Hello there, and welcome. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you've carved out this time for yourself today. Saturday morning, early September, that particular kind of quiet before the world gets loud. If you're anything like the people I talk to, you might be carrying something today—maybe it's the weight of the week behind you, or anticipation about what's ahead, or just that low hum of anxiety that modern life seems to sprinkle everywhere like seasoning. Well, you're in exactly the right place. Before we dive in, I want you to get comfortable. Settle yourself somewhere you won't be interrupted for the next few minutes. This can be on a cushion, a chair, your bed, wherever feels good. You don't need to sit like a statue. Just find a position where your spine can be reasonably upright and your body can actually relax. Now, let's begin by noticing your breath. Don't change it yet, just observe it like you're watching clouds drift across a sky. In and out. Simple. You might notice it's a little shallow, a little quick—that's what stress does. It steals our breath like a pickpocket. But here's the beautiful part: we get to steal it back. So let's try something called the Five Count Breath. Breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of five. One, two, three, four, five. Hold it there for just a moment. Then exhale through your mouth for a count of seven. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. There's something magical about making the exhale longer than the inhale. It's like you're literally releasing the stress, watching it float away like steam from a cup of tea. Let's do this together. Inhale, two, three, four, five. Pause. Exhale, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Again. Inhale, two, three, four, five. And exhale, seven. One more time. Inhale, two, three, four, five. Exhale, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Notice how your shoulders might have dropped. Your jaw might feel softer. That's your nervous system saying thank you. This is real. This is your body shifting from fight or flight into something calmer, something safer. Here's what I want you to carry with you today: whenever you feel that stress creeping back in—and it will, because life—return to this Five Count Breath. In the car, at your desk, waiting in line. Five counts in, seven counts out. It's your secret weapon, and it's always with you. Thank you so much for spending this time with me on Stress Relief. Your commitment to your own peace matters more than you know. If this helped you, please subscribe so you don't miss our next practice. I'll see you soon. For great deals today, check out https://amzn.to/47ZqpWT
