The Nervous System, Polyvagal Theory and Spinal Energetics
Polyvagal theory and Spinal Energetics, when paired together— offer us a solid road map and vehicle for addressing, engaging and resolving function in the nervous system. And if the nervous system is boss, especially when it comes to our mental health, there is much promise in this pairing as a tool for working with and resolving several states categorized as mental health “disorders”, such as anxiety and depression.
Polyvagal theory, developed by Stephen Porges, provides a map for understanding how our autonomic nervous system shapes our sense of safety, connection, and vitality. It describes three primary states—ventral vagal (safety and social engagement), sympathetic (mobilization and fight-or-flight— as in anxiety, ADHD), and dorsal vagal (shutdown and collapse— as in depression)— each having its own physiological and emotional signature. Rather than viewing these states as pathological, polyvagal theory invites us to see them as adaptive responses to our environment, shifting fluidly based on cues of safety or danger.
Spinal Energetics complements this understanding by working directly with the body’s physical and energetic spine. In a Spinal Energetics session, the practitioner uses light touch and energetic attunement to invite movement, breath and sound to awaken through the client’s body. These movements are not random; they often represent the nervous system discharging stored survival stress or reorganizing into a more balanced state. The spine becomes both the conduit and the compass for this process, guiding the client toward greater coherence.
When we look at Spinal Energetics through a polyvagal lens, we see that this gentle, non-invasive approach sends powerful cues of safety to the nervous system. This can shift someone from dorsal shutdown into sympathetic activation (shaking, crying, releasing), and eventually into ventral vagal connection— a state where the body feels regulated, open and at ease. In this way, Spinal Energetics helps the body complete incomplete defensive responses and rewire old patterns of tension.
With polyvagal theory as a roadmap and Spinal Energetics as the method, we can work directly with the patterns within our nervous system, creating rich opportunity for balance and harmony in the entire self. This integration creates a pathway for true regulation, emotional freedom and a renewed capacity to meet life from a place of grounded presence.
