Welcome.
Today we embark on a journey of deep rest,
A sanctuary for healing and recovery from burnout.
Burnout is a state where your system has given beyond its means,
Leaving us depleted of energy and emotion.
In this meditation,
We acknowledge the toll burnout has taken on our being,
And we offer a gentle respite.
A moment of much-needed rest in the ongoing journey of healing.
Rest,
In this essence,
Requires release,
And today we shall prepare the ground for letting go.
Letting go of that which has caused stress and suffering.
Together,
We embark on this healing journey where rest becomes a balm for the wounds of burnout,
A sanctuary for recovery.
And a gentle cradle for the spirit seeking solace.
As you find a comfortable seat to your lying position,
Gently close your eyes.
Begin by taking a deep breath in through your nose,
Feeling the coolness of the air,
And exhale through your mouth,
Releasing any tension.
Turn your attention inward.
Allow the rhythm of your breath.
Allow the breath to dance with the rhythm of the universe.
We are the energy of the universe,
And it is us.
Today,
We connect with this energy and the power of its stillness.
Inhale deeply through your nose,
Feeling the air expand your belly.
And exhale slowly through your mouth,
Releasing any lingering tension with the breath.
Now,
Journey to your toes,
Those humble anchors grounding you to the earth.
In this moment,
Acknowledge their presence.
Inhale,
Inviting the breath to cradle your toes.
And as you exhale,
Envision a cascade of tension melting away.
Allowing your toes to soften and relax.
Feel the subtle ripple of relaxation.
Feel the subtle ripple of relaxation spreading through the soles of your feet,
Connecting you to the nurturing embrace of the earth.
Shift your awareness to your ankles,
Gatekeepers of your foundation.
Inhale,
Directing the breath to these joints.
And exhale,
Visualizing a gentle wave washing away any stress,
Leaving behind a sense of ease.
As you ascend to your calves,
Become aware of the breath nourishing these sturdy pillars of support.
Exhale,
Releasing any strain or fatigue stored in the muscles.
Picture the breath as a revitalizing current,
Clearing away any remnants of stress.
Now,
Move to your knees,
Intricate hinges connecting the upper and the lower.
Inhale,
Allowing the breath to penetrate the knee joints.
And exhale,
Allowing the stiffness to dissipate.
Sense the gentle embrace of ease settling into your knees.
Continue upward into your thighs,
The powerhouse of our movement.
Inhale deeply,
Feeling the breath expand the muscles.
And exhale,
Surrendering any lingering tension held in the thighs.
Let this breath be the soothing balm,
Just softening the fibers.
Shift your focus to the pelvic area,
Our seat of stability and balance.
Inhale,
Directing the breath to the pelvis.
And exhale,
Releasing any tightness or discomfort.
Feel the gentle sway of the breath,
Creating openness in the pelvic region.
Come upward to your abdomen,
Home of all our vital organs that work without us even knowing.
Breath in,
Envisioning the breath nourishing your organs.
And exhale,
Allowing them to rest.
Feel the warmth and the relaxation spread through your abdomen,
Like a comfortable embrace.
Now,
Up into your chest,
The sanctuary of your heart.
Inhale,
Feeling the breath expand the chest.
And exhale,
Letting go of any constriction or tightness.
Imagine the breath as a gentle wind,
Just clearing away clouds of stress.
Leaving your chest open and light.
Shift your attention to your shoulders,
The guardians of burdens.
Where we carry all the weight.
As you inhale deeply,
Just gently lift the shoulders.
And exhale,
Allowing them to drop,
Relax.
To release.
Feel the weight of the day melting away,
As you soften the shoulders.
Travel down to your arms.
Inhale,
Sensing the breath flowing through your arms,
All the way to your hands.
And exhale,
Letting go of any tensions in the muscle.
And allow the breath to carry away all of the accumulated stress.
And your arms rest.
Send the breath directly all the way to your hands,
To the tips of your fingers.
And as you breathe out,
Allow them to relax completely.
Hands,
Fingers,
Resting comfortably.
Feel the gentle warmth and openness in your hands.
Bring your awareness to your neck,
The bridge between body and mind.
Inhale,
Envisioning the breath softening the neck muscles.
And exhale,
Releasing any tightness or strain.
Take note of any tension in the front of the neck,
Where our throat chakra lives.
It's an indication that you have things to say.
Something to let go of.
Let it sit and let it be.
And let any emotions just come in and be.
Finally,
Let's move up to the head,
To the crown.
Inhale deeply,
Allowing the breath to clear away any mental fog or tension.
And exhale,
Letting go of the thoughts that may weigh you down.
Releasing the tension in our mind's eye.
Letting go of our jaw,
Our nose,
And letting our brain rest.
Take a few minutes to appreciate the relaxed state of your body.
This heaviness blankets us.
And we rest.
Let's take a deep breath in.
Feeling our whole being fill with peace and light.
And exhale.
Letting go of any lingering traces of stress.
Allow this breath to be the bridge connecting your body and mind.
In a state of deep relaxation.
May the peace cultivated within your body radiate outward and carry this sense of relaxation with you as you re-enter the world.
And today,
Take with you that each breath lies the potential for release and renewal and freedom from suffering.
