKE MYSELF AGAIN

• People suffering INSOMNIA or finding it difficult to fall or stay asleep

• Those who are undergoing PROLONGED STRESS

• Anyone experiencing ANXIETY and finding it difficult to connect to the calm places inside

• anyone suffering PTSD or CPTSD

• People experiencing BRAIN FOG and finding it hard to focus and concentrate

• PERI and POST MENOPAUSAL women who are looking to manage their stress levels and reduce inflammation

• PERI and POST NATAL mums, helping to create a calm and nurturing environment for you and your child

• YEAR 12, UNDERGRADUATE and POST GRADUATE UNIVERSITY students who are looking for ways to manage stress and maintain optimum cognitive performance

• EDUCATORS and TEACHERS who are looking for strategies to better manage their classroom

• People experiencing challenges in PERSONAL and ;PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Those who are STUCK in a cycle of crash and burn

• People who need support to recover from BURNOUT

• People struggling with the DEMANDS of MODERN LIVING

• As part of a TEAM APPROACH when working with TRADITIONAL TALK THERAPISTS to improve your level of EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE

• Anyone with a nervous system

With the help of regular classes with Michelle, Vagus Nerve regulation exercises have become part of my routine to stay calm and grounded. I have found this particularly beneficial after experiencing burnout. I would recommend these sessions to anyone who is looking to bring a bit of calm to their day. ~ T.F. Vic

The work with you was amazing and I thank you for teaching me the simple and effective techniques to reset my vagus nerve. When I commenced working with you I felt fatigued and everything was an effort as I had been in overdrive. Over the 6 weeks of your program I transitioned from living in my head to being more in touch with my body and having more energy. Daily activities came with ease rather than a struggle. My brain fog lifted too. I continue to practice and use the techniques daily as they are a vital part of my tool kit. Thank you for creating a safe space and sharing your knowledge ~ L.M. Vic

Working with Michelle for the last few months to learn how to regulate my vagus nerve has been an absolute pleasure and has made a huge difference to my life. Not only did I value each individual session (all of which helped me reduce feelings of overwhelm and restored a sense of calm and balance), but I also noticed the cumulative effect on my entire body over the duration of the course. I finished the course with an increased sense of wellbeing, life-changing knowledge and techniques that will allow me better manage my stress for the rest of my life and also profound gratitude for Michelle's caring, empathetic and gentle teaching style. If you care about looking after yourself (and by doing that also looking after those around you), I cannot recommend Michelle highly enough ~ S.C. Vic

These past six weeks have been so transformative in the most subtle of ways. Your process encouraged me to notice both the quiet and demanding ways my body is trying to communicate with me everyday. From a low point that drained me of basically all my energy, you have enabled me to build my way back up to slowly feeling better in such a manageable way. Your calming nature and inviting presence made me feel comfortable with you since the day we met. I feel that even when I didn't think I was making too much progress, you had such an insightful and knowledgeable perspective that made me see the smaller wins. I now feel that I can notice the signs of my nervous system and the intricate ways that it operates and continue to build the confidence that I will be able to keep myself from the brink of exhaustion. You have equipped me with a comprehensive toolkit that I have at my disposal to utilise whenever I need and I will be forever grateful ~ M.S. Vic

I'm generally a worrywart with anxious tendencies. Covid along with work related stresses and a sedentary lifestyle have inadvertently affected my health recently. I'm grateful for Michelle's support through her vagus nerve regulation sessions. These simple but very effective exercises allowed me to connect with my body, which regenerated my energy. Thanks so much Michelle ~R.W. Vic

Michelle is a Polyvagal informed somatic therapist who has been working therapeutically with clients for 20 years.