Team Offsite Kickoff Practice With Connection Gratitude

This was recorded to support the kickoff of a team offsite. The five-part sequence flows with arriving, emotional check-in, intention setting, gratitude for the opportunity to be together, and then anchoring. This is a workplace variation of the Mindful Arrival practice.

Transcript

We'll begin by finding a comfortable posture.

Maybe taking a deep breath,

Letting the eyes close,

Or just lowering the gaze to minimize distraction.

Remembering to breathe.

Noticing the impact of the breath on the body.

Noticing the movement of the breath with the inhalation and the exhalation.

Noticing the support beneath us,

Whether that be the chair or the ground.

Perhaps noticing the gentle tether of gravity.

And if there's any tension or tightness,

Maybe in the forehead,

The jaw,

Or the shoulders,

Inviting a softening as best we can.

And from this place,

Noticing how we're feeling in this moment,

Naming the emotion silently.

Noticing how that emotion feels in the body.

And now let's align with our intentions for how we'd like to show up today.

Silently picking a couple of words that might be skillful.

These could be things like creative,

Present,

Engaged,

Vulnerable.

I'm just giving some thought starters.

The best teacher is already inside of you.

So what does this teacher have to say and offer you for this moment,

And for this time together?

Remembering to breathe.

Now let's take a moment for gratitude,

For this special opportunity to be together.

To share space,

To share presence,

To share ideas,

To connect,

To feel connected.

So begin to bring this short practice to a close,

Letting our attention rest on either our breathing or on sound,

Whichever is more comfortable.

You might notice sounds in the space,

Or even sometimes just the sound of silence.

Taking one last deep breath,

Beginning to bring some gentle movement to the body.

It's going to feel like stretching,

Twisting,

Turning.

Turning if the eyes were closed,

Letting them open,

And coming back.