Release tension before speaking: When I was a young actress in New York City, I stepped into my first professional acting class and immediately questioned my life choices.
Thirty actors lay scattered across the dusty studio floor, eyes closed, twitching and sighing loudly:
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Aaaaaaahhhhh!”
I must’ve looked horrified, because my teacher, Michael Howard, offered a kind, knowing smile and explained:
“From the moment you wake up and start to worry, tension begins to attach itself to you like armor. The busier and more stressed you get, the more armored up you become. And when your body is armored, you stop breathing. When you’re not breathing, you’re not thinking.”
He encouraged us to spend ten minutes before every class scanning our bodies for tension, then releasing it using breath and sound.
“Tense the muscles,” he said, “then exhale with sound to let the tension go. Use your breath to shed the armor, so you can be relaxed and ready to work.”
Reluctantly, I gave it a try.
And it changed everything.
The Breath Technique That Changed My Preparation Forever
Over time, this breath-and-release ritual became essential. Before every audition, performance, or high-stakes moment, I used this technique to get centered and present. Now, as a keynote speaker and presence coach, I still use it—often in stairwells, bathrooms, or even at red lights.
I also teach it to every client I coach. Because whether you’re acting or speaking, you can’t connect with an audience in an armored body. And nothing releases that armor faster than a sounded exhale—what my clients affectionately call an “Eleni Breath.”
As I write in my book Charismatic Presence: 5 Principles for Magnetic Presentations, I don’t care what you call it. I just want you to do it.
Try It Now: The Simple Way to Release Tension Before Speaking
Here’s how you can practice this technique right now with one part of your body:
- Close your eyes.
- Focus on your shoulders, a common place for tension.
- Tense them—lift them toward your ears.
- Now release them with a deep, audible sigh:
“Aaaaaaahhhh.”
Too public for sound? A silent breath works, too.
Repeat this process from head to toe, tensing and releasing each area. Standing, sitting, or lying down—it doesn’t matter. What matters is letting the armor fall away.
Why This Works
Breathing with intention activates your parasympathetic nervous system, calming your body and mind. Tension leaves your muscles, your thoughts clear, and suddenly—you’re ready.
This isn’t just stress relief. It’s preparation for peak performance.
Because when you’re relaxed, grounded, and present, your charismatic presence naturally shines through.
Ready to Light Up the Room?
If you want to learn how to elevate your speaking skills and presence—on stage, in the boardroom, or on Zoom—let’s talk. This breathwork is just the beginning.
📘 P.S. My newest book Charismatic Presence: Five Principles for Magnetic Presentations launches on June 19th. Click here to get on the list for updates and the release party!
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Eleni Kelakos, CSP The Speaker Whisperer®