Polyvagal Theory and the science of heart rate variability share a whole body of knowledge. The whole body’s collective knowledge. Heart rate variability is the variation of the heart’s activity between the beats of the heart. It is sometimes referred to as the one window we have into the real-time activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Polyvagal Theory goes well past the well-worn idea of two types of ANS activity: fight or flight (sympathetic nervous system) and rest and digest (parasympathetic nervous system).
Until the Polyvagal Theory was fleshed out by Dr. Stephen Porges we had this simple idea of the ANS as being either an act of pressing on the gas pedal or putting on the brakes. Turns out there can be both tapping and slamming of these “pedals” plus some interesting hybrids where both are pressed or even pumped because of the millions of messages traveling along the vagus nerve to recruit the energy of the ANS.
If this sounds like playing some sort of odd vintage oompah steam organ calliope, the analogy might be apt! To make the whistles of the calliope sing, the keys are played to force compressed air through the pipes. The sound that comes out can be either melodic and beautiful or, in the wrong hands, can be a chaotic cacophony of noise. That seems like a fair description of how nuanced the states of emotion can be when viewed with a Polyvagal-informed understanding.
Polyvagal Yoga, a Polyvagal-informed approach to yoga practice, honors the idea that emotions drive our actions. We can use the many techniques of pranayama, asana, meditation, and stillness to tune into this music of the ANS. With this information, we are better prepared to select the correct tool from the box (or sheet music for the calliope!) for responding with grace.
