4. Tools - Connecting to Calm
Vagus Nerve
Remember the vagus nerve? It’s the main motorway system for our bodies parasympathetic nervous system (aka. rest and digest).
The cool thing about our vagus nerve is that we have an element of control in engaging it to release a calming chemical called the “Vagustoff” (I love that word).
Even cooler - we can use both our mind and bodies to do it. Without anyone knowing you’re releasing it. Pretty cool.
Equilibrium of sympathetic vs parasympathetic
We love both our sympathetic (fight/flight/freeze/fawn) and our parasympathetic (rest and digest). But when our bodies tell us that an audience is the same threat as being attacked by a lion - it can really disrupt that lovely equilibrium. We don’t need it perfectly balanced - but sometimes we do need to level it out a bit more.
Vagus Nerve vs the Accelerator Nerve
Accelerator Nerve (speeds up heart rate) - The accelerator nerves job is to increase heart rate so we can be ready for action. To engage this, a chemical called “noradrenaline” is released. The more our senses (eyes, thoughts, ears) identify action is needed, the faster the heart rate is.
Vagus Nerve (slows heart rate) - The vagus nerve runs through the heart. Which is mega useful to us musicians. By simply breathing - we can release the “vagustoff” (still a great word) which results in a slower heart rate. So when that adrenaline takes over, we can balance that out.
Remember! We love both of these nervous systems. We NEED our body to be ready for action. No one wants to be sleepy on stage.
1) Reset the body
Remember that our bodies can get tense when we’re in that sympathetic (fight/fight/freeze/fawn) response. This makes it harder for our body to breathe effectively due to our lungs being constricted. So let’s straighten that out! We can use body mapping to help us here. Think little toe to head.
I’m going to connect to my…
Little toe, big toe, knee, hips, stacking vertebrae in spine, shoulder, neck, head.
Make sure to release any tension one each stage and just think “up”.
