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: An Affirmation Practice for the New Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:04
This New Year, affirm the wonderful qualities you already possess with this meditative writing practice with Chris Murchison called "I Am." How To Do This Practice: Settle your body and breath: Find a comfortable seat. C…
How Stories Shape Belonging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:18
Learn how the stories we tell and hear shape our relationships, values, and sense of belonging. Summary: Storytelling is more than entertainment. It shapes how we think, feel, and relate to others. In this episode of The…
Happiness Break: A Meditation to Inspire a Sense of Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:17
Take a few minutes to reflect on someone who inspires you, and how you can embody the values you admire in them. You can also listen to this episode in Spanish here: https://tinyurl.com/4rjmambm How To Do This Practice:…
The Power of a Collective Pause [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:13
Explore how students are using simple mindful breathing practices to navigate stress, stay grounded, and support their classmates. Summary: Classrooms often are confronted with difficult topics that can leave students ov…
Happiness Break: How Connecting With Ancestors Deepens Belonging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:07
Through a gentle ancestral meditation, discover how grounding in your roots can open the door to healing, meaning, and a deeper sense of belonging. How To Do This Practice: Settle Into Your Body: Notice whether you’re si…
How to Feel Better About Yourself [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:21
Self-compassion reduces our feelings of shame and self-doubt. We explore a practice to help quiet our inner critic with kindness. Summary: What does your inner critic sound like? Many of us carry echoes of past misunders…
Happiness Break: A Meditation for When Gratitude Feels Hard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:00
When gratitude feels distant, gently notice what’s here now— creating space for both heaviness and small moments of appreciation. How To Do This Practice: Get Comfortable: Sit upright or lie down. Whatever feels most sup…
Being Kind Is Good for Your Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:37
Doing good for others benefits our own minds and bodies, as well. We explore the science of kindness. Summary: On this episode of The Science of Happiness we explore how everyday acts of kindness strengthen our sense of…