Big Belly Breathing

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In this special Big Belly Breathing episode recorded for Mindful Magazine, Vanessa guides you through a gentle meditation designed to help release physical and emotional pain while making space for joy to return. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, moving through grief, or simply feeling worn down, this practice offers a compassionate pause—a chance to breathe deeply, reconnect with your body, and remember that healing and happiness can coexist.

Through soothing imagery, mindful breathing, and moments of reflection, you’ll learn to ease tension and invite small, steady bursts of joy back into your daily life.

Take a seat, find your breath, and let this meditation be your reminder: even in the hardest moments, light still lives within you.

Click here to read the accompanying article on Mindful "What Unexpected Chronic Back Pain Taught Me: 4 Takeaways That Matter".

Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Support the show

Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is a bilingual audio program for kids (and the grownups who love them), founded by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. Featuring episodes in English and French, BBB focuses on mindfulness, health, and wellness—inviting young listeners into joyful, imaginative, and restorative practices.

As a Physical Education and meditation teacher, parent of bilingual kids, yoga instructor, social-emotional learning facilitator, and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa created Big Belly Breathing to help children establish daily habits that nurture both body and mind.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

Through each episode, children are gently guided to:

• Breathe mindfully
• Stretch their creativity
• Build emotional awareness
• Practice gratitude
• And enjoy mini-moments of deep rest that help them reset, restore, and recalibrate.

In today’s busy, screen-heavy world, BBB offers kids a chance to feel centered, grounded, and good—helping them create their own self-care rituals, routines, and wellness habits that can last a lifetime.

These tools support mental clarity, physical health, and emotional resilience, setting kids up for more joy today and as they grow into adulthood.

But it’s not just for kids!

BBB also includes special episodes designed for ...

Send a text

Activité: Imagine et Dessine Ton Endroit Spécial

Dans cette activité créative et de pleine conscience, les enfants vont s'exercer à utiliser leur imagination pour voyager dans un "endroit spécial" dans leur esprit, qui est en fait un lieu réel !

La visualisation d'aujourd'hui est : Une Méditation Créative au Centre Pompidou, à Paris.

Tout d'abord, nous commencerons par notre pratique de respiration en cercle du cœur – une technique simple et apaisante pour aider chacun à se détendre et se recentrer.

Ensuite, les enfants fermeront les yeux et écouteront une visualisation guidée, où ils exploreront un lieu réel dans leur imagination.

Après cela, ils auront l'occasion de dessiner l'endroit qu'ils ont imaginé, en capturant tous les détails qu'ils ont vus, entendus et ressentis. Cette activité encourage la créativité, la pleine conscience et la joie de donner vie à leurs mondes intérieurs à travers l'art!

À la fin, c'est une excellente idée de montrer aux enfants une photo du lieu réel afin qu'ils puissent comparer avec leur imagination!

Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Support the show

Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is a bilingual audio program for kids (and the grownups who love them), founded by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. Featuring episodes in English and French, BBB focuses on mindfulness, health, and wellness—inviting young listeners into joyful, imaginative, and restorative practices.

As a Physical Education and meditation teacher, parent of bilingual kids, yoga instructor, social-emotional learning facilitator, and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa created Big Belly Breathing to help children establish daily habits that nurture both body and mind.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

Through each episode, children are gently guided to:

• Breathe mindfully
• Stretch their creativity
• Build emotional awareness
• Practice gratitude
• And enjoy mini-moments of deep rest that help them reset, restore, and recalibrate.

In today’s busy, screen-heavy world, BBB offers kids a chance to feel centered, grounded, and good—helping them create their own self-care rituals, routines, and wellness habits that can last a lifetime.

These tools support mental clarity, physical health, and emotional resilience, setting kids up for more joy today and as they grow into adulthood.

But it’s not just for kids!

BBB also includes special episodes designed for ...

Send a text

Ceci est une MÉDITATION POUR LE COUCHER centrée sur le thème de l'Exploration, et située à Portland, Oregon.

Les enfants sont guidés vers un moment de détente profonde, confortablement installés dans leur lit à la maison, où ils se concentrent sur leur respiration tout en écoutant une activité audio de temps calme.

Cette méditation peut être utilisée comme routine du soir avant de se coucher pour les aider à plonger dans le pays des rêves, ou bien avant une sieste.

La Pratique Respiratoire de ce mois-ci est la Respiration des Petites Étoiles.


Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Support the show

Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is a bilingual audio program for kids (and the grownups who love them), founded by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. Featuring episodes in English and French, BBB focuses on mindfulness, health, and wellness—inviting young listeners into joyful, imaginative, and restorative practices.

As a Physical Education and meditation teacher, parent of bilingual kids, yoga instructor, social-emotional learning facilitator, and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa created Big Belly Breathing to help children establish daily habits that nurture both body and mind.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

Through each episode, children are gently guided to:

• Breathe mindfully
• Stretch their creativity
• Build emotional awareness
• Practice gratitude
• And enjoy mini-moments of deep rest that help them reset, restore, and recalibrate.

In today’s busy, screen-heavy world, BBB offers kids a chance to feel centered, grounded, and good—helping them create their own self-care rituals, routines, and wellness habits that can last a lifetime.

These tools support mental clarity, physical health, and emotional resilience, setting kids up for more joy today and as they grow into adulthood.

But it’s not just for kids!

BBB also includes special episodes designed for ...

Send a text

Ceci est une MÉDITATION POUR LE COUCHER centrée sur le thème de l'Exploration, et située à Rio de Janeiro, au Brésil.

Les enfants sont guidés vers un moment de détente profonde, confortablement installés dans leur lit à la maison, où ils se concentrent sur leur respiration tout en écoutant une activité audio de temps calme.

Cette méditation peut être utilisée comme routine du soir avant de se coucher pour les aider à plonger dans le pays des rêves, ou bien avant une sieste.

La Pratique Respiratoire de ce mois-ci est la Respiration des Petites Étoiles.


Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Support the show

Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is a bilingual audio program for kids (and the grownups who love them), founded by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. Featuring episodes in English and French, BBB focuses on mindfulness, health, and wellness—inviting young listeners into joyful, imaginative, and restorative practices.

As a Physical Education and meditation teacher, parent of bilingual kids, yoga instructor, social-emotional learning facilitator, and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa created Big Belly Breathing to help children establish daily habits that nurture both body and mind.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

Through each episode, children are gently guided to:

• Breathe mindfully
• Stretch their creativity
• Build emotional awareness
• Practice gratitude
• And enjoy mini-moments of deep rest that help them reset, restore, and recalibrate.

In today’s busy, screen-heavy world, BBB offers kids a chance to feel centered, grounded, and good—helping them create their own self-care rituals, routines, and wellness habits that can last a lifetime.

These tools support mental clarity, physical health, and emotional resilience, setting kids up for more joy today and as they grow into adulthood.

But it’s not just for kids!

BBB also includes special episodes designed for ...

Send a text

Voici une VISUALISATION GUIDÉE axée sur le thème de l'EXPLORATION et située à Séoul, en Corée du Sud.

Les enfants sont guidés vers un moment de détente, que ce soit en classe ou à la maison, où ils se concentrent sur leur respiration tout en écoutant une activité audio pour un moment de calme.

Ils embarquent pour un voyage et découvrent des aspects uniques de cet endroit.

La pratique de respiration de ce mois est la Respiration des Petites Étoiles .

Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Support the show

Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is a bilingual audio program for kids (and the grownups who love them), founded by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. Featuring episodes in English and French, BBB focuses on mindfulness, health, and wellness—inviting young listeners into joyful, imaginative, and restorative practices.

As a Physical Education and meditation teacher, parent of bilingual kids, yoga instructor, social-emotional learning facilitator, and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa created Big Belly Breathing to help children establish daily habits that nurture both body and mind.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

Through each episode, children are gently guided to:

• Breathe mindfully
• Stretch their creativity
• Build emotional awareness
• Practice gratitude
• And enjoy mini-moments of deep rest that help them reset, restore, and recalibrate.

In today’s busy, screen-heavy world, BBB offers kids a chance to feel centered, grounded, and good—helping them create their own self-care rituals, routines, and wellness habits that can last a lifetime.

These tools support mental clarity, physical health, and emotional resilience, setting kids up for more joy today and as they grow into adulthood.

But it’s not just for kids!

BBB also includes special episodes designed for ...

Send a text

Activity: Imagine and Draw Your Special Place

In this mindful creative art activity, kids will practice using their imaginations to travel to a "special place" in their minds, that is an actual real place!

Today's visualization is: Iguazu Waterfalls, Argentina/Brazil

First, we’ll start with our Waterfall breathing practice—a simple, soothing technique to help everyone feel relaxed and centered.

Next, kids will close their eyes and listen to a guided visualization, where they'll explore a real place in their imagination.

Afterward, they'll get to draw the place they pictured in their minds, capturing all the details they saw, heard, and felt. This activity encourages creativity, mindfulness, and the joy of bringing inner worlds to life through art!

At the end, it's great to show  kids a picture of the real place so that they can then compare it to their imagination!

Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Support the show

Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is a bilingual audio program for kids (and the grownups who love them), founded by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. Featuring episodes in English and French, BBB focuses on mindfulness, health, and wellness—inviting young listeners into joyful, imaginative, and restorative practices.

As a Physical Education and meditation teacher, parent of bilingual kids, yoga instructor, social-emotional learning facilitator, and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa created Big Belly Breathing to help children establish daily habits that nurture both body and mind.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

Through each episode, children are gently guided to:

• Breathe mindfully
• Stretch their creativity
• Build emotional awareness
• Practice gratitude
• And enjoy mini-moments of deep rest that help them reset, restore, and recalibrate.

In today’s busy, screen-heavy world, BBB offers kids a chance to feel centered, grounded, and good—helping them create their own self-care rituals, routines, and wellness habits that can last a lifetime.

These tools support mental clarity, physical health, and emotional resilience, setting kids up for more joy today and as they grow into adulthood.

But it’s not just for kids!

BBB also includes special episodes designed for ...

Send a text

This is a BEDTIME MEDITATION focusing on the theme of Exploration, and set in Portland, Oregon. 

Kids are guided into a very relaxing moment at home in their cozy beds, where they focus on their breathing while listening to an audio quiet time activity. 

This meditation can be used as a nighttime routine before bed is to help them ease into slumber land, or also before nap.

The Breathing Practice for this month is Twinkle Toes breathing.

Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Support the show

Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is a bilingual audio program for kids (and the grownups who love them), founded by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. Featuring episodes in English and French, BBB focuses on mindfulness, health, and wellness—inviting young listeners into joyful, imaginative, and restorative practices.

As a Physical Education and meditation teacher, parent of bilingual kids, yoga instructor, social-emotional learning facilitator, and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa created Big Belly Breathing to help children establish daily habits that nurture both body and mind.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

Through each episode, children are gently guided to:

• Breathe mindfully
• Stretch their creativity
• Build emotional awareness
• Practice gratitude
• And enjoy mini-moments of deep rest that help them reset, restore, and recalibrate.

In today’s busy, screen-heavy world, BBB offers kids a chance to feel centered, grounded, and good—helping them create their own self-care rituals, routines, and wellness habits that can last a lifetime.

These tools support mental clarity, physical health, and emotional resilience, setting kids up for more joy today and as they grow into adulthood.

But it’s not just for kids!

BBB also includes special episodes designed for ...

Send a text

This is a BEDTIME MEDITATION focusing on the theme of Exploration, and set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

Kids are guided into a very relaxing moment at home in their cozy beds, where they focus on their breathing while listening to an audio quiet time activity. 

This meditation can be used as a nighttime routine before bed is to help them ease into slumber land, or also before nap.

The Breathing Practice for this month is Twinkle Toes breathing.

Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Support the show

Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is a bilingual audio program for kids (and the grownups who love them), founded by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. Featuring episodes in English and French, BBB focuses on mindfulness, health, and wellness—inviting young listeners into joyful, imaginative, and restorative practices.

As a Physical Education and meditation teacher, parent of bilingual kids, yoga instructor, social-emotional learning facilitator, and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa created Big Belly Breathing to help children establish daily habits that nurture both body and mind.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

Through each episode, children are gently guided to:

• Breathe mindfully
• Stretch their creativity
• Build emotional awareness
• Practice gratitude
• And enjoy mini-moments of deep rest that help them reset, restore, and recalibrate.

In today’s busy, screen-heavy world, BBB offers kids a chance to feel centered, grounded, and good—helping them create their own self-care rituals, routines, and wellness habits that can last a lifetime.

These tools support mental clarity, physical health, and emotional resilience, setting kids up for more joy today and as they grow into adulthood.

But it’s not just for kids!

BBB also includes special episodes designed for ...

Send a text

This is a GUIDED VISUALIZATION focusing on the theme of Exploration, and set in Seoul, Korea.

Kids are guided into a relaxing moment either in the classroom or at home, where they focus on their breathing while listening to an audio quiet time activity.

They embark on a voyage and discover some unique features of this location.

The Breathing Practice for this month is Twinkle Toes breathing.


Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Support the show

Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is a bilingual audio program for kids (and the grownups who love them), founded by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. Featuring episodes in English and French, BBB focuses on mindfulness, health, and wellness—inviting young listeners into joyful, imaginative, and restorative practices.

As a Physical Education and meditation teacher, parent of bilingual kids, yoga instructor, social-emotional learning facilitator, and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa created Big Belly Breathing to help children establish daily habits that nurture both body and mind.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

Through each episode, children are gently guided to:

• Breathe mindfully
• Stretch their creativity
• Build emotional awareness
• Practice gratitude
• And enjoy mini-moments of deep rest that help them reset, restore, and recalibrate.

In today’s busy, screen-heavy world, BBB offers kids a chance to feel centered, grounded, and good—helping them create their own self-care rituals, routines, and wellness habits that can last a lifetime.

These tools support mental clarity, physical health, and emotional resilience, setting kids up for more joy today and as they grow into adulthood.

But it’s not just for kids!

BBB also includes special episodes designed for ...

Send a text

Ceci est une MÉDITATION POUR LE COUCHER centrée sur le thème de la BIENVEILLANCE, et située à Grenade, Espagne.

Les enfants sont guidés vers un moment de détente profonde, confortablement installés dans leur lit à la maison, où ils se concentrent sur leur respiration tout en écoutant une activité audio de temps calme.

Cette méditation peut être utilisée comme routine du soir avant de se coucher pour les aider à plonger dans le pays des rêves, ou bien avant une sieste.

La Pratique Respiratoire de ce mois-ci est la respiration du Cercle.


Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Support the show

Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is a bilingual audio program for kids (and the grownups who love them), founded by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. Featuring episodes in English and French, BBB focuses on mindfulness, health, and wellness—inviting young listeners into joyful, imaginative, and restorative practices.

As a Physical Education and meditation teacher, parent of bilingual kids, yoga instructor, social-emotional learning facilitator, and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa created Big Belly Breathing to help children establish daily habits that nurture both body and mind.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

Through each episode, children are gently guided to:

• Breathe mindfully
• Stretch their creativity
• Build emotional awareness
• Practice gratitude
• And enjoy mini-moments of deep rest that help them reset, restore, and recalibrate.

In today’s busy, screen-heavy world, BBB offers kids a chance to feel centered, grounded, and good—helping them create their own self-care rituals, routines, and wellness habits that can last a lifetime.

These tools support mental clarity, physical health, and emotional resilience, setting kids up for more joy today and as they grow into adulthood.

But it’s not just for kids!

BBB also includes special episodes designed for ...