Hello, and welcome back to Mindful Moments. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here. You know, it's mid-November, and if you're feeling that particular kind of afternoon restlessness—that sticky tension between the day's demands and the evening ahead—you're not alone. Today, we're going to practice something I call the Three-Part Breath Reset, and it's absolutely designed for moments just like this one.

Before we begin, find a place where you can sit comfortably for the next five minutes. Your couch, a chair, even standing against a wall works beautifully. There's no perfect posture here, just you and your breath. When you're ready, gently close your eyes or soften your gaze downward. Take one deep, generous inhale through your nose, and let it out through your mouth with a soft sigh. Do that once more. Good. Now we're settling in together.

For our main practice, imagine your breath as water moving through a three-chambered vessel. First, we're going to breathe in slowly through your nose, counting to four. As you do, picture that breath filling your belly first, like pouring water into the lowest chamber. Feel your belly rise. That's it. Now hold for just a moment—one count—then exhale through your mouth for four counts, watching that water drain gently downward.

Let's do this together. Inhale for four: one, two, three, four. Hold. Exhale for four: one, two, three, four. Again. Inhale for four. Feel how your nervous system is already beginning to shift? This isn't just air moving; it's a signal to your body that you're safe. That you've got this. Continue at your own pace for ten more breaths. Inhale for four, exhale for four. There's no rush. Your body knows exactly what to do.

Beautiful work. As we come to the close of our time together, take one final deep breath, and notice how different you feel. Maybe there's a softness in your shoulders you didn't have before. Maybe your mind feels like it's finally found solid ground. That's the gift of this practice.

Here's what I want you to carry forward: the next time you feel that afternoon tension creeping in, pause and give yourself just three minutes of this breath work. Three minutes is powerful. It doesn't require a meditation cushion or perfect circumstances—just you and this simple rhythm.

Thank you so much for joining me on Mindful Moments: Daily Breathing Exercises for Relaxation. If today's practice landed for you, I'd love for you to subscribe so you never miss our daily session. You deserve this time for yourself, every single day. I'll see you tomorrow.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI