Don’t Lose Yourself in the Rush
This is the month when people tell me, “I just can’t catch my breath.”
And it’s no surprise — the days are darker, the pace is faster, and we’re all trying to fit more into less time. The breath is often the first thing to go when life gets full. It becomes shallow and quick, shoulders rise, and before you know it, your body is running on stress.
When this happens, we disconnect — not just from calm, but from ourselves.
The Physiology of Pressure
When breathing speeds up and stays high in the chest, your body reads it as a stress signal. The sympathetic nervous system — your fight-or-flight response — takes charge, diverting blood away from the skin and digestion toward the muscles. That’s why you might feel restless, wired, or notice your hands and feet turning cold. You’re not doing anything wrong — you’re just breathing like someone ready to run.
When you slow your breathing and extend the exhale, you send the opposite message. The parasympathetic system, your body’s rest-and-digest response, begins to take over. Your heart rate steadies, circulation improves, and your brain receives a simple but powerful message: it’s safe to relax. Even a few minutes of slower breathing can change your physiology and calm your nervous system.
A Moment to Come Back to Yourself
Try this simple reset when everything feels too fast.
Pause wherever you are — in the kitchen, in the car, or before you answer that next email. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four. Exhale gently through your mouth for six. Whisper to yourself, “I’m here.” Repeat three or four times, just long enough to feel your body soften and your breath deepen.
This isn’t about escaping life’s busyness — it’s about learning to meet it differently.
Breathing with the Season
As we move toward December, we approach the Winter Solstice — the longest night of the year and the point when the light begins to return. It’s a natural invitation to pause, reflect, and let go of what’s been heavy. In many traditions, the solstice represents renewal — the end of one cycle and the quiet beginning of another.
Breathwork gives us a way to feel that shift in our own bodies — to exhale what’s ready to leave and create space for what’s to come.
If you’re ready to breathe a little deeper, to let go of what you’ve been holding, and to reconnect before the year closes, join me for the December Deep Dive Breathwork Circle on Wednesday 3rd December, 7:00–8:30 pm.
It’s a small, intimate group, perfect for beginners or experienced breathers, or anyone wanting to move through this seasonal change with intention. Together, we’ll breathe with the rhythm of the solstice — releasing, softening, and finding warmth and stillness inside. Book yourself a spot on breathgal.com/book
P.S. Change your breath, change your life.
Mel