Many of the chronic conditions and symptoms that we experience are a result of our body’s lack of affordance in being able to engage in what it sees as tending to “household chores” (digestion, hormonal regulation, removal of toxins).
The vagus nerve presents as a conduit to the nervous system’s transitioning between physiological state activation. NERVANA sequences are not only pleasurable to experience, but can also aid in retraining the nervous system, enhance autonomic regulation, and increase resilience within the body and mind.
The resilience of our mind, body, and brain is grounded in the intricate regulation of our nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) presents a bridge between our brain (command center), mind (consciousness, spirit, and awareness), and sensory and physical bodies (including interoceptive & physiological processes that keep us alive).
The ANS is committed to keeping us alive. It is therefore biased in interpreting our surrounding environment as unsafe in order to err on the safe side. However, this can limit the body’s ability to function optimally, engage in restorative processes, and heal.
These processes largely operate involuntarily, beyond our conscious awareness. The vagus nerve (Cranial Nerve X) predominantly regulates autonomic state, facilitating vital communication between the brain, body, and external environment.
A mindfulness-based intervention that is designed to help you feel calm, rested, and restored.
NERVANA involves light somatic touch to over 30 points on the face, neck, and head. This gentle, non-intrusive approach blends vagus nerve stimulation, lymphatic drainage, and electromagnetic stress defragmentation to target the release of mental and physical tension stored in the body.
This mindfulness practice can induce deep meditative states and help to regulate the body's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and consequent stress response. Because stress employs the body’s organ systems, this leads to widespread physiological regulation. Such homeostatic engagement serves preventative to chronic condition development.
Anyone with a nervous system has the potential to benefit from the autonomic nervous system regulation that is accessible through this practice
Chronic stress & overwhelm
Sleep disruptions
Trauma
Learning difficulties
Executive functioning challenges
Migraines
Panic attacks
OCD
Headaches
Burnout
Difficulty engaging in/benefitting from cognitive interventions (ie. talk therapies)
Depression, anxiety, and mood disorders
Autonomic dysfunction differences (eating difficulties, neurodivergence, sensory processing differences, compromised gut and immune functioning)
Including mental health/talk therapies (ie. CBT, DBT, MCBT), trauma therapies (ie. EMDR, SE), and neurodevelopmental treatments (ie. OT)
Engaging in a practice that stimulates the vagus nerve and can stimulate NREM states of sleep can induce a variety of benefits including:
Increasing CSF production
Increasing memory and learning
Supporting motor function
Supporting attention, decision making, & higher order executive function
Greater mental clarity
Increasing motivation
Significant increase in joy and happiness
Deeper relaxation
Addressing insomnia
Reducing anxiety and depression
Promoting Health and weight management
Decreasing emotional reactivity
Deeper, restorative, enhanced sleep
Releasing stored/trapped emotions
You can read more about the benefits of this practice in the "Research" section, where academic literature is synthesized to present supporting evidence.
Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize and adapt throughout life by forming new connections, modifying existing ones, and reorganizing neural networks. It underlies learning, memory, recovery from injuries, and adaptation to changes in the environment. When neural pathways involved in sensory processing are activated, they become reinforced and new connections are formed with repeated exposure to multisensory input. This adaptability enables the nervous system to more efficiently and swiftly find safety.
Unlike perception, which involves conscious awareness of sensory stimuli, neuroception operates beneath the level of conscious awareness (at a subconscious level) within the nervous system. It constantly evaluates environmental cues, such as facial expressions, vocal tones, and body language, to determine whether a situation is safe, dangerous, or potentially life-threatening. This process influences our physiological responses, emotional reactions, cognitive functions, and social interactions, ultimately shaping our overall well-being and adaptive behavior
Sensory processing encompasses how our nervous system receives, interprets, and responds to sensory stimuli from our environment. It's the foundation of our daily experiences, shaping our perception, behavior, and overall well-being. From the gentle touch of a loved one to the subtle hum of background noise, sensory input continuously interacts with our nervous system, influencing its state and regulation.
The intricate network of the autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating our responses to sensory input. The vagus nerve, in particular, serves as a vital conduit between our mind and body, transmitting signals that inform the brain about our sensory experiences.
The understated impact of sensory processing and sensory health becomes evident when disruptions occur in this delicate balance. Overstimulation of our sensory systems can cause our nervous systems to perceive stress and challenges in sensory processing can lead to dysregulation of the nervous system, impacting various aspects of our physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning. By recognizing these connections between sensory processing and nervous system regulation, we can cultivate environments that support optimal sensory health, promoting inclusivity and well-being for all individuals.
The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the autonomic nervous system, originating at the brainstem, and extending down to the colon. It serves as an internal command hub, connecting the mind and body, and enabling the brain to oversee and gather information about our bodily functions.
The vagus nerve plays a central role in regulating crucial functions within our human physiology, such as blood pressure, temperature regulation, digestion, heart rate, and even speech. Through a process known as neuroception, the body automatically gathers information, which is then communicated to the brain via the vagus nerve. The brain subsequently processes these signals and responses from our surrounding environment and determines our reaction in the form of activation of physiological state (sympathetic, dorsal vagal, or parasympathetic/ventral vagal).
Disclaimer: NERVANA sequences exhibit considerable interindividual and intrapersonal variance, indicating that their experimental manifestation may differ among individuals and even within the same individual across distinct temporal instances. This suggests dynamic fluctuations in its experiential manifestations.
Hearing of others’ experiences can offer potential perspective to your own, but a number of factors impact this experience, including your mental and physical openness to receiving the sequence. Even if you have experienced a session before, it is likely that your experience may shift. And that is okay. All you need to do is to come in without judgment or expectation of yourself and with a readiness and willingness to relax and invite your body to engage in self-healing.
What does “it” refer to? This isn’t magic (although it can feel like it 🤤✨).
I would refer to it as a neural exercise - allowing the brain to develop new neural pathways and connections.
We are introducing a pattern for the brain to learn in order to optimize function. Some clients report experiencing immediate sensations of peace, calm, and gratitude. Some have described it as a “consciousness upgrade.” Ultimately, however, it is up to you as a client to maintain this state of being. If your brain and body are your nervous system’s hardware, this is like downloading software for your nervous system to integrate.
A full body surrender!
Aside from some paperwork, all you’ll need to do is lie down on your back and relieve yourself of the shackles of your thinking mind. ◡̈ The less you engage your mind, the easier it is to fall into a state of bliss.
Before the session begins, you will be provided with instruction on some breathing techniques to signal to your parasympathetic nervous system that it is safe to take the lead. Your session presents a refuge from the thoughts that occupy your mind on a daily basis and the opportunity for your body to engage in healing itself the way it knows how.
This is totally up to you - some clients like to start out slow with a 20-minute introductory session and experience a great amount of support in just a short time. Others still require more than 20 minutes to drop into a session and experience their full potential benefits from it.
Most clients enjoy sessions varying from 50 to 90-minute appointments. Regular clients have found that they do not need longer sessions once they have processed well on their own, although they often still choose to experience the relaxation and restoration benefits that come from NERVANA.
A willingness and desire to engage in a NERVANA sequence is always beneficial to both the client and practitioner.
Both before and after sessions, it is especially important that you drink a lot of water (water is ultimately what is doing the mental and physical processing for you - I’ll post a blog post about this ◡̈) to prevent lymphatic congestion and promote toxin release. Your body will likely communicate your needs to you on its own, but make sure to get enough sleep following your session.
Overall, supporting your nervous system's needs allows it to feel safe and maintain the effects of your session, as well as an optimal state of arousal for as long as possible following your appointment.
These statements were collected from debrief sessions with former clients following their Nervana sequences while reflecting on the qualitative experience of their state of being during a session.
“The calm and peace I felt just now… I’ve never felt that in my life. Thank you so much, Hana.”
“I can’t really describe what was happening. I felt like I was traveling between different dimensions. But filled with peace and… just peace.”
“It was so weird, I was suddenly overcome by a wave of gratitude. For everyone in my life… my parents, some friends I haven’t seen in a while. I just felt so grateful and happy.”
“My mind finally stopped spinning like a gyro. It was almost a spiritual experience. And I’m not a spiritual person. But somehow, it felt like I was a ghost in the best way possible. I was able to observe myself in the room. It was like my spirit took over the room. My breathing was metered, I wasn’t distracted by thoughts or sounds that would usually distract me. I was concentrated, focused, purposeful. I’ve always tried meditating but my anxiety usually gets the better of me. I can never shut my brain off, but it was like you flicked a switch for me.”
"I unlocked a memory that I had forgotten about from when I was five years old."
[A patient with an anger management referral] "During that session... I couldn't imagine what it felt like to be angry."
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Out of 204 recorded Nervana sessions, 153 participants (75%) fell asleep within the first 15 minutes.
These statements were collected from debrief sessions with former clients following their Nervana sequences while reflecting on the qualitative experience of their state of following a session.
"I feel light and happy."
"I feel energized and ready to go."
"Wow - I'm so much less anxious than when I started."
"I feel like I took a 7 day nap. I'm refreshed and energetic."
"Is it weird that I feel... thankful?"
"Dr. Khan has developed something truly special. I haven’t experienced anything like this before."
These qualitative reflections were collected through survey in months following sessions, as well as from clients that reached out on their own.
“In a world filled with stress and uncertainty, The Bliss Doctor is like a sanctuary for the soul.”
"I've always struggled with anxiety and felt like I was constantly on edge, but The Bliss Doctor has been a game-changer for me. I wish they had classes for this where they taught you this in school. It has been so helpful to weave what we talked about into my life.”
"Living with chronic conditions can often feel like an uphill battle, but The Bliss Doctor has been a beacon of light in my darkest moments. Her unique blend of nervous system regulation techniques and compassionate, gentle, personal care has not only helped me manage my symptoms but has also instilled in me a newfound sense of calm. With her support, I've experienced a significant reduction in anxiety and an improvement in my mental health.”
“I never told anyone this before, but I have been struggling with a prostate condition for years. The morning after our first [20-minute] session, I peed for about 5 minutes straight and suddenly felt relieved of my pain and discomfort. I didn’t touch my medication again after that session.”
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While working at a medical center, The Bliss Doctor had 9 patients report discontinuing their chronic condition medications after trying Nervana sequences.
The Bliss Doctor does not recommend discontinuing medication without the guidance and supervision of a medical professional.
Disclaimer: Changes initiated by Nervana are recommended to be reinforced through appropriate supports (individual to clients) and lifestyle management to promote sustainable health and well-being.
This is NOT occupational therapy nor is it intended to serve as a substitute for any therapeutic services you may be receiving. This is a neural exercise that aids in teaching the autonomic nervous system that it is safe to regulate as it is designed to.