articles

Sylvain Laborde: "A low HRV before a race isn't always a bad sign"

Rafael Nadal had a famous pre-match ritual: an ice-cold shower roughly 45 minutes before stepping onto the court, including before the 2008 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer. He described the experience as transformative — emerging "activated," "in flow," and ready for battle. While Nadal treated this as personal superstition, this...

Extreme challenges are attracting unprecedented attention. Whether running 600 kilometres in 96 hours or completing 100 HYROX races in 100 days, such achievements captivate audiences around the world and generate millions of views across social media platforms.

The article "Work-out for the Vagus: How to Train Your Anti-Stress Nerve" was published in February 2025 by Spiegel Magazin
It explains how the vagus nerve — the tenth cranial nerve — links our thoughts and emotions to our organs, and how strengthening the vagus nerve can protect us from emotional outbursts and heart disease. In the article...

In collaboration with the Sportärztezeitung, Dr. Dr. Sylvain Laborde and colleagues explored the effects of slow-paced breathing (SPB) on heart rate variability (HRV) and the parasympathetic nervous system. The article highlights how conscious breathing techniques — particularly breathing at around six breaths per minute — can stimulate the vagus...

The Vagus Nerve: How the Brain Communicates with the Heart

Can cold water, breathing exercises, or even wearable devices really "hack" your nervous system? And what role does the vagus nerve actually play in stress, recovery, sleep, and performance? Click below to read the full article ↓