The Pressure Release Valve
A practice to activate your relaxation response and release physical tension.
Use this when you feel: Tense, tight, angry, braced, or clenched.
How to Use This Practice
This is your efficient reset button for tension. Use it at your desk, in your car, or anytime you notice yourself holding on.
The Pattern:
Inhale naturally.
Exhale with a deliberate, sighing release, letting go of muscular tension (especially in shoulders and jaw).
Why It Works:
A long, releasing exhale stimulates the vagus nerve, which is the main nerve of your relaxation system. The physical "letting go" of muscles reinforces the nervous system's shift out of stress mode.
Guided Audio Transcript
"This is a 90-second practice to help you let go of built-up tension. You can do this anywhere—at your desk, in your car, or walking down the street. We'll use a deliberate sigh to help your body shift out of stress mode.
To help your body let go, you can try this: gently raise your shoulders toward your ears in a small shrug... and then as you exhale, let them completely drop.
Let's try it together.
Take a breath in, and as you do, you can gently shrug your shoulders up...
Now, as you let the breath out with a sigh, let your shoulders fall completely...
Notice that feeling of letting go in your neck and shoulders.
Let's do three more.
Breathe in, with or without the shrug... and sigh it out, letting everything go...Again, Breathe in... and sigh it out. One last time. Breathe in... and let it all go with a sigh...
Excellent. Bring your awareness back. You've just shown your body how to let go of tension. You can use this anytime."
Ready for More?
Explore Related Tools:
For Deep Release: Learn about Constructive Rest for the Psoas.
Get the Full Kit: Discover The Somatic Duo, our physical tools for tactile grounding.