If you’re like most of the moms I work with, you carry a lot — and not just in your arms. 

You carry it in your nervous system. 

That low hum of constant responsibility. 

The racing mind at bedtime. 

The tight chest when one more thing falls on your plate. 

You’re not broken. 

You’re not doing it wrong. 

Your body is simply stuck in survival mode — and it’s exhausted. 

This past weekend, I completed a specialized training with Jennifer over at the Atlantic School of Reflexology (ASR) — all about working with the vagus nerve, the body’s built-in system for regulating stress and restoring balance. 

And as I sat through the training, I kept thinking, “This is exactly what my moms need.” 

Why the Vagus Nerve Matters for Your Stress and Health 

The vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve — and it’s the most extensive cranial nerve in the entire body. 

(It branches off to two. One on the right and one on the left.)

Think of the vagus nerve as the body’s superhighway — constantly transmitting electrical and chemical messages between the brain and the body (specifically, to the major organs like the heart, lungs, stomach, and intestines). 

In simple terms: it keeps the conversation flowing between your mind and your body. 

It’s a key player in the parasympathetic nervous system — the part responsible for “rest, repair, and recovery.” 

It helps regulate: 

• Heart rate 
• Breathing patterns 
• Digestion 
• Sleep rhythms 
• Emotional state 

It even plays a huge role in the gut-brain connection — meaning what happens in your belly affects your brain, and vice versa. 

Because of the way the vagus nerve winds through your body, we can actually access and stimulate it through any point along its pathway — including the ears, hands, and feet. 

Messages sent at one point travel up and down the entire system. 

The vagus nerve contains about 75% of all the parasympathetic nerve fibers found within your body. 

When it’s strong and healthy (a concept known as vagal tone), you’re more adaptable, resilient, and emotionally balanced. 

When it’s weak, the body struggles to recover from stress. 

Good news: 

We can strengthen vagal tone with gentle stimulation and specific practices — helping your body shift back into healing mode. 

Signs of Low Vagal Tone You Might Be Feeling: 

(Taken directly from our training — and these might hit close to home if you’re an overwhelmed mom.) 

• Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep 
• Digestive troubles (like IBS, bloating, indigestion) 
• Anxiety and racing thoughts 
• Feeling tired but wired 
• Low emotional resilience (everything feels like “too much”) 
• Sensitivity to loud noises or overstimulation 
• Heart palpitations or rapid heart rate during stress 

Sound familiar? 

You’re not alone. 

And you’re not stuck like this forever. 

Simple Self-Care to Support Your Vagus Nerve (You Can Start Today): 

Here are a few easy practices you can weave into your day to start supporting your vagus nerve health: 

• Deep breathing: Practice slow, belly breathing — allow your exhale to be longer than your inhale. 
• Humming or singing softly: The vibration naturally stimulates the vagus nerve. 
• Gentle face massage: Especially around the jawline and ears. 
• Splashing your face with cold water: Especially after waking up or when you feel overwhelmed. 
• Ear reflexology: Gently massaging the inner bowl and tragus. 
• Mindful movement: Slow yoga, stretching, or even a mindful walk in nature. 

These small steps signal to your body, “You’re safe. It’s okay to relax.” 

Introducing a New Kind of Session: Focused on Your Nervous System 

Very soon, I’ll be offering a new style of 90-minute sessions specifically designed to support vagus nerve activation and full-body nervous system restoration. 

Here’s what you can expect during a session: 

• We begin by checking your blood pressure using a monitor — gently gathering a baseline of how your nervous system is responding. 
• You’ll settle into a quiet, calming space — a space where you don’t need to talk, explain, or hold anything. 
• I’ll work on specific reflex points on your ears, hands, and feet — gently encouraging vagus nerve stimulation throughout the session. 
• The entire environment is designed for deep stillness — not conversation. (Of course, if you need something, you can let me know — but the goal is for you to drift into deep relaxation without having to stay “on.” In fact, not talking helps you sink even further into your relaxation process.) 
• Afterward, we’ll take a second blood pressure reading to notice any shifts — giving you a beautiful glimpse of the changes happening inside your body. 

These sessions use a softer, more nurturing touch than traditional reflexology. 

We aren’t searching for tender points or working into tension. 

We are inviting your nervous system to unwind itself. 

Why This Matters for Moms Like You 

Because the world demands so much from you — but your body and your heart deserve a place to simply receive. 

Because resilience isn’t just about pushing harder — it’s about restoring your ability to adapt, heal, and thrive. 

Because when you are calm, centered, and strong, everyone around you benefits too. 

You don’t have to do it all. 

You don’t have to be in survival mode forever. 

There is another way — and your vagus nerve holds the key. 

More details about booking will be available soon — and spots will be limited. 

If reading this made you think, “Oh my gosh, this is exactly what I need,” — that’s your body speaking to you. 

And it’s time to listen.