The two words that I'm about to say hold a very different meaning.
And are very poignant this morning,
For me at least.
So.
.
.
I encourage you to simply close your eyes.
And say to yourself,
Words slow down.
Slow down.
And allow your body to lead.
There's no need to control anything right now.
There's no need to force anything.
Just simply say slow down.
What we'll do is to help that slow down as we'll take A short breath in through the nose will hold it through the top.
And a long exhale.
We'll do it on a count of three.
Five.
And seven.
Inhale for 3,
Hold for 5 and exhale for 7.
Inhale through the mouth.
Through the nose.
One.
To.
And hold fire.
3,
2,
1.
One,
And exhale through the mouth.
Team.
Last time.
Inhales through the nose.
And hold for five.
Two.
One,
And exhale.
Bye.
And allow your breath now to fall into a gentle cadence.
Free from your control.
And allow your body to heal.
Breathe in.
Lean in today.
As yourself.
Whether it's the morning,
Whether it's the evening,
Whether it's the afternoon.
Be you.
Not as a role,
Not as a responsibility,
Not as what everyone else needs you to be,
But simply as yourself.
We don't need to start the day in a hurry.
The lists can wait.
The emails can wait.
Requests we can wait.
Just in this moment allow yourself to be with yourself.
Start the day with you.
The full,
Glorious,
Anchored,
Grounded.
Begin today gently.
Begin in the present.
The beginning of the heart.
The gut.
In this moment.
In this now.
Coming home to self.
Starts at the beginning.
Not at the end.
Just allow your breath.
To let that seed that we plant at the beginning of this practice grows.
You There's nothing that you have to do.
Nothing you need to control.
Know where you need to be.
Nobody you have to speak to.
Just simply slow down.
Allow that act to do the work.
Allow those words to be the anchor.
In the schooling.
Feel the weight of it.
The warmth of it.
Quiet aliveness within your body.
Feel your body in relation to everything around you.
The first surface beneath you.
Pillow cushion.
Whatever it is that holds.
At home.
And simply be.
Simply be.
Be here,
Be now.
Be you.
Present in this moment.
I'm here I am now.
Present.
And as you do that,
Feel the rise.
I am here.
I am now.
I am present.
Now would you bring focus and attention to the paws?
That slight gentle pause that takes place between the inhale and the exhale.
In there,
Let that be your day today.
Frame your day.
And just notice the silence in that pause.
That moment of presence is with us all.
We just never think or look or seek it.
And that pause is the present moment.
Let's take a deliberate breath together,
So one slow breath in.
This is you.
This is you before the world shapes you.
For the rules claim you.
Today guides and directs.
And that pauses you.
You ask yourself.
One question.
And before you ask that question,
I want you to place your hand.
Where your hand naturally gravitates to this morning.
Don't think,
Just place.
I want you to sit for a moment with this one question.
Of your mind.
But for your body.
What do I want?
What do I want today?
That part that you've connected to with your hand.
Allow it to answer that question.
Free from control of your mind.
Simply allow it to speak.
Whatever that want is,
Welcome.
Allow it to fold into the shape of the day and give yourself permission.
To trust.
And to lit that word like a beacon.
Shining from a lighthouse.
In a fog-filled sea.
Allow that word to guide you.
I want you to place your other hand on your heart.
If your hand was on your heart,
Place the other hand and put both hands on your heart.
Deep breath in.
Place that we're in.
In your own space.
Allow it to mold the shape of your day,
Your week.
As we bring this practice to a close,
Allow that energy connection to flow.
From that part.
Through your arms,
Through your body.
To your other arm.
Connecting through your hand.
See you out.
No need to think,
Just simply allow.
I'm going to take two deliberate breaths and inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth.
And the second exhale,
We'll gently open our eyes.
So inhale through the nose.
Exhale.
Warmth in the room for yourself coming back to the space.
Inhale through the nose.
Exhale through the mouth.
Your eyes.
And bring yourself up to practice.
Thank you.
Deep bows to you all.
I wish you all a pleasant.
.
.
Day.
Whether it's ending.
Good night.
Beginning.
Good morning.
If you're in it.
Good afternoon.
Thank you.
And all the best.
