Bilateral Ear-Pull Energy Reset
Alternate firm ear pulls from lobe to tip to create a quick sensory reset
- Difficulty
- Starter
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 5
- Confidence
- 90%
The ear-pull reset alternates firm right-left input while moving gradually across the outer ears. Begin at the earlobes, pull downward, and then walk the alternating action toward the top before returning to the lobes. Tenuto describes the exercise as stimulating the vagus nerve and uses bilateral stimulation as its design principle, comparing that alternating pattern with right-left eye movements in EMDR. Relaxing the toes and eyebrows prevents the energising movement from becoming whole-body bracing. The final step is observational: stop and check for a brighter face or a subjective surge of energy. Tenuto reports using a one-minute version while travelling, although the live host found its effect less obvious than the relaxation exercise.
Origin
Tenuto created exercises using bilateral-stimulation principles found in EMDR. She demonstrated this ear version after the first live exercise made the host feel sleepy.
Core principles
- 01Alternate sensory input across the body's two sides
- 02Use firm but tolerable pressure
- 03Combine stimulation with relaxation elsewhere in the body
- 04Keep the intervention short and test the felt result
How to run it
- 1
Prepare the ears
Remove earrings when practical or position your fingers so they do not catch or press on them.
Watch out Do not pull against jewellery or irritated piercings.
- 2
Start at the lobes
Sit with ankles hip-distance apart, hold both earlobes, and apply a firm downward pull.
Pro tip Use medium-to-firm pressure that remains tolerable.
Watch out Firm does not mean painful.
- 3
Alternate sides
Pull right, then left, maintaining a steady alternating rhythm.
Pro tip Make the side-to-side pattern distinct rather than pulling both ears as one movement.
- 4
Walk up and down
Move your grip gradually from the earlobes to the tops of the ears, then travel back down while continuing the alternating pulls.
- 5
Soften and assess
Relax your toes and eyebrows during the movement. After several rounds, stop and notice any shift in alertness or facial brightness.
Pro tip A short trial is enough to test whether this exercise suits you.
Watch out Do not assume the reported energy effect will be identical for everyone.
In the wild
After a late flight, Tenuto felt tired in the car on the way to the podcast. She says she pulled on her ears for about a minute to stimulate her vagus nerve and felt more energetic afterward.
→ Tenuto reported an immediate subjective burst of energy.
The host performed the alternating ear pulls during the episode after becoming relaxed from the forehead exercise. On stopping, she said she still needed coffee and that the first exercise had worked better for her.
→ The demonstration showed that individual response can be subtle or inconsistent.
Common mistakes
Catching an earring
Jewellery can make a firm pull uncomfortable or unsafe, so remove it or work clearly around it.
Pulling both sides without alternation
The stated principle is bilateral stimulation, so preserve the right-left pattern.
Treating energy as guaranteed
The host did not experience the same clear result Tenuto described, so assess your own response honestly.
Is it for you?
Best for
It is best for someone seeking a portable, equipment-free sensory stimulation exercise.
Not ideal for
It is not ideal for injured, infected, newly pierced, or painful ears.
From the transcript
“And you're just going to use your hands and pull firmly down on your earlobes. And you're going to pull right, left, right, left, and…”
“And we're going to start to walk up the earlobes all the way up to the top of the ear.”
“what we just did with the ears utilizes a principle called bilateral stimulation, which is also found in EMDR therapy with your eye movements right…”
From the episode
Episode 550: Liz Tenuto: The Somatic Exercises That Calm Your Nervous System in Under a Minute
Liz Tenuto