Vagal tone
A measure of how much influence the settling branch of the nervous system has on your body.
What it means
Higher tone generally means a faster return to a calm state after agitation. It is linked to heart rate variability and can be strengthened with practice.
What affects it
Slow breathing with a longer out-breath, singing and humming, movement, regular sleep and safe contact with people. None of it is fast; the effect lies in repetition.
See also
Body image
Your picture of your own body, which often depends more on your mood than on the body itself.
Anger
The emotion that says a boundary has been crossed or a need threatened — energy, not a fault.
Boundaries
The line that says what is acceptable to you — and what you will do if it isn't respected.
