CAN I GO OVERBOARD?

For some people, the vagus nerve isn’t actually asleep on the job; it’s overactive, which can result in fainting or feeling lightheaded. Heart arrhythmia (or an irregular heartbeat), experiencing light-headedness at certain triggers (like the sight of needles), or feeling faint when moving from sitting to standing can all be signs of a particularly overexcited vagus nerve (technically called vasovagal syncope). If you have this – and you’d know if you did – it means that stimulating exercises may not be for you or should be cleared by a doctor first. Your GP may suggest ways to do them safely, such as incorporating a five-minute yoga practice into your routine, then gradually building from there.