Hello,
This is a meditation to make peace with your body for any reason at all.
So let's begin.
The first thing to do is just take a moment to create a sense of sanctuary for yourself.
A sacred space for yourself to come into a meeting with your body.
A meeting that's going to be honouring,
Respectful,
Peaceful.
So find a position that you can be comfortable in and where you can soften.
Soften into yourself.
Soften toward yourself and especially soften into your body,
Your form,
Your home.
And though it may take a while,
That's okay.
Just begin to feel yourself softening toward yourself and your body.
Maybe you can allow your breath to begin to soften and slow down.
Bringing you into this present moment with yourself,
As you feel your body naturally dropping toward the ground beneath you and releasing and settling.
Receiving the support there underneath you.
Simply allow the weight of your bones to give themselves to the earth.
Feeling the welcome of that earth that holds you,
Supports you unconditionally,
Needing nothing from you,
Making no demands on you.
Just glad you are here.
And that every part of you is welcome.
Meanwhile your breath continues to flow like a gentle tide,
Steady and calm and effortless.
And every breath brings you closer to yourself.
Now bring your gentle awareness to your body and as if you were asking a dear friend,
Ask your body,
How do you feel?
And simply receive whatever comes.
How do you feel?
You'll notice where your body is speaking to you,
Places where you may be feeling tension or tightness.
Maybe in your jaw or your belly,
Your shoulders or your lower back.
And you're not asking that to change,
You're just recognising and acknowledging that's there and that's okay because our bodies hold things for us until we give them permission to put them down.
And where do you sense ease now?
Maybe parts are beginning to relax and find home.
Perhaps there are other parts of your body that are feeling quite delightful.
So where are you sensing any delight in your body if it's there?
And where are you sensing ease?
What parts?
Pause.
Notice how you can be present with all of it.
With the tension and the tightness and the ease and the delight.
Notice how you can hold that space,
That container for all the energies of your body and let them all feel safe to be here just by being present.
That is compassion.
When you have a gaze,
An inner gaze that gazes into your body,
Maybe your gaze can soften and be a gaze of compassion.
Maybe your breath can be a soft,
Compassionate breath that reaches every part of you.
There's not a part of you that your breath does not reach.
So you can feel that compassionate breath traveling easefully and naturally into every part of your body.
Even the parts that are tricky for you to accept.
Even the parts you are not on good terms with.
Even the parts that are not feeling too good.
You can feel your breath moving also to the parts that you accept more readily.
Notice how your breath,
Your compassionate breath,
Accepts,
Nourishes and sustains it all with equanimity.
Releasing through any walls that are there,
Any resistance.
Times you've had to tough it out.
Times you've asked too much of yourself or too much has been asked of you.
Feeling your breath,
Your being softening through the walls,
Softening your face,
Softening your jaw,
Your skin,
Softening.
Feeling those times you've squeezed your body into shapes that aren't you and that don't give you enough room or space to be you.
Softening those times when you have argued with your body for not feeling great.
And focusing now on your exhalation.
Feel how that out breath washes through your body like a clearing wave.
And imagine that wave carrying away those old stories you've given to your body.
Those waves washing them away.
Carrying out of your body regret.
Washing away frustration.
Those waves clearing away grudges you've been holding against your body.
Feeling your breath,
Your awareness carry out of your body any shame or guilt.
These are ready to rise to the surface like debris.
Floating from the seabed to the surface,
Floating upward so that you can let them go.
Let them leave your body and feel lighter because they don't belong with you,
These energies,
And they don't do you good.
What does belong is this bond between you and your body.
You can always have a reunion with it,
With this honouring and reverence and respect that each of you holds for the other.
So doing that now,
Saying to yourself internally or whispering,
I see the ways I have neglected or mistreated my body.
I recognise the pain or discomfort I've caused.
And I choose right here to forgive myself.
Feeling how your body receives this acknowledgement.
Feeling how this acknowledgement is opening doorways within you.
Doors to forgiveness and building a bridge of peace.
I choose right here to forgive myself.
You understand that you did the best you could in these moments with what you knew,
With how you felt.
Allow yourself to soften and breathe into this understanding and let it fill you up,
Replacing any judgement or grudges.
Breathing into this understanding and expanding it into all areas of your being.
You've been doing your best with what you have.
You can always start again and have a reunion with your body.
Now place your hands gently on your body,
Maybe over your heart or your belly or both,
Wherever feels right for you.
Let whatever your body wants contact with you from you.
And in this gesture of tenderness,
Might you offer yourself some love.
Feel your hands connecting with your body as if they were offering comfort to a dear friend and whisper to yourself or say silently,
I forgive you.
I am here with you now.
I am learning to love and care for you in new ways.
I promise to listen to you more closely,
To honour your needs and to be kind to you.
You can breathe this promise into your body and let it sink deeply into every cell,
Knowing that this moment of forgiveness is a new beginning.
There's no need to rush the healing.
Each step forward,
Each breath,
Each moment can be an act of love and reconciliation.
Just take a few more breaths here,
Feeling especially into any lightness that has come with letting go.
Any warmth which is growing within you.
Know that your body is hearing you and responding to you and that it's always ready to receive your kindness and always eager for your love.
When you feel ready,
Slowly open your eyes,
Gently move,
Stretch,
As you're awakening to the next moment,
Know that you're carrying this forgiveness,
This commitment to gentle care,
This listening and respect for your body into the rest of your day.
You are learning,
Growing and healing and your body is with you every step of the way.
Thank yourself for doing this practice,
It's so special,
It's so important and I thank you too for blessing this space with me.
And I hope you'll join me again until next time,
Bye for now.
