For many, the term "polyvagal theory" might sound like complex scientific jargon.
But at its core, it's all about understanding our body's response to safety and danger, and how sound therapy can play a pivotal role in regulating these responses.
As someone who lives with fibromyalgia, a condition linked with how the nervous system processes pain, I've experienced firsthand how much sound and movement have helped me.
My personal journey with fibromyalgia
Living with fibromyalgia meant grappling with a nervous system that often felt out of sync.
For me, the pain and fatigue felt connected to a nervous system holding onto old stories.
But through sound therapy, movement, and singing, I began to retrain my nervous system. These practices helped me release the old narratives my body clung to and find a renewed sense of connection and safety within myself.
Triggers and emotions
We all have moments when we're triggered, when past traumas or experiences cause reactive emotions. But through my healing practices, I've learned the power of the pause. Instead of immediately reacting, I've cultivated the ability to stop, observe the emotion with compassion, and let it flow through me.
This practice allows me to remain anchored in the present, preventing past traumas from pulling me back. It's a continuous journey, one that requires dedication and self-awareness, but it has brought me a lot of freedom.
Understanding the polyvagal theory
Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the polyvagal theory provides insights into our autonomic nervous system, which controls our unconscious bodily functions like heart rate and digestion.
This system has three primary states:
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When we feel safe, our body is relaxed, and we can connect with others.
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In response to perceived threats, our body prepares to either confront the danger or flee from it.
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In extreme situations, our body might go into a shutdown mode, a state of immobilisation.
The vagus nerve: a bridge to calm
The vagus nerve, a critical component of the polyvagal theory, acts as a bridge between our brain and major organs.
It plays a significant role in determining which state our body should be in.
Many people find that slow, resonant sound helps them shift out of fight or flight and into a sense of safety.
I invite you to experience sound through 1-1 sessions or group sound baths.
