Finding Safety in Your Body: How Breathwork Helps You Feel Grounded and Secure

Finding Safety in Your Body: How Breathwork Helps You Feel Grounded and Secure

There are moments when we don’t quite feel at home in ourselves. Our breath tightens, our shoulders inch toward our ears, and a quiet tension lingers just beneath the surface. Sometimes, we know exactly why—perhaps the day was stressful, or something unexpected shook us. Other times, the feeling is harder to name. A vague sense of unease. A feeling of being off but not knowing why.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The body is always listening. It takes in the world around us, sensing, responding, and trying to keep us safe. But the truth is, safety isn’t just about our external environment—it’s about what’s happening within us.

Our breath is one of the most powerful messengers of safety, constantly signaling to the nervous system whether we need to stay on high alert or if we can soften into the moment.

But what happens when being in the body doesn’t feel safe?

When Safety Feels Out of Reach

For many of us, being in our body hasn’t always felt like a safe place to be.

We may have spent years living in survival mode—pushing forward, staying busy, always anticipating the next thing. Or perhaps we’ve felt disconnected, numb, unsure of how to access the sensations of safety and rest.

I used to think I was safe. Logically, I knew I had stability—people who loved me, a home, a structured life. And yet, my body told a different story. I carried an undercurrent of anxiousness, always planning, always preparing, always holding tension I couldn’t quite name.

It wasn’t until I began working with my breath that I understood: intellectual safety and embodied safety are not the same.

I could think I was safe, but until my body felt it, I remained in a state of subtle bracing—waiting for something that wasn’t coming.

When External Safety Isn’t Enough

For much of my life, I relied entirely on external safety—certain people, routines, and environments that made me feel okay. But when those weren’t available, I felt unsteady. I didn’t know how to create that sense of safety within myself.

Breathwork changed that.

For the first time, I realized that safety isn’t something we have to search for outside of ourselves—it’s something we can cultivate from within.

At first, I wasn’t even sure what safety felt like. It was unfamiliar, like stepping into a quiet space after years of noise. But breathwork helped me gently reconnect, showing me that my nervous system could learn a new way—that I didn’t have to stay in a constant state of bracing, holding, or running.

I began to feel moments of softness. A deep exhale I hadn’t even realized I was holding. A loosening in my chest. A sense of presence I didn’t have to try to create.

For the first time, I could truly feel:

“I am okay. I don’t have to hold on so tightly. I can release my grip.”

This wasn’t an overnight shift. It happened slowly, breath by breath, as I built trust with myself. Over time, breath became my pathway home.

If It Feels Hard to Be in Your Body, Start Here

If feeling safe in your body feels far away, start with what feels accessible.

Rather than forcing yourself to “be in your body,” begin by connecting to external sources of safety.

Take a moment to think of a place, a person, or a memory that makes you feel deeply at ease. Maybe it’s the sound of the ocean, the warmth of a cup of tea in your hands, or the way your body softens when you’re wrapped in a familiar embrace. Close your eyes and imagine it—where do you feel that sensation in your body?

Notice the subtle shifts. A little warmth in your chest. A loosening of the shoulders. A quiet softening.

Let yourself breathe into this feeling. Get to know it.

As you practice this, something shifts. Over time, this external safety becomes a bridge to internal safety. You begin to realize that the feeling of safety doesn’t come from outside of you—it’s something you can create within.

With each breath, you carve out a space inside yourself that you can return to, no matter what’s happening around you.

This space—this inner steadiness—is what carries you through everything.

Resonance Breathing: A Gentle Practice for Safety & Calm

If deep breathing feels overwhelming, it’s okay to take it slow. Even one or two intentional breaths is enough to begin shifting your state.

One of the simplest ways to encourage a deep sense of safety is through resonance breathing—a steady, rhythmic breath pattern that soothes the nervous system.

Try This:

• Inhale gently through your nose for a slow count of 5.

• Exhale gently through your nose for a count of 5.

• Continue this soft, even rhythm for a few minutes, letting your body relax and your mind gently settle.

If this feels supportive, you can extend the practice over time. If it feels too much, start with just a few breaths. There’s no rush, no pressure—just an invitation to meet yourself where you are.

Please do not do breathwork while driving, walking, or in water. If you have any severe medical conditions, consult a doctor before practicing.

Bringing Safety Into Daily Life

Feeling safe isn’t something we force—it’s something we return to, over and over again. Each breath is an opportunity to remind the body:

“I am here. I am supported. I am safe.”

This doesn’t have to be a big practice. Even a few slow breaths in the morning, a pause before reacting, or a moment of stillness at the end of the day can begin to shift how you feel.

If You’re Ready for Deeper Support

If you want to explore this practice more deeply, join Flourish Within—our breathwork community designed to support you in building a sense of inner safety, steadiness, and connection. Whether you join a live session or explore the monthly pass, you’ll have ongoing guidance in cultivating rest, presence, and ease.

Give yourself the space to breathe, soften, and return home to yourself—no striving required.