Welcome to this relaxation practice to embrace new beginnings and staying grounded.
Begin by finding a comfortable alignment and position in a lying down posture.
Lying on the ground or the floor if possible.
In this lying down posture begin to let go of any tension.
And let your body take its natural alignment.
There is no physical effort needed at this time.
If you find it more comfortable you prefer to bend your knees up and have your feet flat on the ground into a semi supine position.
Then go ahead if that feels more natural for your spine alignment.
Otherwise any other laying down posture on your back if possible will be good.
Now start to feel the connection between your body and the floor beneath you.
Gain an initial sense of grounding and stability by noticing the ground under you supporting your body.
Continue to relax all of your muscles and your bones.
Surrendering the weight of your body downwards towards the ground.
Now begin to observe your breath.
Breathing in and out through your nose if it's comfortable or also feel free to use your mouth as well to breathe.
Breathe in whichever way is natural and comfortable for you at this time.
And then each time you inhale imagine that this breath was coming in through the whole of the back of your body from the earth.
And then when you exhale imagine that the breath is releasing back down towards the earth through the whole of the back of your body.
Continue to inhale through the back of your body and exhale let go of your breath through the back of your body down towards the earth.
Using this breath,
This breathing practice to connect with a feeling of stability and grounding.
Breathing in and out towards the earth through the back of your body.
Allow your breath to come a little bit deeper as you soak up that breath from the ground into your body.
And then send it back down into the earth with each exhale.
And then let your breath return to its natural way.
Letting that visualization of the breath's direction through the body fade for now.
We can also find a grounding and calm energy through being in the present moment.
We can softly locate the present moment by first briefly reflecting on the year that has just passed.
Be aware of the most positive times of last year or the year that has just passed.
But also be aware of the challenges and difficulties that you might have experienced in the past 12 months.
Have a feeling of acceptance for all that has occurred in your life in the past year.
And an awareness of how it has brought you to where you are today in these moments now.
Accept all of your past,
But then gently let it go.
Let the past go to find a little more space now in your mind to be in this present moment.
Keep letting go and bringing yourself back to the present moment.
Be here now.
You can continue to be aware of each in-breath and out-breath to help keep you in each present moment.
Remembering that being in the present moment is a practice.
Keep bringing yourself back to the here and now where you are today in this moment.
And then visualize the best version of yourself for the future.
From this day onwards,
This new beginning.
Perhaps ask yourself what mindset do you intend to have for your time ahead?
What kind of lifestyle might you move towards to be your best self going forward?
What might you let go of from the past to feel more freedom in the future?
And what positive habits might you create to find more health,
More joy,
More peace?
And more contentment into the future.
Manifest a calm,
Grounded version of your best self by visualizing this person you decide to be at this time of renewal.
As Waldo,
The philosopher from the 1800s said,
The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.
And with yoga practice,
Particularly relaxation and meditation,
We can give ourselves this time and headspace to think about what we want to be during this life on earth.
When we imagine ourselves in this way,
While we have the space and time in this relaxed state,
In this lying down posture,
We are more likely to be able to become our true desired selves.
Remember this idea of renewal and grounding and come back to it whenever you need to.
But just for now,
Let the idea fade and return your awareness to your physical body and back to the present moment.
Help yourself to do so by observing a few deeper breaths in and out.
In through your nose and out through your nose or use your mouth if that's more comfortable to breathe.
And notice your body on the floor,
On the ground.
And that connection between your body and the floor supporting you below.
Feel a sense of a fresh new start and a feeling of grounding and peace alongside.
To take you into a positive future ahead.
Continue to lie here and relax for as long as you need to.
And when that comes to a natural end,
Awaken yourself carefully and gradually with slow soothing movements.
Thank you for joining me for this practice.
I wish you peace for the rest of your day.
Namaste.
