Dear Reader,
“Taming the Tiger” is a phrase that Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing, often uses to describe the process of learning to live with — and eventually calm — the fear that lives inside the body.
In his work, the tiger represents that primal survival energy — the instinctual force that comes alive when we are in danger. It’s the same force that once helped us run, fight, or freeze when we were being chased by an actual predator. The problem is that for many of us, even though we’re no longer in danger, our bodies don’t know that.
We’re sitting at our desks, checking emails, talking to our kids, but our physiology is still behaving as though there’s a tiger right behind us. Heart racing. Muscles tense. Breath shallow. Nervous system on high alert.
That’s what trauma is: when the body continues to live as if the past is still happening.
When survival energy never fully gets to complete its cycle.
And here’s where the breath comes in.
Your breath is the conductor of your nervous system — the bridge between the conscious and the unconscious. Every inhale and exhale sends a signal to your body about whether you are safe or in danger. When your breathing becomes short and shallow, your body interprets it as a sign of threat. A whole cascade of hormonal and physiological reactions follows — adrenaline, cortisol, muscle contraction, vigilance.
But if you know how to work with your breath — if you can slow it down, deepen it, and direct it — you can begin to send a different message. You can tell your body: It’s okay. You’re safe now.
That’s the essence of learning to breathe consciously. It’s not just about staying calm in the moment. It’s about retraining your nervous system — teaching your body to respond to fear and anxiety in a new way.
It’s about learning to befriend your tiger instead of running from it.
These are not just techniques for stress management — they’re essential life tools. Tools that help you come home to yourself.
Join us this evening as we explore the art of taming the tiger — through the breath, through awareness, through presence.
✨ Class starts TONIGHT and runs for 6-weeks. I know it's last minute, don't worry, all classes are recorded and you can access them later... and then ask your questions in the morning sessions or next week.
Covered by psychotherapy in Quebec and Ontario.
Be there.
Seriously.
It’s time to breathe… for real this time.
Lots of love,
Esther
