The vagus nerve, often called the “soul nerve,” plays a special role in our autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS regulates many bodily processes, including our stress response. When we encounter an external threat, our stress response kicks in, triggering a cascade of physiological changes to help us adapt and protect ourselves. Like a helpful friend, the vagus nerve steps in to restore balance. It exerts anti-inflammatory effects, promotes relaxation, and supports immune system regulation. With the exercises in Vagus Nerve Deck, you’ll learn to harness this power and foster resilience in the face of life’s challenges. Inside this deck you will find:
EXERCISES FOR CALM, VITALITY, CONNECTION. A key to feeling balanced is nervous system regulation—understanding when your body needs to rest, activate, and find safety in connection. Cards help readers identify what the body needs and respond with a related exercise.
AN INTEGRATIVE, SCIENTIFIC APPROACH. Exercises are founded in scientific research, offering accessible techniques proven to regulate the nervous system and create a sense of physical and emotional relief.
A NERVOUS SYSTEM PRIMER. An introductory booklet breaks down how the nervous system works, what role the vagus nerve plays, and how our safety responses are best understood through the lens of polyvagal theory.
USER-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE. Many resources on the vagus nerve are clouded by confusing, clinical terms. This deck gets down to the science of safety in a way you can relate to, understand, and put into practice right away.
Author
Melissa Romano, LGSW
Melissa Romano, LGSW, is a licensed social worker and neurosomatic specialist who knows what it’s like to feel stuck in survival mode because she’s been there herself. Based in West Virginia, she developed the S.A.F.E. Method, a four-step framework for nervous system regulation. Melissa holds certifications in applied polyvagal theory, yoga therapy, and integrative somatic trauma therapy. But what really drives her work is her approach to what she calls connected healing: the belief that regulation doesn’t mean calm; it means connection. Connection to yourself, your body, your emotions, and the people around you, even when everything feels hard. Her philosophy is simple: You’re not broken; you’re protecting yourself. The problem isn’t you; it’s that your system got stuck in protection mode.Melissa creates content that makes nervous system science feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation with someone who actually understands. She’s known for disguising real therapeutic practices as viral challenges and meeting people exactly where they are, which is usually overwhelmed, exhausted, and wondering if healing is even possible.Melissa is the author of Vagus Nerve Deck: 75 Exercises to Reset Your Nervous System. Everyday Nervous System Regulation is her first book.
Learn More about Melissa Romano, LGSW