The Vagus Nerve Connection:
Your Gateway to Wellness Through Yoga
with Dr. Arielle Schwartz and Doug Keller
Join Us on a Journey to Transform Your Nervous System,
Release Deeply Held Stress, and Discover Your Inner Source of Healing
Imagine having a natural "reset button" for stress and anxiety - one that's been within you all along.
The ancient yogis discovered it, and now modern science has validated it.
The good news? This is not just some theoretical mumbo jumbo. It's practical, down-to-earth insights into the deeper workings of our body - and our mind.
And, you can learn how to harness this profound wisdom to transform your health and well-being through the power of the vagus nerve - your body's master switch for healing, resilience, and inner peace.
The Nervous System Paradox - And a Revolutionary Discovery
We've all been there. In moments of stress or anxiety, someone tells us to "just relax" or "take a deep breath." But here's why that advice often backfires:
Your nervous system doesn't respond to commands. Like your heartbeat or digestion, relaxation is an automatic process - one that becomes more elusive the harder you try to force it.
But here's a revolutionary breakthrough that scientists have made in our understanding over just the last few decades:
We can't directly control our autonomic nervous system. But we CAN influence it through a remarkable pathway - the vagus nerve.
The importance of the vagus nerve for healing trauma was discovered in 1994 with the introduction of the Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges, a psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Over the past few decades, this discovery has literally revolutionized our understanding of how to best deal with stress and trauma, and foster healing on a deep level of body and mind.
Your Body's Natural Pathway to Healing
The vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve (CN X) and is the longest mixed cranial nerve.
It is often referred to as 'the wanderer' because of its long path through the body, from the brain to the abdomen.
The vagus nerve is a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system. This is our 'rest-and-digest' system, which supports health, growth, and restoration.
This remarkable neural pathway:
• Connects your brain to virtually every major organ
• Activates your natural relaxation response
• Governs the powerful gut-brain connection
• Regulates heart rate and cardiovascular health
• Modulates your immune system and inflammation
• Enhances memory and emotional regulation
• Releases "feel-good" hormones like oxytocin
• Best of all! The vagus nerve can be stimulated and it responds to simple, natural practices you can learn.
Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science
What ancient yogis intuited thousands of years ago, neuroscience is now confirming: specific practices can dramatically influence our nervous system in ways previously thought impossible.
This knowledge opens up powerful new possibilities for:
Naturally shifting from stress to calm
Building lasting emotional resilience
Enhancing physical and mental well-being
Releasing past trauma and “the issues in the tissues”
Creating sustainable healing and growth
Transform Your Practice, Transform Your Life:
A Revolutionary Approach to Wellness
Join us for a unique opportunity to learn ancient yogic approaches to help modulate vagus nerve functioning naturally.
This journey goes far beyond learning new techniques - it's about learning how you can fundamentally rewire your body's response to life's challenges.
Through a unique blend of ancient wisdom and modern science, you'll discover how to tap into your nervous system's natural healing capacity in ways that create lasting, meaningful change.
Picture yourself handling stressful situations with newfound ease, your body naturally returning to balance instead of staying stuck in fight-or-flight mode. This isn't just a dream - it's the natural outcome of enhanced vagal tone and nervous system regulation.
Learning how to regularly integrate techniques to enhance vagal tone can lead to profound shifts in multiple areas of your life. Better vagal tone can lead to:
Improved sleep patterns as your nervous system learns to shift more easily into rest-and-digest mode
More regular and efficient digestion
Greater emotional resilience and enhanced ability to bounce back from stress more quickly and effectively
Better relationships, as you enhance your ability to stay calm and present in difficult situations and develop greater ease and compassion
The mind-body connection you'll develop through these practices runs deep. You'll gain an intuitive understanding of your body's stress signals and will enhance your ability to respond with wisdom rather than becoming overwhelmed by life's challenges.
With regular practice, you’ll gain the tools and insights to develop not just coping mechanisms, but true resilience - the kind that comes from a nervous system that's learned to regulate itself effectively.
Most importantly, these changes aren't temporary fixes. The practices you'll learn create lasting positive shifts in how your nervous system functions, leading to sustained improvements in your overall well-being.
This is about creating fundamental change at the physiological level, allowing you to experience life with greater ease, joy, and vitality.
Study with World-Renowned Experts
Curious about just how to harness the vagus nerve to unlock your body's innate healing wisdom and develop a new level of well-being?
You are in luck! We are pleased to invite you to join us for a transformative, in-depth course with two leading authorities in the power of yoga to enhance vagus nerve function and nervous system regulation.
Meet Your Teachers
In this course, you will have the opportunity to study with two of the leading visionaries in the integration of ancient yogic wisdom with scientific insights into the importance of vagus nerve stimulation.
Dr. Arielle Schwartz
Dr. Arielle Schwartz literally wrote the book on the integration of modern science with ancient yogic wisdom.
She is a clinical psychologist, internationally recognized expert on PTSD and complex trauma, and author of several pioneering books on trauma recovery, including Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Applying the Principles of Polyvagal Theory for Self-Discovery, Embodied Healing, and Meaningful Change.
As a leading voice in the integration of yoga and trauma therapy, Dr. Schwartz, combines cutting-edge neuroscience with accessible, practical techniques for healing.
Dr. Schwartz's work has helped thousands of practitioners and clients understand the vital connection between trauma, the body, and the nervous system. Her expertise in embodiment practices offers powerful tools for self-discovery, healing, and sustainable personal growth.
Doug Keller
Doug Keller is an internationally renowned yoga therapist, scholar, and author whose teachings blend traditional yoga wisdom with modern scientific understanding. With over 40 years of yoga experience, Doug has earned recognition as one of the world's foremost experts in yoga therapy and therapeutic applications of yoga.
After years of intensive study in multiple yoga traditions, including extensive time in India, Doug developed a unique approach that combines profound philosophical insight with precise anatomical understanding. His work focuses particularly on the therapeutic applications of yoga for conditions ranging from structural issues to subtle nervous system imbalances.
A sought-after trainer of yoga teachers and therapists worldwide, Doug is known for his ability to convey complex concepts with clarity and precision. His numerous books on yoga therapy have become essential resources for practitioners globally, and his approach has influenced therapeutic yoga applications throughout the international yoga community.
Join Us for A Three-Part Journey to Transformation
Modules 1 - 2: Discover the Power of the Vagus Nerve:
The New Science of Nervous System Regulation
In modules 1 and 2, join Dr. Arielle Schwartz, world-renowned author, yoga therapist, and psychologist, on a transformative 3-session journey that will empower you to harness the healing power of your vagus nerve.
Research shows that vagal toning has benefits for our emotional, mental, and physical health. It is especially important for any imbalance in the autonomic nervous system caused by stress, trauma, or chronic illness.
When we look at the root cause of many physical and mental health symptoms, we recognize that they all come from a common source: dysregulation of your autonomic nervous system.
In these modules, Dr. Arielle Schwartz will guide you through the practical applications of the new knowledge of vagus nerve regulation and how to integrate it into your yoga practice.
• The intricate dance between stress, trauma, and your nervous system
• How to interpret your body's subtle signals before stress escalates
• Evidence-based practices for building resilience and the fascinating connection between heart rhythms and emotional well-being
Modules 3 - 4: The Vagus Nerve and Yoga: Yogic Tools for Profound Transformation
In his modules on The Vagus Nerve and Yoga: Yogic Tools for Profound Transformation renowned yoga therapist Doug Keller offers a practical exploration of how yoga practices can enhance nervous system function and overall wellbeing.
In his usual insightful and accessible way, Doug masterfully combines scientific understanding with accessible yoga techniques to create a comprehensive learning experience.
Module 3 introduces you to the vagus nerve's fundamental role in your physical and emotional health. You'll learn how breathing patterns reflect your nervous system state and how simple adjustments can create meaningful shifts in your well-being. Through clear instruction in diaphragmatic breathing and other foundational practices, you'll gain practical tools for nervous system regulation that you can implement immediately in your practice and daily life.
Module 4 deepens your understanding by exploring polyvagal theory's three circuits of nervous system response and their relationship to traditional yoga concepts like the gunas. You'll learn more advanced breathing and meditation practices, including the Dwarashanta and Hamsa mantra meditations while discovering how alignment and posture affect vagal function. This module provides a framework for integrating these practices to support nervous system regulation and deeper meditative states.
Doug Keller guides you through:
• Sophisticated yet accessible techniques for nervous system regulation
• The crucial relationship between posture and vagal tone
• Advanced breathing practices for different nervous system states
• Traditional practices that create profound physiological shifts
Module 5: Practice and Q&A Sessions with Dr. Schwartz
Join Dr. Arielle for an immersive livestream yoga series and discover time-tested yogic approaches that can help regulate emotions, relieve anxiety, and foster greater resilience from trauma.
Through a series of highly targeted exercises and insights, you’ll gain the tools you need to process and manage stress more effectively, release stored emotions, and begin living with intention and peace.
Whether you’re seeking to heal from past trauma, alleviate chronic stress, or simply enhance your overall well-being, this course is designed to help you achieve lasting balance and vitality.
Learn techniques for vagal toning, which add a gentle stimulation to the vagus nerve pathway through breath, sound, eye movements, self-applied touch, and gentle movements that help you come into balance.
Session #1: Exploring the Vagus Nerve for Greater Centering & Balance
Recording Available
Learn yoga practices that invite you to notice the cues within your body and mind that provide you with feedback about your current nervous system state.
Dr. Arielle will guide you in a series of practices for vagal toning to enhance both psychological and physiological resilience.
Experientially, we will explore the vagus nerve as it travels through your body and build your capacity for balance with conscious breathing, self-applied touch, and gentle movements.
Session #2: Energize & Empower
Recording Available
This session offers yogic movement and breath practices that are enlivening, empowering, playful, and strengthening.
These practices encourage short bursts of elevated heart rate and respiration with phases of active recovery to increase vagal efficiency and nervous system health.
Session #3 Rest & Restore
Recording Available
In our final session, we will integrate the material from the previous sessions, followed by an opportunity to restore your body through a yoga nidra practice focusing on the vagus nerve.
You are invited to access and receive the benefits from a calm and relaxed nervous system held within a felt sense of deep connection with your Self.
Also Join Us for an Early Bird Bonus Workshop with Doug Keller!
Is the Vagus Nerve Your Body's Longevity Switch?
Recording Available
Woohoo! We're excited to also be able to include this exciting bonus workshop with yoga therapist Doug Keller on the link between vagus nerve function and longevity.
Join us for a fascinating exploration of how your vagus nerve could hold the key to healthier, longer living.
This neural superhighway acts as a communication bridge between the brain and vital organs, including the heart, lungs, and digestive system, and it influences everything from your gut-brain connection to cognitive function.
Understanding the vagus nerve's role in healthy aging opens up exciting new possibilities for enhancing longevity and quality of life. Join us for a bonus workshop with Doug Keller and learn how stimulating the vagus nerve can help us tap into the body's innate healing and longevity mechanisms.
In this bonus workshop, renowned yoga therapist Doug Keller will discuss how the vagus nerve plays a crucial role in promoting health and longevity by influencing various physiological processes.
Vagus nerve balance helps predict and potentially prevent major diseases through its impact on heart rate variability, sleep quality, and mood regulation. The nerve's ability to modulate inflammation, heart rate, digestion, and stress responses is closely tied to aging and overall well-being.
A strong vagal tone is associated with improved cardiovascular health, better sleep, and enhanced emotional regulation, all of which contribute to a longer health span. Additionally, the vagus nerve's profound connection to the body's ability to fight age-related diseases makes it a key factor in promoting longevity.
Doug will also discuss the best simple and effective techniques to stimulate the vagus nerve, to potentially positively affect our health span and overall quality of life. Learn how improving vagal tone, could help us:
- Reduce chronic inflammation, a significant driver of age-related diseases
- Boost your body's natural stress resilience
- Enhance heart rate variability, a key indicator of longevity
- Improve cognitive function and emotional well-being as you age.
Multiple studies have demonstrated positive effects of VNS on various aspects of cognition, including memory, learning, and attention. Doug will discuss this research and what it means for your approach to your yoga practice.
Who Is This Course For?
Understanding and harnessing the power of your vagus nerve could be a game-changer on all the factors that influence your long-term health and drivers of the aging process. This course is perfect for:
- Yoga teachers wanting to deepen their understanding of mind-body connections
- Yoga students wanting to learn new ways to maximize the benefits of their practice
- Anyone seeking to develop greater resilience and learn practical tools for extending their health span and well-being throughout life.
Join us to learn powerful techniques to support nervous system functioning and unlock your body’s innate capacity for healing. Get new insights into the power of specific yoga practices to balance the vagus nerve to foster greater emotional regulation, better sleep, and a more radiant, relaxed state of being.
Your Investment Includes: 15+ Hours of Course Material
• Three practice and Q&A sessions with Dr. Arielle Schwartz.
• Four recorded modules of comprehensive, in-depth video training and practices with leading authorities on the integration of ancient yogic wisdom with modern polyvagal science
• Lifetime access to course recordings and recorded livestream practices.
Plus: Early Bird Bonus Workshop with Doug Keller on The Role of Vagus Nerve in Extending Your Health Span!
Ready to Learn How to Heal and
Strengthen Your Nervous System?
Click below to register and join us!