Find somewhere quiet where you won't be disturbed.
This guided relaxation is best experienced laid down but you can sit if you prefer.
Choose whichever is most comfortable for you.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
In through the nose and out through the mouth.
If you can,
Lift your shoulders to your ears for a moment and then release them.
Feel the tension slipping away.
Bring your attention to your face.
If you're able,
Scrunch up your forehead,
Your eyes,
Your mouth.
Every muscle in your face and hold it for a moment.
And now completely soften and relax your face muscles.
Let your jaw drop to a comfortable position.
Now,
If you can,
Squeeze your fists,
Glutes and toes.
Hold again for a moment and then completely release.
As you relax your muscles,
Imagine any stress,
Tension or weight that you are carrying pouring out of your fingertips and toes back into the earth where it will be recycled and grow into something happy,
Light and new.
Now bring your attention to the support beneath you.
Imagine this support is a hammock.
On a beautiful sandy beach.
Gently rocking you from side to side slowly,
Slowly.
You are so relaxed.
It's quiet here and all you can hear is the soft swishing of the sea.
The tide.
Moving in.
And out.
And in.
And out.
You find yourself breathing along.
With the tide.
In.
And out.
And out.
You notice that the air is gentle and warm.
A soft sea breeze wraps around you.
Keeping you safe You slowly sit up and turn your body so that your feet meet the warm white sand.
You push your heels and toes further into the sand,
Feeling a deep connection to the earth that supports you.
You feel held and grounded.
As you take in your surroundings,
You notice a glimmer on the sea's surface.
Dancing and sparkling.
An invitation to dip your feet in the water.
You stand up and make your way towards the sea and stop where the gentle tide meets the golden white sand.
As the tide goes out you think of something that has been weighing heavily on you lately.
Something that you have been holding on to in your mind,
Your body,
Your spirit.
You direct this heavy weight down through your body.
Down.
Down through your legs,
Down into your feet and just as this heaviness reaches your feet you feel the cool sea water greet your toes and it draws some of this weight out of your feet and away with the tide,
Back into the sea.
This feels nice,
Safe and welcoming and so you take a few more heavy steps forward You watch as the tide returns to you,
Arms wide open,
Ready to help.
You feel the seawater go further this time.
It meets your toes,
Your arches,
Your heels and totally submerges your feet and ankles.
As it pulls back,
You feel it drawing out all of the remaining weight.
All of the heaviness.
Back into the sea.
Back into the earth where it will be reborn as something light and bright.
Feeling much lighter,
Almost weightless,
You smile.
You thank the sea and turn around.
Slowly making your way back to your hammock.
When you reach it,
You sit down and look around once more at this sunlit,
Serene,
Beautiful beach.
You feel light.
You feel peaceful.
You feel safe You can return here whenever you need to.
You lay back down into the soft material of the hammock.
You close your eyes and allow the hammock to rock you from side to side.
You let yourself drift into a deep sleep.
When you feel ready slowly open your eyes and in your own time become aware of the space that you are in.
Thank your mind and body for this act of self-care.
And carry this peace with you.
You
