The Vagus Nerve: My Secret Pathway to Calm During a Whole-Body Massage

For the past 20 months, I’ve been fortunate enough to receive a weekly, whole-body massage ( home service)  from a professional therapist. What began as a simple effort to ease muscle tension has evolved into something far more meaningful — a quiet ritual of healing, reflection, and peace. Over time, I’ve noticed how these sessions not only relax my body but also calm my mind in ways that feel deeply restorative.

That lingering calmness after each massage isn’t just a pleasant side effect — it’s something rooted in the intricate design of our own biology. And the secret lies in one extraordinary nerve: the vagus nerve.

The Quiet Power of the Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve — named after the Latin word for “wandering” — truly lives up to its name. It starts in the brainstem and meanders through the neck and chest, connecting to vital organs like the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. It serves as the main communication highway for the parasympathetic nervous system, which governs rest, relaxation, and recovery.

In moments of stress, our bodies tend to flip into “fight-or-flight” mode, ready to react and defend. But when the vagus nerve is activated, it gently shifts us back into “rest-and-digest” mode — slowing the heart rate, easing the breath, and restoring balance.

Massage and the Vagus Connection

During my weekly massage, I can actually feel this shift happening. As my therapist’s hands move rhythmically along my neck, back, and abdomen, something within me quiets down. My breathing slows. My heart feels steady. Sometimes, I even sense a light tingling — a subtle wave of energy that flows through me.

Now I know what’s really happening: the vagus nerve is being stimulated. The gentle touch and safe, nurturing environment tell my body that it’s okay to let go. And in that moment, my mind follows.

The Afterglow of Calm

When the session ends, I often linger on the table, not wanting to break the spell. My body feels grounded yet light, my thoughts unhurried. That post-massage serenity — what I call the “afterglow of calm” — is the vagus nerve continuing its quiet work, balancing my internal rhythms long after my massage therapist left my apartment

Keeping the Vagus Alive in Daily Life

Beyond the massage table, I’ve learned to nurture this inner calm through simple habits that also stimulate the vagus nerve:

• Deep, slow breathing

• Humming or soft singing (yes, it works!)

• Gentle stretching or yoga

• Moments of gratitude or compassion

Each of these helps keep that relaxed state alive throughout the week.

A Final Reflection

Looking back over these 20 months, I realize that massage has become more than self-care — it’s a form of maintenance for both body and spirit. It reminds me that true calm isn’t something external to seek, but something already wired within us.

And sometimes, it only takes a skilled pair of hands — and one remarkable “wandering” nerve — to remind the body how to rest again.

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Meanwhile, 

Studies find that placing a cold pack to your armpit during feelings of sudden anxiety can help relieve that anxiety in seconds by stimulating the vagus nerve and reducing sympathetic nervous system arousal.

The vagus nerve is a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps regulate bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing.

The sympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is responsible for the “fight or flight” response, preparing the body for stress.

Cold exposure, even something as small as placing a cold pack directly to the armpit, activates the vagus nerve through a phenomenon called the diving reflex. This reflex is a physiological response to cold water immersion, causing a shift in the autonomic nervous system towards a more relaxed state.

When a cold pack is applied to the armpit, it stimulates nerve endings near major blood vessels and nerves, including those connected to the vagus nerve. This stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which leads to a decrease in heart rate, blood pressure and overall arousal.

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