Often when I sit to meditate, it is the only time that I take a moment to notice what I am holding in my body -- and many times that means tension. We try to tell our minds to relax, but the body is still holding onto the stress of the day.

Sometimes, we can't just think ourselves into calmness—we have to show our body the way.

In today’s episode, we’re practicing Tensing and Relaxing. This is a physical practice where we intentionally create a small amount of tension in a muscle group and then—very consciously—let it go. It’s a way of speaking the body’s language to signal that it is finally safe to exhale.

If you’ve been feeling restless or "jittery" lately, this practice is a wonderful way to discharge that extra energy so you can find a bit more internal quiet.

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

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Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.