Yoga Nidra: Resilient Metal Element

Experience refinement and inner clarity with the Metal element, a guide for releasing what’s no longer needed. This session draws on the cycle of breath to embody acceptance of life’s natural endings and beginnings. Guided imagery connects you with inner essence and resilience, helping you let go with grace. Reconnect with your intrinsic worth as you move through body awareness and breath, finding peace and groundedness in change.

Transcript

Welcome to your Yoga Nidra practice focused on the metal element.

Metal symbolizes refinement,

Clarity,

And the ability to let go of what no longer serves us.

This practice will help you embrace the cycles of change and release attachments,

Inviting you to accept both beginnings and endings with grace and ease.

In contrast,

When we are tense,

Gripping,

Holding,

And controlling,

We are out of sync with the natural flow of life.

A reconnection with our inner worth and the value we hold within ourselves,

For ourselves,

Serves as an anchor in this practice.

Our friend the breath shows us the way.

In the inhale and the exhale,

We have an innate understanding of this cycle.

We dedicate the fruits of this practice to the universe and all its beings and the collective wisdom.

May we rest in our inner knowing and find peace within.

Settle into a comfortable position,

Either lying on your back or any posture where you feel you can completely let go.

Allow your body to become still and close your eyes softly.

We will begin our practice with a brief tensing and releasing of the muscles.

Bringing tension in the body and then releasing that tension allows a sense of grounded presence.

First,

Take a deep breath in through the nose.

Hold for a moment.

Let a bit of tension build and then let go with a sigh.

Inhale and tense your lower body,

Your feet,

Your legs,

And hips.

Hold the tension for a moment.

Let it build.

Then release the tension completely,

Perhaps with sound.

Feel energy flowing into your lower body as it releases.

Now inhale and tense your upper body,

Your torso,

Your shoulders,

Arms,

Face,

Hands,

Even your ears and scalp.

Hold for a moment and then release again with sound.

Let the energy shift as you relax.

Finally,

Inhale and tense your whole body,

Feet,

Legs,

Hips,

Torso,

Shoulders,

Arms,

Hands,

Face,

Head,

Every muscle,

Every cell.

Hold briefly and then let go with an audible release.

Sense the relaxation settling deeply into every part of your being,

Grounding you completely,

Returning to your normal breath.

Take a moment to welcome an intention,

A positive resolve for your practice.

Stated in present tense and affirmative words,

This is an agreement you make with the highest form of yourself.

It can be in your native language,

Or it may appear as a deep sense,

A feeling.

It may sound like,

I forgive myself and others,

Or I am divine exactly as I am,

Or I release what no longer serves me.

Let this intention appear to you naturally.

Let this intention appear to you naturally.

Once it comes to you,

Repeat it silently three times,

Feeling its truth settle within you.

Know that this intention is a seed to be planted deeply in your consciousness,

Being nourished,

Taking root,

And blossoming in its own perfect way.

And letting that go.

We will now explore the body by rotating awareness throughout it.

As I name a part of your body,

Allow your attention to follow,

Perhaps visualizing a glowing golden orb of energy radiating and pulsing at each stop along the way.

Bring your undivided attention to the inside of your mouth,

Sensing a golden orb of energy.

Ears.

Nose.

Eyes.

Face.

Golden orb of energy.

Head.

Shoulders.

Arms.

Hands.

Golden orbs of energy.

Torso.

Feet.

Golden orbs of energy.

Hips.

Legs.

Feet.

Golden orbs of energy.

Now expand your attention to each and every part of the body,

One cohesive being glowing as a golden orb of energy.

Feel subtle energies healing and balancing the whole body.

Bring your attention to your breath.

Notice how it flows naturally,

Entering and leaving the body.

The in-breath sending air to the lungs,

The chest rises.

The out-breath releasing air from the lungs.

The chest falls.

Each inhale brings in fresh new energy.

Each exhale releases what is no longer needed.

Sense the breath as a cycle,

A turning wheel continuously moving in and out.

Cycles of breath,

Moving in and moving out.

Feel how the breath mirrors the cycles of life.

Each inhale a new beginning.

Each exhale a release,

A letting go.

There are natural turning points,

Gentle pauses,

Between the inhale and the exhale,

Where the breath changes direction.

Without changing your rhythm,

Notice these natural pauses for a moment.

The space between the inhale and the exhale.

The points of stillness,

The points of stillness.

Where change occurs.

Let your breath become a guide,

Teaching you its natural rhythm.

Reflecting the natural rhythm of life.

Inhale a new beginning.

Exhale a release,

A letting go.

Allow this rhythm to flow effortlessly.

Feeling the cyclic energy of release,

To renewal,

To release,

To renewal in every breath.

The inhale brings fresh energy,

Enthusiasm and positivity.

The exhale creates space for the next new breath.

The next new opportunity.

Continue to sense the cyclical rhythms of breath.

Feel these rhythms expanding from the chest,

Traveling through your body like rivers of energy.

Allow your breath to become your guide,

Your connection to a greater understanding of the cycles of life.

The cycles of life as experienced in the cycles of day to night and night to day.

With the in-breath,

Sense the feeling of enthusiasm and positivity,

As if awakening to a new day filled with opportunities.

Let yourself feel this fresh,

Bright energy moving through you.

Day shifts to night.

Sense the feeling of completeness and contentment.

Feel a sense of accomplishment,

The beauty of closure,

Of knowing that all is well and a well-deserved rest is coming.

The feeling of enthusiasm,

Positivity and possibility that a bright new day brings on the in-breath.

A sense of accomplishment,

Satisfaction,

Contentment and well-deserved rest for the coming evening with the out-breath.

Reflecting the movement of day to night and night to day.

Sensing the enthusiastic,

Positive potential available on the bright new day on the in-breath.

Sensing the calm,

Content satisfaction of the coming evening on the out-breath.

Experience the enthusiastic,

Positive potential on in-breath and the content,

Soothing completion on the out-breath.

Enthusiastic,

Positive potential on in-breath,

Content,

Soothing completion on out-breath.

Now hold both sensations at once.

Feel the enthusiasm of beginnings and the contentment of endings within the same breath.

Allow both sensations to fully develop within your body.

Feel how both are essential to fully experiencing the cycles of life.

Observe any shifts in your body and mind as you explore this dance of opposites.

Bring your awareness to your third eye center.

Bring your awareness to your third eye center.

Imagine you are walking through a wild,

Untouched landscape.

The earth beneath your feet is rich and ancient.

As you walk,

You notice something partially buried in the ground.

You bend down and gently unearth it.

An old piece of jewelry,

Perhaps a ceremonial artifact,

Long forgotten.

It has been in the ground for ages,

Exposed to the elements,

Its surface tarnished and worn.

The once polished metal is now dulled in time,

Showing the marks of countless years of exposure to wind and rain and earth.

As you hold this object in your hands,

You notice something remarkable.

Beneath the weathered exterior,

A jewel is embedded.

It's barely visible at first,

Hidden within the worn metal.

The metal flakes under the light touch of your fingertips.

As layers of decay,

Crack,

And crumble,

More of the jewel is revealed.

The jewel remains untouched,

Faceted,

Glowing with an inner light,

Unchanging despite the transformation happening around it.

As you hold the object,

You realize it mirrors your own life.

You realize it mirrors your own life.

The metal represents your physical body and experiences,

Ever-changing and marked by time.

The jewel,

Your inner self,

Constant and unchanging beneath the surface.

As the metal continues to tarnish and weather,

The jewel shines brighter,

Uncovering your true essence.

You begin to see how the metal's decay,

Its transformation,

Serves a purpose,

Revealing the inner light that has always been there.

The transformation of the metal,

Though temporary,

Serves to hold and highlight the brilliance of the jewel.

Honor this process.

Understand that both the outer world's impermanence and your eternal spirit play essential roles.

This balance allows you to embrace life's changes while connecting with the essence that always remains within.

Recall your heartfelt intention.

A sacred agreement made with the highest form of yourself.

Receive your words,

Felt sense,

Or image,

However it appears.

Allow what comes to you naturally,

Trusting your soul's deepest knowing.

Slowly bring your awareness back to your breath,

Feeling the rhythm of each inhale and exhale.

Sense the flow of energy through your body,

Glimmering like an inner jewel,

Radiant within you.

With each breath,

Allow yourself to rest in this awareness,

Feeling whole,

Complete,

And at ease.

When you are ready,

As you slowly open your eyes and reorient to the space around you,

Perhaps notice a feeling of trust and inner value that may be present within you.

A sense of belonging,

A sense of belonging to the world around you.

A sense of belonging to the world around you.

A sense of belonging to the world around you.

Perhaps notice a feeling of trust and inner value that may be present within you now.

Know that your worth and light are always with you,

Shining through every experience of life.

When you are ready,

Complete your practice by thanking yourself for taking this time to connect deeply with your inner being.

Carry with you a sense of trust,

A connection to your divine worth,

And the peace that comes from letting go.

In these moments,

You practice a radical form of self-care,

And,

In turn,

This allows for a deeper expression of care for others and for Mother Earth.

Your Yoga Nidra is now complete.

We come in peace.

We go in peace.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti