The VOO Sound: How Vibrating Your Voice Calms Your Nervous System

A somatic practice to ground, release, and reconnect—one sound at a time

Welcome In

Have you ever let out a sigh and felt your whole body soften?

That’s not random—it’s your nervous system exhaling.

Sound is one of the most direct ways to stimulate your vagus nerve, the powerful connector between your body and brain that helps regulate stress, digestion, emotion, and heart rate. And one of the most simple, science-backed sound tools is the VOO Sound.

In this article, you’ll learn how to use it—and why this low, steady hum may be one of the most supportive somatic practices to add to your toolkit.

What Is the VOO Sound?

The VOO sound is a low-pitched vocalization that vibrates your chest and abdomen as you exhale.

It sounds like: “Vooooooo…”
Think: a slow, resonant hum that travels down into your belly.

This practice is drawn from Somatic Experiencing® and based on Polyvagal Theory, which shows that vibration and vocal tone directly influence vagal tone—the flexibility of your nervous system’s stress response.

Unlike singing or chanting, the goal isn’t performance.
It’s resonance—letting the sound vibrate through your core to promote release and regulation.

Why It Works (The Science)

The vagus nerve is the main highway between your brain and body—and it's highly responsive to sound and vibration.
When you vocalize deeply, especially on a slow exhale, you stimulate the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system—your body’s rest, digest, and restore system.

Here’s what research shows:

• Low-frequency vocalizations, like the VOO sound, increase vagal tone and heart rate variability—both markers of emotional resilience (Porges, 2017; PubMed, 2022)
• Studies show that vocal toning reduces anxiety, slows breathing rate, and improves self-regulation, especially when paired with somatic presence (Frontiers in Psychology, 2021)
• The chest-level vibrations of the VOO sound can help release stored tension, shift out of freeze states, and improve interoceptive awareness (Levine, 2015)

The VOO isn’t just a noise—it’s a nervous system massage from the inside out.

When to Use the VOO Sound

The beauty of this tool is its versatility. It works best when:

• You’re feeling numb, shut down, or frozen
• You need a quick reset between emotional moments
• You’re transitioning from “doing” to “being” (e.g., after work)
• You want to ground before journaling, breathwork, or meditation
• You’re overstimulated and want to reconnect to your body gently

Avoid using it during high-intensity anxiety or panic states—it’s most effective when you’re ready to settle, not trying to override.

Coaching Tips Before You Begin

• Find a quiet space (optional, but helpful)
• Sit or lie down comfortably, feet grounded if possible
• Place one hand on your chest or belly to feel the vibration
• Don’t worry about volume—aim for resonance, not volume
• Keep your face and jaw relaxed; soften your shoulders
• Stay curious, not critical. There’s no “wrong” sound—only what your body needs.

🧭 Try This: A Guided VOO Practice

Duration: 3–5 minutes (start with 3 rounds)

1. Sit tall with feet on the ground. Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly.
2. Inhale gently through your nose for 4–5 seconds
3. On the exhale, begin vocalizing:

“Vooooooooooooooooo…”
(Low and steady, for as long as your breath allows)

1. Pause at the bottom. Feel the silence.
2. Repeat 2–4 more times, allowing your breath to lengthen naturally

🌀 Optional Add-On: After your third VOO, sit in silence for 30 seconds. Let your body respond. Notice what shifts.

What You Might Notice

• A deep sigh
• Tingling in your hands or chest
• A sudden emotional release
• More grounded awareness of your body
• Nothing at all (which is also okay—it still works beneath the surface)

 Final Note

Your voice isn’t just for speaking—it’s a portal into your nervous system.
The VOO sound is a gentle way to say:

“I’m here. I’m safe. I can settle.”

You don’t need to force it.
You just need to begin.
Let the vibration carry you home.

Want more practices like this? The MicroShift Series includes guided audio and step-by-step somatic tools like the VOO sound that take just minutes a day—perfect for building real nervous system support into real life.

👇
Explore it below.

With steady breath and sound,
Nicole

📚 Cited & Inspired By:

• Dr. Stephen Porges – Polyvagal Theory

• Peter Levine, Somatic Experiencing®

• PubMed: Vagal tone & vocal toning studies (2021–2023)

• Frontiers in Psychology: Vocalization and stress regulation

• Dr. Andrew Huberman, Huberman Lab (2022)

➡️ Download the Free Nervous System Reset Guide