There are many things that will manage long-term pain and discomfort.
We can watch what we eat,
Moving foods to cause inflammation.
We can limit our physical activities.
But remember that movement is good for our bodies.
We take long,
Hot baths to soothe away the pain.
But there are two methods that are often overlooked.
The first is relaxation.
When we're stressed,
Worried,
Or anxious,
Our bodies are all tense,
Adding to our discomfort.
The second method is distraction.
We're keeping our mind occupied with thoughts or activities,
So we don't have time to consciously think about how our body is feeling.
For the next few minutes,
We'll combine relaxation and distraction and learn how to use these tools to help you ease into a life of physical comfort and grace.
So if you're ready,
Relax,
Get comfortable in a quiet area,
Either sitting up straight or lying down with your arms by your sides.
Now close your eyes and let the troubles of the day go.
Notice your breath in and out,
Breathing deeply and slowly,
Just breathing in and out.
You're becoming more comfortable.
As you breathe and continue to relax,
See yourself on a beautiful beach.
A beach you have all to yourself because you are taking time to be by yourself.
Some alone time for healing and rejuvenation.
Feeling your senses,
Take in all that is at the beach.
Hear the sound of the surf as it gently rolls in and the seabirds as they fly overhead.
Smell the fresh scent of the sea with its crisp,
Salty aroma.
See the beautiful blue skies,
The soft white sand and the deep blue of the water.
Feel the warmth of the sun and the supporting sand beneath you.
Just take it all in and relax.
Now as you lay here on the beach with a gentle breeze to keep you comfortable,
Feel the healing power of the ocean as the sea washes over your body,
Filling it with peace and relaxation.
A sensation of wholeness and comfort.
You feel it first in your toes,
They relax.
Then moves over your feet and into your heels.
The healing sensation moves up through your legs,
Relaxing your calves,
Your knees,
Your thighs and into your hips.
Continue to lay there,
Peaceful and serene as the healing sensation of wholeness and comfort move up to your lower back,
Around your kidneys,
Your abdomen,
Up to your lower rib cage,
Moving up your rib cage to your shoulder blades and into your shoulders themselves.
It's very freeing to have your back and shoulders ease into total comfort.
Now the healing sensation moves through your upper arms,
Your forearms,
Into your wrists and into your hands and fingers,
Leaving them all relaxed.
Now the healing sensation moves into your neck and throat,
Then up into your chin and across your face.
The sensation relaxes your cheekbones,
Your eyelids and your scalp.
Your entire body is now tranquil and relaxed.
You may want to come back to this feeling of comfort and relaxation in the future.
You can return to this feeling anytime you like,
Simply by touching your left middle finger and thumb together.
Do that now to lock it in.
Touch your left middle finger and thumb together.
Now anytime you like,
Simply touch your left middle finger and thumb together and return to the feeling of wholeness and comfort that you are feeling right now.
So for now,
Be still,
Bask in the moment and cherish this time of peace and tranquility and know that in the future you can easily come back to this feeling anytime you like.
You control what you feel and when you choose to accept it,
Live with your body,
Being comfortable and fully supportive of your life and your activities.
Know that your true nature is that of health and wholeness.
Now rest in this place and enjoy the music for another moment or two.
