040: The Vagal Nerve, Mindset & Athletes w/ Jessica Maguire

Your mind and your body, as we’ve discussed plenty of times on the limitless athlete podcast, are intertwined.

You cannot separate one from the other. Your body influences the feel of your mind, as much as your mind influences the feel of your body.

That’s why your head drops and your shoulders round when you feel defeated in a workout.

It’s why you stand up tall when you win.

It’s why your breath changes with your mood and your heart beats faster at the mere thought of a workout.

Your body assumes a posture - both physically and metaphorically - when you give it a repeated stimulus.

If you think you’re defeated for twenty years, your body (your gut, your brain, your nervous system) assumes that to be the truth, and acts like it.

If you’re going through extreme stress, your body recognises the emotional state you’re in and limits access to certain states.

And, when your body is fried from overtraining, over-caffeinating, over-breathing, and under recovering, your thoughts and emotions will run amok.

What this gives us is both a problem and an incredible opportunity.

How do you break free of the two way conversation of the mind-body? Isn’t it interlocked and reinforcing the story you believe, the emotions you feel, the thoughts you have and therefore the way your body performs?

Well, yes. But the two way conversation also gives us two potential openings to change: one - the more traditional in the world of sports - the psychological work; and two, by regulating our nervous system.

In today’s show, Head Coach Rachel takes the lead and interviews Jessica Maguire, a vagus nerve master and physiotherapist.

Expect to learn:

• How your vagus nerve influences your emotions and mood
• How to tone your vagal nerve for better performance
• The habits you can integrate into your life for better performance
• And much more

Now I bring you, Coach Rachel, and Jessica Maguire.