When the Body Holds Too Much, Breathe It Out
When your body holds too much, the exhale becomes your release valve.
A long, steady exhale signals to your nervous system:
“You can soften now. You’re safe.”
Your parasympathetic nervous system — the branch that governs rest, digestion, and repair — activates through this simple act of breath.
Practice:
Inhale gently through your nose for a count of four.
Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of six.
Repeat this rhythm for several minutes.
Let the breath leave your body completely before the next inhale.
As your body finds this natural cadence, notice what shifts.
Your heart rate slows.
Your muscles loosen.
Your mind begins to quiet.
If emotion rises, welcome it — release is part of regulation.
Each exhale moves energy that’s been waiting to leave.
Today, give yourself permission to breathe a little deeper, a little slower.
You don’t have to hold it all. Your body already knows how to let go.
I like the idea ofexhale is the release value. Maybe that's why I sigh often. The sigh is my release value,