Writing
🐢 What a turtle taught me about breathing (and surviving motherhood)
Hi Beautiful Soul, Can I share something a little unexpected with you today? It's about a turtle. 🐢 Not a metaphor at first an actual turtle. The kind that walks slowly, carries its home, and never once looks anxious about where it's going. I've been thinking about the turtle a lot lately. Because in a world that never stops rewarding speed, urgency, and doing more this quiet, slow creature is living proof that you can still arrive, fully and peacefully, without rushing. And somehow, that felt like everything I needed to hear. 🌿 Why the turtle became my symbol When I created The Slow Down Rituals, I wasn't trying to build another productivity system or high-performance morning routine. I wanted something gentle. Rooted. Real. The turtle became the soul of that vision not just as a symbol, but as a teacher. In Yogic philosophy, the turtle is sacred. It teaches us to withdraw inward, slow the breath, and be fully present. To move with purpose rather than panic. That's the very essence of nervous system regulation. 💛 My honest story Before motherhood, yoga and breathwork helped me feel like myself. Then 2020 happened. I became a mother during a pandemic, in a different country, with no maternal support nearby. I was emotionally stretched. Physically in pain. Mentally overstimulated. Meditation felt impossible. Yoga felt too demanding. Even silence felt unreachable. But I knew I couldn't keep pushing through the chaos. So I started small. Just 5 minutes. ✨ My 5-Minute Slow Down Rituals looked like this: → 5 minutes of conscious breathing → 5 minutes of gentle stretching → 5 minutes of mindful stillness → 5 minutes of sipping coffee in silence → 5 minutes of journaling or gratitude I didn't do all of them every day. I picked one whatever felt manageable. Some days I skipped. But I always came back, gently. And slowly, something shifted. My nervous system softened. My reactions slowed. I could enjoy motherhood a little more. I could be more present with the people I love. 🌬 What the turtle teaches us about breath Turtles breathe slowly and deeply. Some can hold their breath for hours not out of force, but out of calm regulation. They don't panic. They don't rush. They move with breath as their rhythm. As humans, especially under stress, we do the opposite. We breathe fast, shallow, or not at all. And when the breath is off, the nervous system follows. But here's the beautiful truth: when we bring back the breath, we bring back our calm. ✨ The 3 S Philosophy I live by: 🌱 Start Small — even just 5 minutes a day 🌊 Slow Down — soften your breath, your pace, your nervous system 🌙 Space Your Mind — create room to respond, not react This isn't about doing less. It's about doing life with more presence, more peace, and more you. 🐢 The turtle gets there. Not because it rushes but because it trusts its pace. So today, give yourself permission to slow down, breathe intentionally, and begin with one small, doable ritual. Because you carry your calm with you just like the turtle carries its home. With breath and warmth, 👇 Read the full blog post here: [🐢 The Turtle's Philosophy of Slowing Down — Read Now] P.S. If this resonated and you're ready to go beyond the newsletter, I'd love to breathe with you live. I offer breath-led yoga classes designed for stressed working professionals, millennial parents, and mothers who are done with the chaos and ready to come home to themselves. No perfect routine required. Just one breath at a time. And for a daily dose of calm, come find me on Instagram → @jagruthikarthik 🐢🌿 |