The Body Sigh
Reflection
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The practice
The body sigh is a simple release. Begin by noticing your activation level and finding the place where tension or activation feels strongest.
- Connect your attention to that spot
- Take a deep breath in
- On the exhale, let out a sigh with sound
- Rest for a moment and notice whether the tension has changed or moved
- Repeat two or three times, then check your activation level again
If you do not feel a release after the first one, do a few in a row. Many people find that the effect builds.
Other ways to release
Bodies know how to release tension in many forms. Animals often shake or flap after a stressful moment, and then go back to what they were doing. The sigh can stand alone or be combined with movement. You can try:
- Shaking out your arms and legs
- Rolling your shoulders and loosening your neck
- Blowing out through your cheeks
- Wiggling your fingers and toes
It can help to ask what your body seems to need right now: a shake, a stretch, or a sound. Then give it that.
Quiet versions
A loud sigh may not fit every setting. You can do a silent version by letting the exhale be long and the jaw loose, or by releasing the shoulders and hands on the exhale. Small versions can be nearly invisible.
When it fits
- Sitting in the car after closing the door, before starting the engine
- After leaving a hard conversation or a tense meeting
- In a quiet version during a class, meeting, or service when something stirs you up
- At home, between tasks, to let go of what you have been carrying