A Stronger Connection to Your Heart

By Severine Bollaerts, EQA, EMCC

Unlocking Heart Coherence: Testing the Sensate for HRV Improvement

As a Heart Coherence coach, equine-assisted coach, and devoted biohacker, I’m always looking for innovative ways to enhance relaxation, recovery, and overall wellbeing. One of my favorite areas of focus is Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a fascinating metric that reflects the state of your autonomic nervous system and overall resilience. Recently, I decided to put Sensate—a device designed to stimulate the vagus nerve—to the test, challenging it to improve my HRV and, ultimately, my sleep quality.

What is HRV, and why does it matter?

For those not familiar with HRV, it stands for Heart Rate Variability. This is the measure of the variation in time between your heartbeats, and it provides a powerful glimpse into your body’s ability to adapt to stress and maintain balance. A higher HRV is typically associated with a “rest and digest” state, while a lower HRV might indicate your body is in “stress” mode.

I use biofeedback tools like the Oura Ring and the Bodyguard 3 from Firstbeat to measure HRV. These devices provide invaluable insights into how your body responds to different stimuli, including rest, activity, and targeted interventions.

Why focus on the Vagus Nerve?

The vagus nerve plays a critical role in your parasympathetic nervous system, regulating processes like heart rate, digestion, and relaxation. Stimulating the vagus nerve can promote a state of calm and improve HRV, making tools like Sensate an intriguing option for anyone looking to optimize their nervous system. To track my progress, I use the Oura Ring and Firstbeat for both day and night measurements. For shorter sessions, I also rely on HeartMath and Polar, combined with HeartMath and Kubios software, to gain deeper insights into my HRV responses.

Putting Sensate to the test

To truly understand the impact of Sensate on HRV, I decided to incorporate it into my evening routine. Since my Oura Ring primarily measures HRV during sleep, I used Sensate just before bedtime to observe its effects on my nightly readings. I tested sessions of 10, 20, and 30 minutes to find the optimal duration for results.

The outcomes were remarkable. I had the best benefit with sessions of at least 20 minutes, consistently seeing an improvement in my nightly HRV by 20-35%. This boost wasn’t just about numbers on a screen; it translated into tangible benefits. My deep sleep and REM sleep—the restorative phases critical for recovery and mental clarity—increased significantly. As a result, I felt more rested, focused, and resilient during the day.

How Sensate fits into coaching and biohacking

In my practice, I’m always experimenting with tools and techniques to help my coaches discover what works best for their unique physiology. I’ve started recommending Sensate to clients, allowing them to try it for a few weeks and monitor their own results. Many have reported feeling much more relaxed, feeling more rested after a night of sleep, and feeling more in control of their feelings, less short of patience, and less impulsive.

The beauty of HRV improvement lies in its individualization—what works for one person might not work for another. Sensate, however, has helped many of my coaches and delivered positive feedback from both them and my own experience, making it a valuable addition to my toolkit.

Final Thoughts

Exploring new ways to enhance HRV is an ongoing journey, and Sensate has proven to be a powerful ally in that quest. Whether you’re a biohacker, coach, or simply someone seeking greater peace and resilience, I encourage you to give it a try. The combination of improved HRV, better sleep, and enhanced recovery is a game-changer for wellbeing.

As always, I’ll continue to test, measure, and share insights on tools that can help us all lead healthier, more balanced lives. For now, Sensate has earned a firm place in my personal routine and my coaching practice. Here’s to better sleep, deeper relaxation, and a stronger connection to your heart.

-Severine

Links:

Severine talks about Sensate on her Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m3KA51gywIs 

VivEqui: https://www.vivequi.be/?srsltid=AfmBOop2CC_2EjvT1ztIkku2KvFMF_dGqTrOsos4VjrB3NRUvPTmE3Rt