Many of us have heard of “fight or flight” and “rest and digest.” These terms describe different functions of the nervous system. Polyvagal theory, which was originally developed in 1994, can take our understanding of the nervous system further. By understanding the common states our nervous systems experience, discovering what each state feels like in ourselves, and learning coping skills to regulate our bodies, we can move beyond fight, flight, or freeze and into a state that is open for connecting with others and problem-solving. This session will explore the basics of Polyvagal Theory and give you practical tools that can be applied to yourself, your kids, your students, or anyone in your life.