So hi everyone and thank you for joining me.
So today we are going to do something really simple.
We are just going to ask the body what it needs and then listen.
So we are not here to fix anything.
Just a gentle curiosity about what would serve me best in this moment.
Now our bodies are incredibly wise.
It knows when you need rest,
When you need movement,
When you need comfort and also when you need space.
But very often we are moving so fast in life that we forget to actually ask and listen.
So let's slow down together and tune into the wisdom that's always available to you in your body.
Now to begin,
Find a comfortable position where you can sit,
Lie down or even stand.
So whatever feels supportive for you right now,
Find that position.
And then take a moment to settle in.
Now feel yourself being held by the chair,
The floor,
The bed,
The earth beneath you.
Just being open to this idea that there is something else bigger than me supporting me right now.
Now if I feel comfortable at this stage,
I can very gently close my eyes if that feels comfortable.
And I can simply now just bring my attention to my breathing,
To my breath.
Now take three natural breaths.
Don't try to breathe in any special way.
Just notice the breath that's already happening.
Your body has been breathing for you your whole life.
It knows what to do.
I just want you to watch the process now.
Now you can either put your left hand or both your hands on the center of your chest.
And we'll begin today's inquiry with a very,
Very simple question.
How does my body feel right now?
You can either just receive my words.
You can gently repeat them out loud or in your mind.
Whatever feels right for you.
How does my body feel right now?
Now we are not after the thoughts that come.
Not how you think it should feel.
Not how you want it to feel.
Just how it actually feels in this moment.
Now take your awareness,
Take your attention to the top of your head.
Now gently,
Slowly start to bring your attention down on the head and the scalp.
All my attention,
All my awareness now is with my head and my scalp.
Is there any tension there?
Is there any tightness there?
Or does it feel relaxed and easy?
I am just checking in with my head and my scalp.
Allowing and noticing.
Not fixing,
Not changing.
Now slowly,
Gently drop your awareness,
Attention down to your face,
Around your eyes and also your jaw.
Notice if you are holding any expression there or if your face feels soft and neutral.
The simple act of my presence gives this signal to my body that if it is holding on to anything it now has my permission to let it go.
My face,
My eyes and my jaw.
Noticing and observing.
Now I gently move my attention down to my neck and my shoulders.
My neck and my shoulders.
Now this is where many of us carry the weight of the world,
Of people's opinions.
What do you notice here right now?
Do my shoulders feel heavy or tight or perhaps they feel released and easy?
Just being now with your neck and your shoulders.
Gently moving the same awareness down to your arms and your hands.
If your body allows.
You can let your arms rest wherever it feels natural.
Now notice the weight of them.
The temperature.
Any sensations there.
Aliveness or stillness.
Just the sacred art of listening.
Now slowly,
Gently I am going to move down and I am going to go to my chest and my heart.
How does your breathing feel right now?
Is it shallow or deep?
Restricted or flowing?
What does your heart space want right now?
And if you still have your hand on your chest.
Just allowing yourself to feel what you feel in your chest and your heart.
Simply listening,
Allowing and experiencing.
Now slowly,
Gently I can move one or both my hands on my belly.
Does your belly feel tight or soft?
Is it asking for something?
Now we often hold tension in our belly without realizing it.
Listening to my belly now.
Just being there.
And now my back.
The part of me that supports me through everything.
My back against the pillow,
The mat,
The bed or the floor.
Does it feel strong?
Does it feel tired?
Does it need some attention?
Feeling what you are feeling in the back.
Nothing to change,
Nothing to fix.
Listening,
Observing,
Allowing,
Experiencing.
Now from my back,
I gently drop my awareness down to the hips and the pelvis.
The area of my body where we sometimes hold emotions.
What do you notice in your hips?
As I notice what shows up fully and completely,
It may start to dissipate.
As I see what needs to be seen,
It slowly starts to dissipate.
Being with the hips now.
And now your legs and your feet.
They carry you through life.
How do they feel?
Heavy?
Light?
Maybe restless?
Or maybe ready to rest?
My legs and my feet.
Now that you've gently checked in with your whole body,
Let's ask the most important question of our inquiry today.
What do you need right now?
What do you need right now?
What do you need right now?
Don't think about what you should need or what would be practical.
Just listen to what your body is asking for.
Maybe it's asking for rest.
Maybe it wants to stretch.
Maybe it wants to breathe.
Maybe it needs support,
Touch or nourishment.
There's no right or wrong answer.
Your body's needs are unique to you in this moment.
Just listen.
Now,
If your body is asking for rest,
Can you give it permission to rest?
Even if it's just for a few seconds,
I'm now choosing to give my body permission to rest.
Any stress,
Tension,
Active thought situation that I have,
Just for the next few seconds,
Can wait.
If your body is asking for movement,
What kind of movement would feel good right now?
Gentle stretching,
Rolling your shoulders,
Wiggle your fingers,
Wiggle your toes,
Or anything else that's coming up for you now.
If it's asking for breath,
Take a moment now to breathe a little bit deeper and just sigh out any tension that you're holding.
If my body is asking for comfort,
Is there a way I can offer that to myself right now?
Maybe placing my hands on my heart,
Maybe wrapping myself in something soft,
Or simply sending kind thoughts to my body.
If it's asking for grounding,
Feel your connection right now to whatever is supporting you.
If I could allow myself to be held by what's underneath me right now,
How would that feel?
And I'm now going to rest and lean into that support.
If my body is asking for space,
I'm going to notice where my body might be contracting,
And see if I can gently take my attention to those areas.
Now,
We remember that your body has been taking care of you since you were born.
It knows how to heal.
It knows how to move.
It knows how to be alive.
And it's constantly working to keep you healthy and balanced.
Sometimes,
The kindest thing you can do is simply listen to what it's asking for,
And whenever possible,
Honour those requests.
Now,
This doesn't mean you always have to do exactly what your body wants.
Life has its own practical demands.
But it does mean acknowledging what shows up in my body,
And finding small ways to take care of that throughout my day.
Now,
As you prepare to return,
Set a gentle intention now to check in with your body regularly,
Maybe once a day,
Twice a day.
You can just pause and ask,
How am I feeling?
And what do I need right now?
And it can be as simple as taking three conscious breaths,
Drinking some water,
Stretching,
Sitting down,
Eating something nourishing,
Or sometimes giving yourself permission to feel whatever you're feeling.
These small acts of listening and responding will start to build trust between you and your body.
Your body will see that you're paying attention,
And you're willing to take care of it.
Now,
Before we close,
Take a moment to appreciate your body for everything that it does for you.
It carries you through each day,
Processes your food,
Helps you breathe,
Heals your wounds,
And most importantly,
Houses your soul.
Now,
Place your hands somewhere,
Anywhere on your body that feels comforting.
And now silently say,
Thank you to your body for being your companion.
And whenever you're ready now,
You can gently open your eyes and carry this awareness with you.
Remember,
Your body's wisdom is always available to you.
All you have to do is ask and listen.
And in a world that's constantly demanding more from you,
Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is to just pause and listen.
Now,
Throughout the day,
Whenever you think of it,
Pause and ask,
What does my body need right now?
And find that one small way that you can honor that need.
Your body and your overall well-being will thank you for this simple practice.
So thank you very much for joining me today,
And Namaste.
