Enhancing Resilience Through Breathing Techniques

This chapter explores techniques to boost sympathetic drive and resilience, including visual exercises and the modified Valsalva maneuver. It highlights effective breathing methods that can lower heart rates and enhance vagus nerve activity, while also addressing safety concerns and the efficacy of vagal nerve stimulators.

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Episode notes

In this episode, I explain how to increase your control over your nervous system — not just to manage stress, but to recalibrate your autonomic nervous system for long-term physiological resilience and adaptability. This episode goes beyond basic stress management techniques to explore how to fine-tune your nervous system, become more stress tolerant, and use your personal data to know exactly when and how to intervene.

Using the three I’s framework — Investigate, Interpret and Intervene — I explain how to assess key physiological markers such as heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory rate and CO₂ tolerance. I also discuss a range of tools and strategies, ranging from free to clinical-grade, that can shift your nervous system acutely (like cold exposure or visual resets) and chronically (such as structured breathwork or exercise).

This episode is for anyone looking to actively train their brain and body to improve resilience, adaptability and peak performance.

Read the episode show notes at performpodcast.com.