Hey there, I'm Julia Cartwright, and I am so glad you're here with me today. You know, it's early Tuesday morning, and if you're listening right now, I'm guessing you might already feel that familiar tightness creeping in—that sense that everything's happening at once and you're somehow supposed to keep all the plates spinning. So today, we're going to do something really simple to shake off that stress. You ready?
Let's start by finding a comfortable seat, whether that's on a couch, a chair, or even the floor. You don't need to sit like a statue. Just somewhere you feel supported. Go ahead and uncross your legs if they're crossed, let your shoulders drop away from your ears, and gently close your eyes if that feels good. If not, just soften your gaze downward.
Now take one really deep breath in through your nose. Feel that air arriving, cool and fresh. And let it out slowly through your mouth. One more time. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Beautiful.
Here's what we're going to do. I want you to imagine your stress as something tangible, like storm clouds gathering overhead. They're real, they're there, but here's the thing about clouds—they're always moving. They're never permanent.
As you breathe in, I want you to think of yourself as a mountain. A solid, grounded mountain. Nothing moves a mountain. Now breathe in for a count of four. Hold it for four. And exhale for six. That longer exhale is key. It tells your nervous system, it's safe, we can relax.
Keep going with that rhythm. In for four, hold for four, out for six. As those storm clouds drift across the mountain that is you, notice they don't stick. They pass. Your job isn't to fight them or pretend they're not there. It's just to stay as the mountain underneath.
Keep breathing. In for four, hold for four, out for six. With each exhale, feel your body getting heavier, softer, more at home in this moment.
Do this for a few more breaths on your own. I'll wait.
Now, here's your takeaway for today. Whenever you feel stress building—in a meeting, in traffic, whenever—remember you're the mountain. Just pause and do three rounds of that four, four, six breath. That's it. Thirty seconds of mountain energy can genuinely shift your entire nervous system.
So today, be the mountain. Let the clouds do their thing, and know you've got this.
Thank you so much for joining me for Stress Relief today. I hope you're feeling a little lighter already. Please subscribe so you don't miss our next practice. You deserve this peace.
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