The Thinking Practitioner

🎙From “vagal push-ups” to inflammation to trauma healing, the vagus nerve is everywhere in bodywork and wellness talk—but what does the science actually say? And more importantly, what does this mean in actual practice?

In this episode, Til and Whitney take a grounded, myth-busting look at the vagus nerve’s role in health, relaxation, and hands-on practice. They explore what we can clearly influence through bodywork, what’s misunderstood, and how to work with and think about this vital nerve in our hands-on practices.

🔍 Key Topics:

• 00:00 – Intro: Why is everyone talking about the vagus nerve?

• 00:02 – Personal stories: Our first encounters with vagus nerve ideas

• 00:05 – Vagus hype: From “vagal push-ups” to miracle claims

• 00:07 – What is the vagus nerve, really? Anatomy and function

• 00:10 – Afferent vs efferent signals: What the vagus is actually doing

• 00:13 – Polyvagal theory: Helpful insight or oversold model?

• 00:17 – HRV, breathwork, and cold plunges: What’s the real science?

• 00:23 – Can touch influence the vagus nerve? A look at massage and manual therapy

• 00:28 – How to talk about vagus-related ideas without hype

• 00:33 – What we can do to support nervous system regulation

• 00:37 – The power of presence, safety, and attunement

• 00:41 – Cautions about vagus-based marketing and client language

• 00:45 – Wrap-up: What’s real, what’s helpful, and what we’ve learned

Resources discussed in this episode: 

• Article: Luchau, Til: 'Working with the Vagus Nerve' Massage & Bodywork, 2017. https://bit.ly/luchau-workingwiththevagusnerve 

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