Happiness Break: A Practice In Moving Through Stress

Happiness Break: A Practice In Moving Through Stress

Author: PRX and Greater Good Science Center August 20, 2026 Duration: 8:51
Join yoga and meditation teacher Jonathan Relucio for a trauma-informed practice combining mindful movement and breathing to reduce tension and build resilience to stress. How To Do This Practice:  Get comfortable: Sit or lie down and notice the support beneath your body, keeping your eyes open or closed—whichever feels comfortable. Connect with your body: Bring your attention inward and notice how your body, mind, and heart feel in the present moment. Release tension: Inhale as you gently shrug your shoulders toward your ears, then exhale as you relax and release them. Move with your breath: Inhale as you reach your arms overhead, then exhale as you gently bend from side to side, noticing the sensations in your body. Breathe into your belly: Place one hand on your belly and notice it expand as you inhale and relax as you exhale, following the natural rhythm of your breath. Pause and notice: Return to your natural breathing and take a moment to notice how your body and mind feel before continuing with your day. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break Guide: JONATHAN RELUCIO is a trauma-informed yoga and meditation teacher with 20 years of experience in community organizing, social services, training, and leadership development. Learn more about Jonathan here: https://www.jonathanrelucio.com/ Related Happiness Break episodes: Embodying Resilience: https://tinyurl.com/3d2ma8tw Visualizing Your Purpose: https://tinyurl.com/mwze59jx The Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/rrtpje2x Related Science of Happiness episodes: How To Feel Better About Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/3jave7h2 What To Do When Stress Takes Over: https://tinyurl.com/yxf3jawn The Contagious Power of Compassion: https://tinyurl.com/y6bpvbv5 We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3v9rapra

What if the things that make life feel worthwhile aren't just abstract ideas, but observable, measurable phenomena? That's the territory explored in The Science of Happiness. Each episode moves beyond simple self-help platitudes, grounding itself in the concrete research from psychology and neuroscience. Hosted by the insightful Dacher Keltner, a psychologist whose work often centers on these very emotions, the conversations feel both authoritative and deeply human. You'll hear from people who are actively testing out specific, research-backed practices-from cultivating compassion to finding moments of genuine awe-and then discussing the real, sometimes messy results. This isn't about a constant state of cheer; it's about understanding the building blocks of a resilient and meaningful existence. The podcast, a co-production of PRX and the Greater Good Science Center, translates academic findings into accessible stories and actionable insights. Tuning in feels less like receiving a lecture and more like sitting in on a fascinating experiment about our shared human condition, one where the data points are moments of connection, gratitude, and personal discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Science of Happiness
Podcast Episodes
Happiness Break: A Meditation on the Uniqueness of Your Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:07
In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, embrace the beauty of your accent in this self-compassion meditation. Mindfulness and meditation teacher Criss Cuervo invites you to reflect on your history, heritage, and connect…
How to Protect Your Brain as You Age [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:48
What if getting older doesn’t have to mean losing your memory? Learn how neuroplasticity, healthy habits, and simple memory exercises can help keep your brain strong at any age. Summary: We often assume that getting olde…
Happiness Break: Tap into the Joy That Surrounds You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:55
Buddhist meditation teacher, Anushka Fernandopulle, guides us through a practice of Mudita, or appreciative joy, to help us share in the happiness of others. How To Do This Practice: Get comfortable and ground yourself:…
Sidedoor: Writing on the Wall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:36
Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. From the time we are old enough to hold a crayon, it feels instinctive to draw on the wall. But for MISS CHELOVE—also known as Cita Sadeli—this instinct became a calling.…
Talk To A Stranger—It’s Good For You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:11
We often underestimate how much small talk can impact our wellbeing. Research shows that even brief conversations with strangers can boost our happiness and sense of connection, but fear and anxiety often keep us from re…
Where To Look For Joy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:08
How can we feel more moments of joy? Explore how joy is rooted in connection, gratitude, and paying attention to the people and moments that bring meaning to our lives. Summary: Did you know that joy isn’t just something…
Happiness Break: A Body Scan for Calm and Ease [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:54
Meditation teacher Spring Washam guides us in a practice of embodied awareness, helping us use the body as an anchor during stressful or overwhelming moments. How To Do This Practice: Find a comfortable position: Sit upr…
Ear Hustle Podcast: Corny-Ass Episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:36
Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Nigel says no matter where you are, everyone has a story to tell about a hug: good, bad, or awkward. Earlonne isn’t buying it. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia,…
Why You Can’t Do It Alone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:03
Can anyone truly succeed alone? We explore how role models, mentors, and strong social support make upward mobility far more possible than grit alone. Summary: What role do the people around us play in shaping our succes…
Happiness Break: Holding Truth With Compassion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:26
Take a moment to connect with your body and make space for difficult emotions with compassion and care. This embodiment practice is guided by Lyla June Johnston, a Diné musician, scholar of Indigenous land management, an…