Calming The Nervous System & Finding Stillness

In this 12-minute guided meditation, we'll be practicing calming down the nervous system and relaxing into the present moment. We’ll pause, turn our attention to the body and the breath, and invite in the opportunity to realign with our senses and our true being.

The more we practice calming the nervous system and connecting with the breath, the easier we'll find it to incorporate these skills into our daily lives - giving us the opportunity to live with a greater sense of ease and mindfulness.

Transcript

Welcome back. My name is Laura and this is Cultivate Your Wellness. In today's meditation we're going to focus on calming down the nervous system. We'll pause, Turn our attention to the body and the breath and invite in the opportunity to realign with our intentions and our inner wisdom. Let's begin. I invite you to find a comfortable position, Any position that's right for you. This is our first opportunity in this moment to begin to listen. Listen to what our body is telling us. Listen to what we need right now. Deepening our focus by closing the eyes or softening your gaze and turning your attention to the breath. Taking in a slow and intentional inhale. Feeling the air entering your body. Expanding the chest and breathing out. Beginning to soften into stillness. Breathing in, Bringing some length to the spine, Some expansion to the chest. Breathing out, Relaxing the shoulders, Belly. Breathing in, Noticing any sounds, Any sensations. Breathing out, Letting go. Breathing in, Acknowledging the mind and its thoughts. Breathing out and setting the intention to let the thoughts pass by, To be in the present. Continuing to breathe at a rhythm that feels right for you. Let's continue by focusing our attention on the muscles of the face. Noticing if there is any tension there. The areas around your eyes, Your eyebrows, Your forehead. Seeing if you can relax those muscles just a little bit more. Perhaps you invite in a gentle smile as you invite your cheeks, Your jaw, Your tongue to soften and relax. Allowing the head to feel light, Floating gently at the top of your neck. Tilting your chin slightly forward and feeling the energy spill freely down your neck. Releasing your neck muscles, Letting the shoulders feel heavy. Feeling the sensation of letting go melt down your arms to your hands and fingers. Feeling them resting softly on the surface beneath you. This area of your body is so often in action. Right now it's time to rest. Noticing again any sensations in your body. Noticing the energy, Your blood flowing, Your nervous system calming down. Moving deeper into stillness and connecting again with the breath. Breathing into the body. Breathing into relaxation. Each inhale noticing. Each exhale letting go. Noticing any thoughts that may arrive. This practice is not about freeing the mind of the thoughts. It's about awareness. Not trying to fix or change anything. Just taking the opportunity to notice. Taking the opportunity to be right here, Right now. Remembering you always have the breath to reconnect within this moment. The breath is your superpower. Your foundation in mindfulness. I'll give you a few more moments to practice quietly on your own and I'll call you back when it's time. Connecting once again with the sound of my voice. Preparing to begin again in the world around us. Deepening the breath. Feeling the inhale expand the body and with the exhale letting go. Inviting in gentle movements and taking as much time as you need before once again opening the eyes. I thank you for taking the opportunity today for your practice. I'm honored for the opportunity to guide you. My name is Laura. Bye for now.