Most of us walk around with our abs clenched 24/7. It’s a stress response. We suck in our guts for photos, brace for bad news, and hold tension right in the solar plexus. Over time, that constant tension tricks your nervous system into thinking you’re in danger. Shallow breathing. High cortisol. Tight hip flexors.
I learned this from a combat sports physio. Lie on your back. Knees bent. Take three slow, deep belly breaths. Then, using a soft fist or a rubber massage ball, you gently press—then release —into the soft spot just below the sternum (the solar plexus). deep belly punch
Breathe deep. Stay soft. Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Do not strike your abdomen hard. If you have hernias, are pregnant, or have organ issues, skip this one. Most of us walk around with our abs clenched 24/7
The first time I did it, I felt a wave of nausea for two seconds. Then? A sigh. An actual, audible sigh escaped my mouth. My diaphragm, which had been locked in a shrug for probably ten years, finally let go. Over time, that constant tension tricks your nervous
Have you ever tried visceral manipulation or deep abdominal release? Or does the phrase "belly punch" just make you want to flinch? Let me know in the comments.
We spend hours trying to stretch our backs, but we never actually relax the front wall of the torso.
There are certain phrases that stop you mid-scroll. For me, last week, it was three words:
