Professional certification in the Vagus Nerve.

The clinical framework for assessing and treating vagal dysfunction

Professional training in vagal function assessment and manual and respiratory techniques applied to clinical practice.

✔CPD and IPHM accreditation recognized in over 40 countries
✔8 modules · 39 lessons · 5 accredited CPD hours + final assessment
✔39 lessons + 2 hours of HD video with John Wilks
✔No prerequisites · designed for manual therapists, physiotherapists, osteopaths, and somatic professionals
✔100% online · lifetime access

🏥 Used by NHS practitioners 📚 8 modules · 39 lessons

5 accredited CPD hours

4.7 ★ 300+ reviews

$127 USD $470 USD

✓ 30-day money-back guarantee

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Official CPD + IPHM certificate 8 modules · 39 lessons Pre/post intervention measurement protocols Final assessment with individual feedback Lifetime access

Inside the certification

The wandering nerve. A measurable neuroanatomical structure.

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body. It exits the brainstem, traverses the neck, and branches toward the heart, lungs, stomach, and intestines. Its name comes from the Latin vagus: "wandering." It is the main pathway of the parasympathetic nervous system, the system that tells the body the threat has passed and it can rest, digest, and repair.

Anatomical pathway of the vagus nerve from the brainstem to the visceral organs — Vagus nerve pathway from the brainstem, through the jugular foramen and cervical region, to the thoracic and abdominal organs.

In recent years, research on vagal function has produced concrete clinical applications: manual techniques to reduce compression at key anatomical points, respiratory protocols that increase heart rate variability, strategies to assess vagal tone in practice. This certification brings that work together in a structured program, led by one of the UK's most recognized educators in manual and craniosacral therapy, and developed in collaboration with Niel Asher Education, one of the most internationally respected continuing education institutions in the field.

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Applied anatomy, not abstract

The course traces the complete vagus nerve pathway from the brainstem to the abdominal organs, identifying the exact points where mechanical or fascial compression can compromise its function: jugular foramen, upper cervical spine, thoracic outlet, clavicular region.

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Demonstrated manual techniques

Each technique in the program is demonstrated step by step by John Wilks on video, with a real client. These are not theoretical descriptions. You will see the palpation, pressure, direction of work, and the type of tissue response to expect.

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Real-time clinical assessment

You will learn methods of vagal function assessment applicable in practice: observation of uvula deviation, heart rate variability, cervical and suboccipital palpation. Concrete indicators that allow you to measure changes between sessions.

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Research-based framework

The program integrates Porges' polyvagal theory, Tracey's research on neurogenic inflammation, and clinically validated respiratory protocols. The scientific foundation is not decorative: each technique taught is justified by the physiology that supports it.

Who this certification is for

Professional training for those who work with the body

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Manual therapists and bodyworkers

Massage therapists, structural therapists, and bodywork professionals seeking to integrate specific autonomic nervous system techniques into their sessions, with clear anatomical foundations and step-by-step demonstrations.

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Physiotherapists and osteopaths

Rehabilitation professionals who want to expand their understanding of autonomic regulation as a factor in chronic pain, digestive dysfunction, dizziness, and other conditions where vagal function is implicated.

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Somatic practitioners

Craniosacral therapists, somatic experiencing practitioners, therapeutic yoga professionals, and related disciplines who already work with nervous system regulation and seek to deepen their anatomical and physiological foundation.

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Chiropractors and movement coaches

Professionals who work with the cervical and suboccipital spine and want to understand how their interventions can affect vagal function and the patient's autonomic balance.

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Integrative health professionals

Integrative doctors, naturopaths, nurses specializing in wellness, and other health professionals seeking practical, evidence-based training on the role of the vagus nerve in overall health.

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Students and professionals in training

Those studying manual therapy, physiotherapy, osteopathy, or other body-based disciplines who want applied specialization in the physiology and clinical management of the vagal system.

Professional competencies

What you will be able to do upon completing the program

Each module develops specific competencies that integrate into a complete professional practice.

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Vagus nerve anatomy and physiology
Understand the complete vagus nerve pathway from the brainstem to the visceral organs, its points of anatomical vulnerability, and its role in regulating heart rate, digestion, breathing, and immune response.

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Vagal tone assessment
Apply reproducible clinical assessment methods: observation of uvula deviation, cervical and suboccipital palpation, heart rate variability, reading signs of sympathetic and parasympathetic activation in practice.

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Applied polyvagal theory
Apply Stephen Porges' polyvagal framework in practice: distinguish mobilization, collapse, and social connection, and adapt the intervention to the autonomic state observed in the client.

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Anatomical compression points
Identify the four critical points where vagal function is vulnerable to mechanical or fascial compression: jugular foramen, upper cervical spine, thoracic outlet, and clavicular region.

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Clinical reasoning and referral
Recognize when manual work on vagal function is indicated and when referral to another professional is required, with clear safety criteria and scope of practice boundaries.

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Measuring changes between sessions
Use heart rate variability (HRV), observation of uvula deviation, and other reproducible indicators to document the effect of intervention between sessions.

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Manual and respiratory techniques
Integrate cervical palpation techniques, suboccipital work, thoracic outlet release, and validated respiratory protocols to support vagal function and reduce mechanical compression of the nerve.

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Integration with existing practice
Integrate the techniques learned into your current workflow, with clear criteria for when to apply them, how to dose them, and how to measure their effect between sessions.

Program instructor

John Wilks

MA (Oxford) · Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts · 30+ years clinical practice

John Wilks has practiced and taught the Bowen technique and craniosacral therapy full-time since 1995. He studied music at the University of Oxford before directing his career toward body psychotherapy, meditation, and manual work. He is the author of six books on complementary therapies, including Understanding Craniosacral Therapy, Using the Bowen Technique to Address Complex and Common Conditions, and An Integrative Approach to Treating Babies and Children.

He has served as president of the Bowen Association of the UK, the Craniosacral Therapy Association of the UK, and the Cranial Forum, the body responsible for overseeing the implementation of national professional practice standards in the UK. He was an examiner for the University of Oxford examination board and an education and training advisor for the Bowen Forum under the Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health.

In 2005 he founded the first craniosacral therapy training program for midwives accredited by the Royal College of Midwives, delivered at Poole Hospital NHS Trust. That same year he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) for his contribution to professional education. He has taught in over twenty countries, including the UK, United States, Germany, Australia, Brazil, and several countries in Central and South America.

In this program, his approach combines anatomical rigor with the palpatory sensitivity that characterizes the British craniosacral tradition: each technique is taught in its physiological context, with video demonstration on a real client and detailed explanation of the clinical reasoning behind it.

In collaboration with

Niel Asher Education

Accredited British continuing education institution specializing in evidence-based education for manual therapists, physiotherapists, and rehabilitation professionals. Their programs are used in over 60 countries and are recognized by professional accreditation bodies, manual therapy federations, and athletic therapy certification councils.

Developed in partnership with Niel Asher Education, whose specialized courses are used by practitioners in over 60 countries. Same production quality, same clinical rigor.

★★★★★

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CPD learning objectives

5 accredited CPD hours

Upon completing this program, the participant will be able to:

Describe the anatomy and physiology of the vagus nerve, its pathway from the brainstem to the visceral organs, and its role in parasympathetic regulation of the body.

Apply Stephen Porges' polyvagal framework to read autonomic nervous system states (mobilization, collapse, social connection) in real clients during sessions.

Identify the anatomical points where vagal function is vulnerable to mechanical or fascial compression (jugular foramen, upper cervical spine, thoracic outlet, clavicular region) and apply safe manual techniques for each.

Integrate clinically validated respiratory protocols (diaphragmatic breathing, prolonged exhalation, cardiac resonance) to support vagal tone and heart rate variability.

Recognize clinical presentations associated with vagal dysfunction (persistent anxiety, digestive problems, fatigue, chronic pain) and apply clear professional criteria for when manual work is indicated and when referral is required.

This program meets the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) standards established by the CPD Standards Office of the United Kingdom and is recognized by employers, educational institutions, and regulatory bodies in over 40 countries.

Recognized by 65+ boards

CE/CPD hours accepted by state and national boards

The 5 CPD hours earned through this certification are recognized by the following boards and professional associations across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK.

Alabama Board of Massage Therapy
Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy
Alaska Board of Massage Therapists
Arizona Board of Athletic Training
Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy
Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy
Arkansas Board of Massage
Association of Massage Therapists (AMT)
Australian Traditional Medicine Society
Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC)
Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA)
Canadian Massage & Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association (CMMOTA)
Certified Registered Massage Therapist Assc (CRMTA)
Chiropractic Board of Australia
College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC)
College of Massage Therapists of New Brunswick (CMTNB)
College of Massage Therapists of Newfoundland & Labrador (CMTNL)
College of Massage Therapists Ontario (CMTO)
College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC (CNPBC)
Connecticut Board of Chiropractors
Connecticut Board of Massage Therapy
Delaware Board of Massage and Bodywork
District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy
Florida Board of Athletic Training
Florida Board of Massage Therapy
Georgia Board of Massage Therapy
Georgia Board of Nursing
Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy
Indiana Board of Massage Therapy
Iowa Board of Chiropractic
Iowa Board of Massage Therapists
Kansas Chiropractic Association
Maine Board of Massage Therapy
Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners
Massage Therapists' Association of Nova Scotia (MTANS)
Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba (MTAM)
Massage Therapy Association of Saskatchewan (MTAS)
Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage
Missouri State Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Montana Board of Massage Therapy
National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)
NCBTMB - New York
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)
Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC)
Nebraska Massage Licensure Board
Nevada Board of Massage Therapists
New Hampshire Advisory Board of Massage Therapists
New Jersey Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy
North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy
North Dakota Board of Massage Therapy
Ohio Chiropractic Board
Oklahoma Board of Massage Therapy
Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Oregon Board of Massage Therapists
Pennsylvania State Board of Massage Therapy
Prince Edward Island Massage Therapy Association (PEIMTA)
Registered Massage Therapists' Association of Ontario (RMTAO)
South Carolina Massage/Bodywork Panel
South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy
Tennessee Board of Massage Licensure
Virginia Department of Health Professions (Massage Therapy)
Washington Board of Massage
West Virginia Massage Licensure Board

Your certification

Certification with internationally recognized CPD hours

Upon completing the final assessment, you will receive an official certificate backed by CPD and IPHM, with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours valid in over 40 countries. The same standard used by institutions such as PESI, universities, and professional continuing education organizations.

✓CPD hours recognized by employers and institutions in over 40 countries
✓IPHM registration valid in wellness, holistic therapy, and education
✓Rigorous final assessment of ethical reasoning and clinical competence
✓Valid for presenting yourself as a certified professional to clients and employers

Enroll now

Course content

The full program,
module by module

8 modules · 39 lessons · 5 accredited CPD hours

▶Program Video — Part 1: Vagus Nerve Foundations

📄What is the Vagus Nerve?

📄Historical Background and Origins

📄Vagus Nerve Anatomy

📄Key Functions of the Vagus Nerve

📄Overview of Polyvagal Theory

📄El Sistema de Compromiso Social

📄The Role of the Ventral Vagus in Calming the Nervous System

📄Understanding the Autonomic Nervous System

📄Impacto del Trauma y la Tristeza

📄Nerve Entrapment and Its Effects

📄Gut Microbiome and Vagus Nerve Interaction

📄Influence of Viruses, Bacteria, and Chronic Inflammation

📄Factores Ambientales y Sociales

📄Conscious Breathing Practices

📄Ejercicios de Movimiento y Tacto

📄Play and Socialization Activities

📄Estrategias de Autoayuda para Clientes

📄Music, Rhythm, and Other Stimuli

▶Program Video — Part 2: Therapeutic Applications

📄Techniques for the Temporal Area

📄Trabajo con el Atlas/Axis

📄Techniques for the Thoracic Outlet

📄Diaphragm Activation

📄The Enteric Nervous System and the Vagus Nerve

📄Problemas Estructurales y Contraindicaciones

📄Treating a Deviated Uvula

📄Techniques for the Neck and Colon

📄Client Safety in Vagus Nerve Treatments

📄Vagus Nerve Stimulation with Tools

📄Dietary Recommendations

📄Stress Management Techniques

📄Consideraciones Ambientales

📄Factores Sociales y de Estilo de Vida

📄Generosity and Compassion in Treatment

📄Case Study 1: Addressing Trauma through the Vagus Nerve

📄Case Study 2: Improving Gut Health

📄Case Study 3: Breathing and Movement to Calm the Nervous System

📄Case Study 4: Social Engagement for Nervous System Regulation

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Certification

Final Certification Assessment

Final exam based on course content, individually evaluated by the certification team. Those who pass receive the official Vagus Nerve Therapy certificate with accredited CPD hours, internationally recognized.

The exam verifies understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and practical application of the techniques taught, with clear criteria for each level of professional competence.

Accreditations

Who accredits your certificate?

Your certificate is backed by two international bodies recognized in professional development and holistic medicine.

CPD Standards Office

Continuing Professional Development

International Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation body. Their CPD hours are recognized by employers, educational institutions, and regulatory bodies in over 40 countries. The same standard used by PESI, universities, and professional training organizations.

IPHM

International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine

UK-based accreditation body for holistic and integrative medicine professionals. IPHM accreditation allows you to appear on the professional register and is valid for presenting to clients, employers, and integrative health institutions internationally.

Immediate access

Everything you need,
from day one

✔Study at your own pace, no deadlines or pressure
✔39 complete lessons from John Wilks included
✔Two hours of high-definition video with John Wilks
✔Works on phone, tablet, and computer
✔No prior experience required
✔Email support with response within 24 hours
✔All future course updates included

Enroll now

Testimonials

What our students say

★★★★★

"I've been doing manual therapy for fifteen years and this course changed how I assess patients. Observing uvula deviation is something I've applied from the very first consultation the following week."

Sarah L.

Manchester, UK

★★★★★

"The anatomy module is exceptional. The compression points are described with such precision that I recognized cases from my own practice immediately. And the techniques work."

James R.

Toronto, Canada

★★★★★

"John Wilks is a master teacher. His way of explaining physiology is clear, without unnecessary jargon, and the video demonstrations are the best I've seen in online manual therapy training."

Patricia A.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

★★★★☆

"Very good. The polyvagal theory module was a bit challenging at first because I came with little background in autonomic regulation, but reviewing it, everything falls into place."

David T.

London, UK

★★★★★

"I'm a physiotherapist and was working with chronic pain without understanding why some patients weren't responding. This course gave me the missing framework. I now use heart rate variability as an objective measure between sessions."

Emily G.

Sydney, Australia

★★★★★

"I applied the manual techniques on the thoracic outlet with a patient with recurrent vertigo. In three sessions we noticed real changes. The difference between knowing theory and knowing how to apply it is what this course delivers."

Michael M.

Dublin, Ireland

★★★★★

"I've taken vagus nerve courses before and they were generic, full of breathwork and little else. This one is technical, anatomical, evidence-based. It has 39 lessons that are worth the cost of the entire course."

Helen V.

Edinburgh, UK

★★★★★

"I liked that they don't romanticize the topic. The vagus nerve here is not a wellness concept, it's a cranial nerve with specific function and clinical assessment. That gave me confidence in what I'm learning."

Rachel F.

Auckland, New Zealand

★★★★☆

"Excellent content for manual therapists. The only thing is I would have liked more clinical cases with long-term follow-up. But the foundation the course provides is very solid."

Julio P.

Quito, Ecuador

★★★★★

"I've been doing craniosacral for eight years and still learned a lot. The anatomical precision and integration with polyvagal theory clicked with everything I already knew. Recommended without reservations."

Andrea C.

Montevideo, Uruguay

★★★★★

"John Wilks has a way of teaching that feels like working alongside someone with decades of experience. The demonstrations are slow, clear, repeated as many times as needed."

Natalia H.

Rosario, Argentina

★★★★★

"I'm a chiropractor and this course opened another layer of understanding of cervical work. The autonomic implications of what we do every day are explained here in detail. Highly recommended."

Chris B.

Bristol, UK

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know

The course is primarily designed for professionals who already work with the body: physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, manual therapists, craniosacral therapists. If you already have training in any of these areas, you have the necessary foundation. People without manual therapy experience can take the course, but should know that the content is technical and oriented toward clinical practice.

The program is equivalent to approximately five CPD training hours. Most participants complete it in two to four weeks dedicating three to five hours per week. Access is for life, so you can progress at your own pace.

Both. The course combines two hours of video demonstration with 39 complete lessons from John Wilks, mid-course assessments at the end of each module, and a final certification exam. Techniques are taught step by step, with real client demonstration, accompanied by detailed anatomical and physiological foundations.

John Wilks is one of the UK's most recognized educators in manual and craniosacral therapy, with thirty years of clinical practice and professional training. He is the author of six books and has taught in over twenty countries.

Niel Asher Education is a British continuing education institution for manual therapists and rehabilitation professionals, with programs used in over 60 countries and recognized by international professional accreditation bodies.

The original course has CPD accreditation recognized by professional bodies in manual therapy, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation in over 40 countries. The certificate includes a verification number, accredited CPD hours, and IPHM accreditation.

No. Course access is for life and includes all future program updates. You can review the material as many times as you need.

Enroll now

✓ 30-day money-back guarantee

Professional certification in the Vagus Nerve.

The wandering nerve. A measurable neuroanatomical structure.

Professional training for those who work with the body

What you will be able to do upon completing the program

John Wilks

5 accredited CPD hours

CE/CPD hours accepted by state and national boards

Certification with internationally recognized CPD hours

The full program,module by module

Who accredits your certificate?

Everything you need,from day one

What our students say

Everything you need to know

The science is clear. The techniques are proven.

The full program,
module by module

Everything you need,
from day one