Hello my love,
Can I tell you about the time my sweet baby Rumi taught me one of the most profound lessons about the nervous system? When he was just a tiny puppy, we drove out to Colorado to see my parents. Our poor little fluff ball panted the entire eight-hour drive—like full-on hyperventilating, I’m-about-to-have-a-heart-attack level panting. IT WAS SO STRESSFUL.
So I called his trainer in a panic, and she taught him the “relax” command. Simple concept: he had to rest his head down on the ground. Here’s the magic—it’s really hard to pant in full panic mode when your head is down and your body is in a rest position. And then it was like watching a light bulb moment happen in real time: his breathing would slow, his little body would soften, and you could practically see him think, “Oh! I’m actually fine.”
Here’s what I know about you: Right now, as you’re reading this, there’s a really good chance your jaw is clenched, your shoulders are up by your ears, or you’re holding your breath without even realizing it. Your mind is spinning through the to-do list, replaying that weird conversation from yesterday, or fast-forwarding to everything that could go wrong this week. Meanwhile, your body is screaming, “WE’RE IN DANGER!” even though you’re literally just sitting here reading an email. The problem isn’t that you’re anxious or stressed—it’s that your mind has forgotten what your body already knows: sometimes you just need the “relax” command.
What if you could tap into that same wisdom Rumi discovered? What if, instead of trying to think your way out of stress, you could use your body to remind your mind, “Oh yeah, I’m actually fine”? Soften your jaw. Drop your shoulders. Unclench your belly. Take one full breath that actually reaches your lungs. These aren’t just nice ideas—they’re actual commands that tell your nervous system it’s safe to stand down.
So here’s my challenge for you this week: Notice when you’re “panting”—metaphorically or literally. Maybe it’s the shallow breathing during a stressful meeting, the tight chest when you open your inbox, or the clenched jaw you carry around like an accessory. And then give yourself the “relax” command. Rest your head (literally), soften something, and let your body teach your mind what it keeps forgetting: You’re okay. Right here, right now, you’re actually fine.
Your body remembers how to feel safe. Sometimes it just needs a little reminder.
P.S. If you want to practice giving your nervous system the “relax” command in real time, that’s literally what we do in every class—just with better lighting and occasionally some really good playlists. Come breathe with us.
with so much love (and puppy wisdom),
xx,
brittany
