The news desk
On October 6, 2026, Runner's World published a runner's first-person account: to improve recovery after high-intensity training, the author practiced vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) breathing exercises twice a day for 30 consecutive days, specifically including three methods: extended exhale, resonance frequency breathing, and diaphragmatic breathing. The report states that VNS helps the body shift from a stress state into a recovery state by activating the parasympathetic nervous system; research shows the practice can speed heart rate recovery and lower blood pressure and blood lactate. The report did not provide the author's specific measurements before and after the 30 days, nor did it state the actual results for changes in running performance. As of the latest report, the event remains at the level of personal practice and mechanism description, with no follow-up data or updated conclusions.
To recover better after hard training, I spent 30 days practicing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) breathing techniques twice daily, including extended-exhale, resonance frequency, and diaphragmatic breathing. VNS activates the parasympathetic nervous system to shift the body from stress into recovery. Research shows it can speed heart rate recovery and reduce blood pressure and blood lactate.