The magic of Voo breath lies in the vibration created as you vocalize the “Voo” sound. This vibration travels from your throat down the pathway of your vagus nerve, a major component of your parasympathetic nervous system. Stimulating the vagus nerve in this way strongly encourages your body to move into a state of “rest and digest,” helping you to feel calmer and more centered.

Think of it as an internal massage for your nervous system. The gentle yet focused vibration acts as a direct signal, promoting a shift away from states of stress or heightened arousal. This makes Voo breath a valuable tool you can readily access whenever you need to find a sense of inner peace.

How to Practice: Feeling the Resonance

We will practice three rounds of Voo breath. The focus is on taking a deep, full inhale and then exhaling while making the sound “Voo.” As you exhale, pay attention to the vibrations you feel in your throat and try to guide that sensation to travel as low as possible in your body.

It’s perfectly normal if this feels a bit awkward or if the vibration doesn’t immediately travel all the way down to your belly. Like any new skill, this is a practice that will become smoother with time.

Let’s begin:

1. Take a really full inhale.
2. Exhale slowly, making the sound “Voo”. Notice the vibration in your throat and try to feel it moving downwards.
3. Return to your normal rhythm of breathing for a moment.

Now for the second round, let’s try to guide that vibration even a little bit lower as you exhale with the “Voo” sound.

4. Take another full inhale.
5. Exhale slowly, making the sound “Voo,” focusing on sending the vibration further down your body.
6. Return to your natural breath. You might notice it feels a little easier this time, and the pitch of your “Voo” might have deepened.

For our final round:

7. Take one more deep inhale.
8. Exhale slowly, making the sound “Voo,” allowing the vibration to resonate as deeply as feels natural.

After this practice, take a few moments to simply relax and notice how you feel. You might experience a sense of stillness or groundedness. If you speak out loud, your voice might even sound a bit deeper or more resonant.

It’s important to remember that when you first start this practice, like many nervous system regulation techniques, it might not feel perfectly smooth. You might experience your voice cracking, your breath feeling interrupted, or difficulty sustaining the “Voo” sound throughout your exhale. These are all normal experiences.

Be patient and kind to yourself. You are essentially guiding your body to function in a new way, and that takes time and practice. Avoid trying to force the breath or lifting your shoulders as you inhale. Simply focus on the intention and the sound.

Even though Voo breath is a simple technique, the experience of doing it can be complex, especially if your body is accustomed to being in a more defensive or stressed state. Over time, with gentle persistence, this practice will become easier and more accessible, offering you a powerful and readily available tool for finding calm and regulating your nervous system.