17.1 Special Episode: "Easing Pain & Inviting Joy"

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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

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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 ...