The intention of this meditation is to identify and release any physical and emotional pain you may be experiencing.
Pain is an indication that our system has been overwhelmed and asked to work beyond its normal capabilities.
So let's ask ourselves,
What has this area of your body been asked to do?
Why does it need to work so hard?
Is it carrying the weight of something else,
Physical or emotional?
Asking these questions allows us to explore our pain with curiosity,
Without expectations or attachment.
The Yoga Sutras at Penanjali refers to eight limbs of yoga,
Each limb offering guidance of living a life of peace.
The Yamas are one of the eight limbs and includes five principles that guide us through life.
One of those principles is non-attachment.
So today we will apply this practice of non-attachment to our physical pain to help us separate who we are from the body we live in.
Honoring the body,
Its journey,
The weight it has carried,
The injuries that it has developed,
Help us find understanding understanding,
Kindness,
And compassion towards ourselves.
And we can begin to feel gratitude for our body and how it has allowed us to experience a unique life all.
So let's begin.
Find a comfortable spot to sit or lie down and provide support to the areas of your body that need it.
Start by bringing your awareness to your breath.
Don't try to manipulate it,
Just notice it.
Let it be.
Become aware of the feeling of air as you breathe in and out through your nose.
Feel the coolness move in and your chest rise as the air moves through your lungs.
Feel the breath as it moves from your chest.
Feel the breath as it fills the space in your body,
Bringing life and energy to each cell.
And as the breath moves out,
Let it carry the tension with it.
Let's just focus on this exchange for a minute.
Bring your attention to your right big toe.
Can you feel it?
Really feel it?
Where does your toe end and the air begin?
What does the air around it feel like?
Is it cold?
Is it warm?
Do you have a blanket or socks?
What does that feel like?
Where does your toe end and the sock begin?
Move your attention up to the right foot.
And again,
Try to identify where your foot ends and the air around it begins.
Is there a line?
Or does it just seem to fade into the air around it?
Just take note with curiosity and discovery.
Shift your focus to your left big toe.
What does that one feel like?
Can you feel the space around it?
Really focus in and slowly move your awareness up to your foot.
Bring your awareness now to your ankles and your calves.
What do those feel like?
Where does your calf end and the blanket begin?
Move up to the knee,
Front of the thigh,
Back of the thigh.
Move this interest to your hips,
Through your pelvis,
Into the low back.
The source of so much strength and power.
What does that feel like?
Move up to your torso.
Feel your organs.
Is your liver working?
Kidneys?
Stomach?
Your body is always working,
Constantly healing and repairing and building.
What does its energy feel like?
Move up into your chest and feel your heart.
It's soft and constant,
Dependable.
Move your awareness to the shoulders.
Down the arms.
Into the hands and the tips of your fingers.
Really feel.
Move your awareness to the back of your neck,
Into the jaw,
Around the mouth,
The nose,
The eyes,
The ears.
Did you know your face has over 40 muscles?
Can you feel them?
Bring your awareness to the top of your head.
Let's take a deep breath in through your nose,
Really filling in the lungs.
And let it all gently move the breath into an even cadence.
Breathing in for a count of four,
Breathing in for a count of four,
And out for a count of four.
Breathe in,
One,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Breathe out,
Two,
Three.
Set your own pace,
Just make it even.
Let's do five breaths,
Just like this.
Remember that each cell in our body breathes.
And as you breathe in,
Send this breath and its energy.
Let's start with the feet.
As you breathe in,
Send energy to the feet.
And as you breathe out,
Allow your feet to become heavy and rest.
Breathe into the calves and out,
Letting them rest.
Into the shins,
Let them rest.
The knees,
The thighs,
The back of the thighs,
Hips,
Pelvis,
Back,
Organs,
Let them rest.
Chest,
Heart,
Arms,
Hands,
Neck,
Mouth,
Jaw,
Nose,
Eyes,
And head.
Let your brain rest.
Feel it be heavy and let it rest.
Let's bring our awareness to any remaining discomfort.
Where is it?
How does it feel?
Let's focus on this one spot.
This time,
Bringing our awareness to the space all around us,
And imagining that we are surrounded by a white healing light.
And this light brings energy.
With each breath in,
Invite this energy into your space,
And allow it to move through this area of discomfort on your exhale.
Visualize this energy as waves of light moving through this area,
Replacing the pain with light healing energy.
It's in constant motion.
When you're ready,
Slowly bring your awareness back from the space,
Back into your body,
Back into your realm.
Take a deep breath in,
Feeling the cool air moving in,
And let a deep breath out,
Feeling the warmth move out.
This meditation may stir up some thoughts and feelings,
So take some time and just observe them,
Writing them down,
Putting them in a safe place,
Letting them be.
Be kind to yourself as you do.
You've just taken time for yourself,
And that,
That is an act of love.
Take a moment to thank your body for being with you through this experience,
And all the work it does to keep us healthy and strong and experiencing life.
One deep breath in,
One deep breath in,
And let it all the way out,
Carrying the sense of peace with you throughout your day.
