The Hug and Breathe is a way of regrouping when overextension has occurred, be it mental, sensory, energetic, emotional or physical. Frim but comfortably flexible compression can collect our attention back into our own physical body, skin and being, as it offers beneficial sensory connection with our nervous system pressure receptors, while we bring our awareness into presence with the ebb and flow of our steady breathing in the resilience of the living moment.

To be your own calming refuge at any moment, wrap your arms around yourself with firm presence, but enough freedom to allow the expanse out and relaxation inward of full easygoing breaths. Hold your arms and torso together in your own safe space as you feel your own embrace tighten with your slow and steady inhale and opening up of your ribs, lungs and chest. Then gently draw in your arms applying comforting compression as your lungs, chest, and ribs release air and relax inward with your exhale.

Just like a thunder blanket be grounding for a dog overwhelmed by the sensory experience of a storm naturally larger than it. Compression paired with attention that is present with breathing and our own personal physical edges can be a calm collection of self for any being with a nervous system and energetic awareness that has tendency to reach beyond the body to the environment near and far beyond.