Let Go Your Stress In 5 Minutes or Less: The Balloon Meditation

I started this exercise as a demonstration of how we “physically” hold stresses and to increase awareness of our mental tensions and their impact on our body. Many of my students took it to the next step and started using this exercise regularly to relax easily and quickly.  They download this exercise (see below) into their phones or computers and use it when they need a quick refresh.  The more you do it, the easier and quicker you will relax.   One of my students, Julie teaches this technique to her elementary school students.

What do I have to do?
If you have attended my meditation classes, you are familiar with the Balloon Meditation. It involves a visualization exercise in which you pretend to hold dozens of colored balloons. You are guided through the process to focus on the tensions in your fist, arms and shoulders. These balloons represent your challenges, stresses and tough aspects of our lives (things that you want to let go!). Many students play with this exercise, they often have faces of people they hate on these balloons. Once this visualization is set, I count down from 3 to 1 and ask my students to let the balloons go. I then ask them to focus on the relaxation in the arms, shoulders and rest of the body. Additional visualization steps help the person relax completely. Most students are amazed on how stresses manifested themselves in their body and how easy it was to let go!

My friend and business partner J.S. Epperson has created a 5 minute audio file for this “Balloon Meditation” exercise. His calm, gentle voice and heavenly music are treats for anyone who is familiar with his work.

Check it out now!


08-25-2013 Original Post
07-15-2014 Updated Download Link
08-15-2015 - Updated links + add mp3
07/20/2018 - Uploaded video

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