Polyvagal Explorations

Enjoy our teamwork in action as Maegan, Cameron and I work out some answers for our listener in Missouri in the special episode. You won’t want to miss these pre-recorded mini-podcast episodes, as we break from our normal recording schedule during the month of December.

Every one of us has a nervous system and every one of us will no doubt face some flavor of emotional challenges over the holidays.  In this episode, we discuss the three states of the autonomic nervous system and how to navigate your own desires to fight, flee, or disconnect. Listen in to this insightful…

The understanding of loss has greatly matured since Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s pioneering work of the late 60’s.  Since then it is universally accepted that loss is not a linear process.   However now with the information of Polyvagal Theory,  the autonomic responses are worth reviewing.  The subject of loss could not be more timely as we have…

Our nervous system craves context, choice, and connection in its effort to establish a sense of safety.  What does that mean in our everyday lives is the topic of this thought-provoking conversation. The polyvagal theory helps us see and understand habitual emotional patterns enough to interrupt them.  In this organic series of conversations, Health educator and…

How do you know if your autonomic nervous system has dropped into the dorsal state? A fundamental question for today, as the challenges faced personally and as a community, may leave you emotionally exhausted and overwhelmed. The biggest problem with the dorsal vagal state is that the access to the very resources that can help…

Have you sought help for physical pain through manual therapies only to find the pain relocates elsewhere in your body?  If this sounds familiar, I invite you to listen to this exceptional conversation about pain.  You may find that our discussion allows you to connect a few dots and consider alternative approaches to your pain.…

How has 2020 treated your digestive system?  Not so great you say?  Even if your system was stellar before the start of the year I would agree there is far too much to digest.  But what about this thought. Rather than focusing on the digestive organs themselves, consider heading a bit upstream and consider support…

Stephen Porges, founder of Polyvagal Theory tells us that feeling safe is transformative.  I could not agree more but how might one experience a felt sense of safety when your heart is racing with palpitations?    Your physician has informed you that your heart is fine but the symptom continues.  That clear signal of danger leads…

Stephen Porges, founder of the Polyvagal theory tells us that neuroception evaluates risk in the environment without awareness. Could it be that our neuroception picks up on cues of danger without our awareness and triggers episodes of vertigo?  That’s exactly the idea that I put forth in this recording with Japanese acupuncturist Maegan Lemp and…

Watch a baby breathe and you will see that they breathe with their entire body. There’s no holding back and that breath nurishes every cell. In today’s episode you will discover how to get some of that goodness for yourself.   With all that 2020 continues to deliver you might want to listen in to our…

Take a pandemic,  add economic challenges, the unvieling of rampant racism,  the grief and loss of everyday life AND add a hurricane or fire and you have the potential for toxic stress.  Alaine Duncan, in  her book The Tao of Trauma, refers to this as a  state of allostatic overload.  Every system in your body…

Teri Brooks, part of the Gemmo Memo team drops into conversation with Maegan and me in this special episode.  Set some time aside to listen to this touching and personal discussion of grief and loss through the polyvagal lens.  I am so grateful to Teri for showing up so bravely and sharing what has worked…