Hey there, welcome back. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here with me today. August can feel like that stretch in a long road trip where you're not quite where you started and not quite where you're going, right? Everything feels a little suspended, a little uncertain. So if you're feeling wound up today, if your shoulders are somewhere near your ears and your mind won't stop its usual chatter, you're in exactly the right place. This is Stress Relief, and we're going to work with what's actually happening in your body right now.
Before we dive in, I want you to get comfortable. Whether you're sitting, lying down, or even standing in your kitchen, find a position where you feel supported. Uncross your legs if they're crossed. Let your shoulders drop away from your ears. Good. Now, let's just notice your breath for a moment without changing it. Don't fix it or make it perfect. Just watch it like you're observing a gentle tide coming in and going out. Soft. Natural. Already doing its job.
Now we're going to try something I call anchoring. It's my favorite stress relief technique because it works with your nervous system, not against it. Here's the thing about stress: it lives in the future. Your brain is spinning stories about what might happen. So we're going to gently bring you back to right now, where you're actually safe.
On your next breath in, breathe in for a count of four. Feel the cool air entering your nostrils. Feel your belly expand like a balloon slowly filling. One, two, three, four. Now hold that breath for four counts. Just notice the pause. One, two, three, four. Now exhale for six counts, feeling that warm air release. One, two, three, four, five, six. And here's the magic: your exhale is longer than your inhale. This tells your nervous system that danger has passed. You can relax now.
Let's do that together three more times. Inhale for four, holding for four, exhale for six. That's it. Again. Inhale, hold, exhale. One more time. Beautiful. Feel that? That shift happening in your chest, your shoulders, maybe even your jaw.
Throughout your day, whenever you notice stress creeping back in, just pause and do this breath. One round. That's all you need. It's like a little reset button you carry with you.
Thank you so much for spending this time with me today. These moments matter. They add up. If this helped, I'd love for you to subscribe so you don't miss our next session together. You've got this. I'll see you soon.
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