The Harmony of Tomatis and Porges

In preparing my upcoming book, I endeavored to explore the autonomic nervous system as

integral to the increasingly bigger waves of stress and anxiety forming within our culture. What I discovered was that sound and primarily breath were strong remedies, principally through the tonification of the vagal nerve (aka the vagus nerve).

My go-to guy for just about everything sound is Dr. Tomatis. When looking at the vagus nerve, I realized that Steven Porges and his Polyvagal Theory, was also clearly on target for my research. Out of that has basically come a treatise on Tomatis and Porges. One could say that Porges (born 25 years after Tomatis) and his polyvagal theories are the logical next steps of the Tomatis journey: both men explored why human potential often gets locked away and non-manifested and what to do about it? 

The following excerpts derive from Sound & Breath for Autonomic Balance – Anxiety and Stress Relief in Turbulent Times .

Chapter 11: The Harmony of Tomatis and Porges

They both queried, What prevents a meaningful life?

From my lens, the focus of Tomatis on the need for strong communication and social skills and Porges’ concentration on safety and connectivity run hand in hand. It appears they approached the same central issue of difficult human functioning from different continents and directions, but nonetheless, they were looking at the same thing: How can we be the best we can be? 

Tomatis believed that listening was the key to good communication and that connection was only possible with good communicative skills, often impacted by auditory health. Porges explained that unless we feel safe, nothing is going to work very well, that safety is a precursor to social connectivity which is imperative for healthy living.

Tomatis:  Listening → Communication → Connection

Porges:  Safety → Social Connectivity → Autonomic Health 

Per Tomatis, active listening is the route to social connectivity, and per Porges, only with a sense of safety is listening to one another even possible. These are essentially differing descriptors for similar results.

At the core of this circle is the vagus nerve (VN). Both Porges and Tomatis put a lot of emphasis here, especially Porges. His polyvagal theory has greatly colored my perceptions of the multi-faceted vagus nerve, which as we know, is not only a vital parasympathetic nervous system connection, but also has multiple neurological and sociological ramifications. Dr. Porges also brought to light the psychological aspects of the vagal nerve and the role it plays in creating a balanced and functional life.

Between these two innovators, a fuller picture of the nervous system emerges, and they have proposed discreet solutions for healing and wholeness. Tomatis/auditory listening therapies; Porges/the necessity of a relaxed ventral vagal point of view.

Tomatis’ philosophical foundations (i.e., active listening/passive hearing, sound as a nutrient for the nervous system, skin as differentiated ear, etc.) have had a deep influence on the creation of the Sound Breath Toolkit (SBTK) Exercises, my remedies for sympathetic overload.

Tomatis broadly considered the significance of re-opening the psychologically- diminished middle ear through the Tomatis®Method.¹ Porges, thinking beyond auditory remediation, suggests that our autonomic state (fight or flight or rest and restore) changes how we behave and sense life. Porges sees everything through the lens of the autonomic nervous system and vagal nerve reactions. In other words, the consideration of are we safe or not impacts how we operate in the world and what the world reflects back to us!

Seth Porges, coauthor with his father of Our Polyvagal World, states that polyvagal theory can be summarized in one simple sentence: ² 

“How safe we feel is crucial to our physical and mental health and happiness.”

At the core of polyvagal theory is: we really need the rest and relax reward that the parasympathetic nervous system brings to a spent fight or flight sympathetic nervous system. 

As youngsters, we have little control of psychological input or changes. As adults, however, we have the capacity to find sophisticated methodologies that allow us to regain fulfillment in our lives.

The Tomatis/Porges perspectives are about how these two different, yet inter-related, life perspectives affect our vagal perceptions and it’s messaging to our primary organs. Are we going to run? Or, not run!

Our primary SBTK objective is to support autonomic nervous system balance. Not only do we do this with sound, breath, and movement, but also by operating out of a safety-oriented context.³ Both Tomatis and Porges devoted their lives to connecting the roles of safety and balance. The next personal steps are there for us to take.

© 2026 Joshua Leeds. All rights reserved. 

Joshua Leeds' new book, Sound & Breath for Autonomic Balance: Stress and Anxiety Relief in Turbulent Times will be available in February 2026.

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¹ The Tomatis® Method is a registered trademark of TOMATIS DEVELOPPEMENT S.A., Luxembourg. Joshua Leeds is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by TOMATIS DEVELOPPEMENT S.A.

² Stephen Porges and Seth Porges, Our Polyvagal World (New York: W. W. Norton, 2023), p. xiii.

³ Reference websites: www.tomatis.com, www.polyvagalinstitute.org, https://www.joshualeeds.com/sbtk