Engaging the Vagus (VAGUS50)

Tutor: John Wilks

In-house Location: Somerset, Surrey

Summary: Understanding how the autonomic nervous system works can assist us all and be hugely empowering for our clients. Understanding how we can regulate our nervous systems in response to current challenges is incredibly valuable and even more so within the present climate of the western world. Using some practical exercises involving breath, embodiment practices, movement, touch, play and social activities, we will explore some simple practical approaches that can engage our social nervous system and our ‘ventral vagus’. in order to calm our nervous systems and integrate experiences positively.

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Somerset: 5-6 November 2026 (£240)
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Surrey: 22-23 August 2026 (£240)
Book now

Overview

Now more than ever, it is incredibly valuable to understand how we can regulate our nervous systems in response to current challenges.

On this 2 Day course we will explore ways of deepening our connection to ourselves and our clients through the gateway of our own exquisitely intelligent nervous systems.

This workshop will look at the vagus within the framework of the Polyvagal Theory and the Social Engagement System (Stephen Porges) and provide skills for tracking and working with our own and our client’s responses within a safe and contained environment.

During this course we will explore some very practical ways that we can engage our social nervous system and our ‘ventral vagus’ in order to calm our nervous systems and integrate experiences positively.

John Wilks (MA RCST BTAA) has been practising and teaching Craniosacral Therapy and The Bowen Technique for the last 25 years. In his early 20’s he developed a deep interest in body-centred psychotherapy, yoga and meditation and has since taught throughout the world in every continent.

He is a frequent speaker at international conferences and hosted the recent Human Baby Human Being conference in Bristol.

John is also the author of 6 books – "Choices in Pregnancy and Childbirth" (2015), "An Integrative Approach to Treating Babies and Children" (2017), "Using the Bowen Technique to address common and complex conditions" (2014), "Understanding The Bowen Technique and Understanding Craniosacral Therapy" and "The Bowen Technique - the inside story published in 2007".

For qualified Massage Therapists/Bodyworkers

Course Content

Studies commence at 9.30 a.m. and finish at 5.30 p.m.

Using some practical exercises involving breath, embodiment practices, movement, touch, play and social activities, we will explore a series of ways you can engage the newer vagal circuits to encourage well-being both in ourselves and the people around us. Understanding how our autonomic nervous system works can be hugely empowering for our clients and help them to free themselves of guilt or the sense that we should be able to control areas of our life which are challenging.

The following will be covered:

• Understanding the function of the various aspects of the vagus nerves and how they interact with other cranial nerves
• Understanding what affects the efficient functioning of the vagus (trauma, nerve entrapment, the gut microbiome, viruses, bacteria etc)
• How to work with the vagus through physical touch
• Looking at specific areas of the body where the vagus is more susceptible to nerve entrapment and how to work with that (the temporal area, the atlas/axis, the thoracic outlet, the diaphragm and the enteric nervous system)
• Giving simple self-help strategies to clients by using the breath, specific exercises, movement etc
• Looking at other things that affect the vagus – food, environment, stress, social factors etc and how to advise clients to support their healing process.

Many associations accept our courses for CPD, including the IFPA (12 Category A points).

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