Yoga and the Vagus Nerve: How Breathwork Shapes Our Stress Response !!

Yoga and the Vagus Nerve: How Breathwork Shapes Our Stress Response By Yogylavkush | International Yoga Day 2025 – Yoga for One Earth, One Health Modern life constantly triggers our stress response—the “fight or flight” mode governed by the sympathetic nervous system. But hidden within our bodies lies a powerful ally for calm: the vagus nerve . It’s the body’s secret pathway to peace, and yogic breathwork offers the keys to activate it. What Is the Vagus Nerve? The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body. It connects the brain to major organs such as the heart, lungs, and gut, playing a critical role in the parasympathetic nervous system , which governs rest, digestion, and recovery. Breath as a Remote Control for the Nervous System Scientific studies, including those published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience , show that slow, deep, diaphragmatic breathing stimulates vagal tone—an indicator of how well the vagus nerve is functioning. Higher vagal tone is link...