Mental health · 8 min
Training your vagal tone
The vagus nerve is the main highway of your parasympathetic nervous system and plays a key role in how fast your body recovers from stress. Higher vagal tone is linked to better emotional regulation, a more stable heart rhythm, and greater resilience. The good news: this nerve can be trained, much like a muscle.
In this article: What it is · How it works · Common myths · Practical tips · When to be careful
Key takeaways
- Breathe for 5 minutes daily with a long, calm exhale.
- Build up cold exposure gently, 2 to 3 times a week.
- Expect gradual results over weeks, not days.
- Get medical advice for heart conditions before trying cold exposure.
Written by Jochem Nohlmans, founder of Somora.