Originally shared by poet and teacher Stephen Levine, Soft Belly is a gentle yet profound practice for releasing tension, quieting the mind, and returning to the wisdom of the body. The simple invitation to soften the belly helps unwind unconscious bracing—especially in the belly, or hara, the energetic center associated with grounded presence, intuitive knowing, and life force.

Here’s why this practice is so restorative:

1. It helps us shift from effort to attunement. Softening the belly allows us to let go of pushing, striving, or controlling—and instead attune to a deeper, steadier energy source within.

2. It regulates and nourishes the nervous system. This practice calms the fight-or-flight response and invites a sense of safety, ease, and emotional spaciousness.

3. It reconnects us to our vital energy. As tension dissolves, the body’s natural flow of energy is restored. From this deeper place, we feel more alive, centered, and guided—not by willpower, but by inner clarity and presence.

Use this meditation when you feel tense, depleted, or disconnected from yourself. It offers a return to the intelligence of the body—and to the quiet, sustaining energy that moves us from within.