Welcome to morning breath.
Some mornings your body wakes before your mind does.
Your eyes may open and the day may already have begun but inside you still feel wrapped in that soft morning haze.
So today,
Rather than easing slowly into another relaxing breath practice,
We're going to wake the breath up to clear some of that gogginess,
Refresh your attention and help your mind feel brighter and more alert.
So find a comfy space in an upright position if you can.
Feel your spine lengthen,
Drop your shoulders away from your ears.
And before you begin,
Just notice how awake you feel right now.
Just notice.
So now,
Take one breath in.
And slowly breathe it out,
Releasing any stress or tension.
So we're going to begin with what I call the morning clearing breath.
It has three parts.
So it's two light sniffs in through your nose followed by one fuller breath in and then a clear releasing breath out through your mouth.
I'll guide you.
So two little breaths in.
.
.
Then continue breathing in.
Filling your lungs comfortably and then ah.
Release it all.
So again,
Two short breaths in and out.
Breathe a little more in Fill your lungs and clear it away.
Beautiful and once more two light breaths in.
Then a fuller breath.
And out with the heart.
Sam.
It's almost as though you are opening a window from the inside.
Fresh air in,
Stale heaviness out.
So let's do three more now in your own time.
Two little breaths in,
Fill and release.
And once more,
Two light breaths.
A lovely full breath in and let it go.
And now stop.
And just let your breathing return to its natural breathing pattern.
Wonderful.
And now notice.
May already feel a subtle change around your eyes,
Your face,
Your attention.
So we're going to add something different now.
So just bring your awareness to the very tip of your nose.
And for the next breaths become curious about the coolness of your inhale.
No need to deepen your breathing but just make your attention a little sharper.
Take a moment to feel the cool air entering your nostrils.
And the slightly warmer air as it leaves.
Cool.
In.
Warm out.
A soft flowing breath.
As you feel the coolness on the in-breath.
And the warmth on the out breath.
Just see if you can notice the exact instant your inhale begins.
And the exact instant it becomes an exhale.
This is less about taking a big breath and more about waking up your attention.
Good.
So for the next five breaths we'll silently count only the inhales.
Inhale one.
Feel fresh air entering.
Inhale too,
Attention is sharpening.
Inhale three,
Your mind is becoming clearer.
Inhale,
Four.
Your beautiful morning is coming into focus.
And five.
And just release the counting now.
We come to this clearing round now.
And this time,
Just imagine that you are gathering up any remaining morning heaviness with your inhale.
And then clearing it completely with the exhale.
So when you're ready,
Those two light breaths in.
Then fill your lungs.
And out with a huff.
Clear.
And again,
Two short breaths in.
Fill your lungs.
And out.
Clear.
And once more,
Those two bright little breaths in.
A fuller,
Fresh breath.
And a long breath out with a sigh.
And then breathe normally.
Now notice your eye,
Notice your face.
Notice the space behind your forehead.
And notice the quality of your attention now.
Maybe your world feels a little less hazy now.
And remember you don't need to leap into your day.
You're simply letting your body know.
Morning is here.
It has arrived.
It has arrived for you.
Now just resume your natural breathing pattern.
Feel the air as it arrives.
And just feel yourself here in this moment.
Roll your shoulders if that feels good.
Just gently move your neck from side to side.
Lift your gaze.
Give yourself a gentle stretch.
And notice how that fork is lifting.
Your senses are waking.
Your attention is returning.
And from this clearer,
Brighter place,
You can begin.
So,
Good morning to your brand new wonderful day.
Namaste,
My friend.
