* Breathing to Let Go

Every inhale brings in new life, nourishment and energy.

Every exhale is a release and letting go.

Our breath reflects the ebb and flow of life itself.

This quote stood out for me today:

“Sometimes you don’t realize the weight of something you’ve been carrying until you feel the weight of its release.”

When you find yourself tense, overwhelmed or feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. Take a moment and connect with your breath.

Do you notice that there is a slight pause at the end on the inhale as you hold onto the air? This holding on creates more tension in our body and it feels so good to release some of it in this simple exercise:

Take a nice big inhale and then sigh on the exhale. Really focus on the noise you can make when you breath out! Make it loud and long. The biggest and best sigh in the world.

Next, If this feels good, bring your shoulders up to your ears on your inhale and then release them down your back on the exhale.

You may want to bring in some shoulder rolls now. Inhale raising your shoulder up and then exhale releasing forwards. (3 times) Then inhale raising them up and exhale releasing them backwards (3 times).

The weight of the world is being lifted off your shoulders. As you practice this can you feel the burden releasing?

Namaste

31 responses to “* Breathing to Let Go”

Hariod Brawn

Sep 3, 2014 at 8:46 am

An excellent exercise Val; it’s extraordinarily effective to use the body so as to affect the mind positively isn’t it? One thinks of how smiling lifts the mood as a simple example; it seems pretty much impossible for it not to work.

All best wishes.

Hariod.

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 4:35 pm
  
  Thank you Hariod, Smiling is a great way to switch our mind state.
  When we laugh or sing (just like the sighs) we exhale even more, releasing tension from the body as well as the mind :0)
  Big smile!
  Val x
  
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Louise Gallagher

Sep 3, 2014 at 8:56 am

I love this exercise Val. So invigorating and freeing!

I like to invite myself to ‘open up to expansion’ on the in breath — it reminds me to not contract, to stay open and allowing of what it — adding your imagery of freeing myself of the weight of the world is powerful!

thank you. 🙂

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 4:36 pm
  
  Love this mindful expansiveness and openness Louise 🙂
  Thank you!
  
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F.G.M.

Sep 3, 2014 at 9:10 am

Very good exercise! Thank you for teaching us to… breathe! In a way, you teach us… Life! 🙂 You know, I had my lef shoulder broken four weeks ago (I fell down on rocks…) thanks to God, I did not need a surgery… this week I’ve started physiotherapy and your exercise is going to help me a lot!!!
Alors, merci encore Val!

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 4:38 pm
  
  Thank you Frederic. Vous etes trop gentile! I hope your shoulder heals quickly. You are lucky that there was not serious damage. I hope the breathing helps with the release during physiotherapy 🙂
  Val x
  
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  1. F.G.M.
    
    Sep 4, 2014 at 1:46 am
    
    yes, I’m lucky, and breathing helps!!! Thank you Val :-)♥
    
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irenedesign2011

Sep 3, 2014 at 9:48 am

Very good post Val 😉

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 4:38 pm
  
  Thank you Irene! Val x
  
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nrhatch

Sep 3, 2014 at 9:52 am

Breath is our connection with the NOW. Bringing our mindful attention back to our breath is very grounding . . . and releasing. Thanks, Val.

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 4:39 pm
  
  You got it Nancy!
  Hugs
  Val x
  
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dianasschwenk

Sep 3, 2014 at 10:00 am

Great post Val. I have felt the reality of this quote with pain (only realizing how much physical pain I had once I experienced no pain) and with stress, the absence of it was quite revealing!
Diana xo

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 4:40 pm
  
  Thank you Diana for sharing your insights here. It’s like many things that we miss only when they are gone …
  Val x
  
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  1. dianasschwenk
    
    Sep 3, 2014 at 7:17 pm
    
    it also made me think about how we can’t know joy without experiencing sorrow…
    
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    1. Val Boyko
      
      Sep 3, 2014 at 10:26 pm
      
      Yes Diana – fully experiencing life 🙂
      
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lorriebowden

Sep 3, 2014 at 10:17 am

Beautiful, Val….what you said about not realizing how heavy something is until you let it go, particularly struck me this morning! ❤ ❤

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 4:41 pm
  
  Thank you Lorrie. May the rest of the day bring you lightness 🙂
  
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Kate @ Did That Just Happen?

Sep 3, 2014 at 10:29 am

I’m learning to enjoy breathing exercises and allow my focus on the breathing to help adjust my mood! Great way to start the day, thanks Val!

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 4:42 pm
  
  I love reading your comment and taking a nice deep breath Kate!
  Val x
  
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In the Stillness of Willow Hill

Sep 3, 2014 at 10:45 am

This post is perfect for me today. Yesterday, I discovered a part of me that I’ve been holding on to. Now, in the light of your precious gift of verse this morning, I’m realizing just how much weight I had been carrying without even knowing it.

Val, may your day be filled with Love and Light as you breathe into the flow of life.

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 4:43 pm
  
  Thank you so much Tree! I’m glad you found some lightness.
  Your words touched my heart. ❤
  
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Healing Grief

Sep 3, 2014 at 5:05 pm

Breathing out and lettng go of built up emotions has also kept me extremely healthy, so it has wonderful benefits all round. Thanks Val.
Karen

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 10:19 pm
  
  Yes indeed Karen … Breathing fully is an elixir for health! Val x
  
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suzjones

Sep 3, 2014 at 7:31 pm

Thank you for your graphic in your post Val. It came at a perfect point in a text conversation I am having with my son so I photographed it and sent it to him. 🙂

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 3, 2014 at 10:22 pm
  
  So glad that it helped you to support your son Sue! Wishing you both all the best ❤
  Val x
  
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elizabeth2560

Sep 4, 2014 at 3:48 pm

Val, I too have experienced the wonder of weightlessness once a burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I agree that sometimes that can be mind over matter (meaning that there can be whatever is happening in your life and then there is how you look at it – two different things).

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Sep 4, 2014 at 3:51 pm
  
  Thank you for sharing Elizabeth. I agree, it is our thinking and the emotions that we attach to a situation that creates the burden and struggle.
  Val x
  
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ViewPacific

Oct 19, 2014 at 1:29 pm

Thanks for this simple guidance, Val. Isn’t the breath powerful?
I have been part of a guided breathwork group that meets weekly. The experiences and clearing are quite amazing. Oh, it’s not about the group or the guide (as wonderful as they are!).
Simply breathing, and enjoying breathing, brings wonderful results. And, it’s simple and natural.
I sometimes ask myself how and why I’m not mindful of my breathing more of the time. Well, even that I’m choosing to let go.
Vincent

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Oct 19, 2014 at 2:53 pm
  
  Thank you for sharing here Vincent! Its the things that we take for granted that often allude our consciousness. Breath easy and well 🙂
  
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Zachary Carr

Nov 5, 2022 at 2:29 pm

Looved reading this thanks

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1. Val Boyko
  
  Nov 5, 2022 at 8:22 pm
  
  So glad 🙏🏼
  
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● About Me

My name is Val Boyko, a dual citizen living near Philadelphia, originally from Scotland.

This blog came to life one morning in 2013. I woke up with these words in my mind: “Life is a series of highs and lows. Be grateful for the highs. Be graceful in the lows. And find contentment in your Middle Ground.”

Find Your Middle Ground blog started to explore, reflect, ask deep questions, share insights about awakening, and connect with wonderful people like yourself. Thank you for being here and being such an inspiration.