I will be guiding you through full body relaxation that can be used to welcome sleep or just relax from life's non-stop thoughts.
You will be guided through a series of stages that encourage relaxation.
Let's begin by lying down in a comfortable,
Quiet environment,
Keeping your eyes closed.
Follow the sound of my voice.
If at any time you drift to sleep or lose attention,
That's totally fine.
You may enjoy the relaxation you have allowed yourself to welcome.
And when your attention comes back,
Just come back to the sound of my voice and pick up from there.
We'll begin with a few deeper than usual breaths.
In the nose and out the mouth.
Blowing up our belly like a balloon and then releasing.
This type of breathing welcomes the parasympathetic nervous system and its ability to relax the whole body.
Breathing in and out,
Join me.
We will now do a progressive muscle relaxation.
And as I go through the body,
I'll be asking you to tense and release specific areas.
Beginning with the feet,
Tighten your feet as much as is comfortable on an in-breath.
And on the out-breath,
Release the tension completely.
Continue this as I go through the body.
Waist.
Front chest area.
Thighs,
Tense,
Release.
The entire head again,
Tense and release.
This next stage is to breathe backwards.
You'll be counting mentally.
One number on the in-breath,
Next number on the out-breath.
We will now send wonderful light from our hearts to all people and beings around us.
Think of all the people in the world that you love.
And imagine sending them the golden light that you have pouring through your heart.
Dad,
Your sister,
Your brother,
Your friends,
Your teachers,
Everywhere.
Now think of all the people in the world who could use some extra light in their lives.
And send it to them.
May all beings be light and wellness back to you while you send it to them.
Breathing into your belly,
Feel that light coming out and coming in.