The Longevity Loop

Your nervous system plays a major role in how your body handles stress, recovers, and stays healthy. At the heart of it is the vagus nerve - a communication highway between your brain and key organs like the heart, lungs, and gut. One of the best ways to measure how well your nervous system is functioning is through heart rate variability (HRV), which tracks the variation in time between heartbeats.

Higher HRV is linked to better emotional regulation, stronger recovery, improved focus, and even longer lifespan. And the good news is - you can train it! One of the most effective tools is the physiologic breath. Inhale through your nose, then take a second short inhale to “top off” your lungs, and exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat 3 to 5 times. This calms the heart, lowers stress hormones, and activates your parasympathetic nervous system - helping you recover faster and think more clearly.

Other ways to improve vagal tone include long, slow exhales, humming, neck mobility work, high-intensity movement, and supporting gut health with fermented or tryptophan-rich foods. These small habits create a big impact over time, improving HRV and supporting both short-term balance and long-term health.

This week, try adding one of these tools into your daily rhythm - whether it’s a few calming breaths before bed, a quick humming break mid-day, or just staying consistent with movement. They don’t take long, but they go a long way!!

Here’s our SoulShine lineup:

Sign-ups $15

Drop-ins $18

Monday – HIIT @ TLT + Zoom - 8:15-9:15 am

Tuesday - Power Pilates @ TLT + Zoom - 8:15-9:15 am

Wednesday – Cardio Dance @ TLT - 5:15-6 pm

Thursday – PiYo @ WAC + Zoom - 12-1 pm

Friday – HIIT @ TLT + Zoom - 8:15-9:15 am

As always, I’m excited to see you in class! Let’s train not just our bodies, but our nervous systems too.

Jode xo