
Grounding The Nervous System
by Bodhi Samuel
This breathwork will help activate our parasympathetic nervous system and put it to rest. Our nervous system is our house. Let us repair our house. This a more advanced breathing exercise, but remember that you are in control of your own meditation. You can govern your own breath when you find my counting too fast or too slow.
Transcript
Welcome,
Everybody.
Today we're going to do just a little bit of a more advanced breathwork practice.
Always remembering that you are in control of your meditation.
That if I'm counting too fast or too slow,
Please feel free to govern your own breath,
To govern your own counting,
Your own body,
Your own mind.
That's the beauty of being the masters of our own domain.
So we'll find a comfortable seated position,
Whatever that looks like for you.
Not so comfortable that we fall asleep,
But maybe comfortable enough that we're not in pain,
That we could sit for the next 10 or 12 minutes.
The breathwork that we're going to do is going to really help us start to let go,
Start to activate our parasympathetic nervous system,
Our rest and digest and heal nervous system.
It's like when our sympathetic nervous system is active,
When our fight or flight nervous system is active,
It's like we have to repair the house and we don't really have time to clean the house when there's so many people coming over and we're so busy.
We don't really have time to repair,
To fix the window that we've been meaning to fix,
To paint that wall we are meaning to paint.
It's only when we don't have anything in our schedule that we can really tend to the house.
So that's what this meditation will bring.
It'll just give us time,
Give our body time to dedicate resources to start patching up maybe that injured foot or leg or hip.
Our body is a healing machine and we are here to guide it.
The way this breathwork will work is we'll inhale for five seconds,
Five counts,
Hold for eight counts at the top and exhale for ten and then we'll go directly back into the inhale.
I'll count the first round and then it's up to you.
Let's take a deep inhale and exhale to clear the breath.
One more deep inhale.
Releasing.
Our next inhale will be for five counts.
Deep inhale.
Five,
Four,
Three,
Two,
One,
Hold for eight counts.
Seven,
Six,
Five,
Four,
Three,
Two,
One,
Exhale for ten,
Nine,
Eight,
Seven,
Six,
Five,
Four,
Three,
Two,
One.
We'll do one more deep inhale for five,
Four,
Three,
Two,
One,
Hold for eight,
Seven,
Six,
Five,
Four,
Three,
Two,
One,
Exhale for ten,
Nine,
Slow and controlled,
Seven,
Six,
Five,
Four,
Three,
Two,
One.
Inhale on your own time.
Continue your counting.
Notice the full expansion of the ribs and any changes in the body or the mind as you hold in the breath at the top.
They say the true self lies in between the inhale and exhale.
And slowly controlling the exhale,
The chest,
Then the stomach.
Finding your pace and your rhythm to keep the body calm,
To keep the mind calm.
Noticing the expansiveness of the body and the mind.
And as we continue this process,
The mind starts to quiet.
The heart starts to quiet.
The tension leaves the body.
Feeling softness arriving into the heart space.
An irradiance of serenity blanketing the body.
A gentle peacefulness.
Perhaps our physical body starts to disappear and fade into the background.
It starts to blend into the oneness.
Continuing this breath.
Softening the jaw,
Softening the eyes.
And just taking a moment to note.
To feel.
To heighten the feeling body to turn up this healing and feeling body.
What can you feel right now?
What is available and accessible to feel?
Maybe we can feel the tingling of energy up the spine or in the arms or a heaviness or lightness.
I want you now to imagine.
Imagine that you've dug a hole in the earth.
And you put blankets in that hole to keep it warm.
And you squeeze down in there and gently place earth on top of you.
Like a big hug.
A safe and gentle cocoon of the earth around you.
This warm and nourishing earth.
Anchors your feet and hips.
And caresses and nourishes you.
As you feel this deep and sense deepened sense of safety.
And in the distance you start to see a deer.
A quiet and graceful deer.
Walking over towards you and laying down next to you.
Just wanting to be in your presence.
To rest in your presence.
And you start to see other animals.
Rabbits.
Maybe a cat.
Come lay down next to your head and chest.
On this earth around you.
As the safety emanating from your heart and mind.
The gentleness and softness.
Can be sensed by other animals by other beings.
And like a magnet they're drawn to come rest near you.
A deep harmonious connection with this animal kingdom.
With this natural world.
And letting this imagery softly dissolve and fade to black.
We'll take two deep inhales to release.
Exhale.
Deep inhale.
And exhale.
Bringing our palms to heart center.
And start to notice your energy descending and grounding.
When we support others the universe supports us.
The enlightened in me sees and honors the enlightened in you.
The enlightened in me sees and honors the enlightened in you.
Namaste.
4.8 (2 673)
Recent Reviews
Ann
January 26, 2026
Perfect. Just the soothing meditation needed in this crazy, upside down world weโre living in. Thank you and namaste โค๏ธ
Robin
January 14, 2026
One of my Favorite meditations with Bodhi Sam ๐๐๐งโโ๏ธโโก๏ธ
Tracy
January 5, 2026
That was beautiful. It felt like a warm hug. I enjoyed the birdsong in the background and your voice guiding me. I have done a lot of breath work prior to this however this felt different - in a good way. Thanks ๐
Jenny
September 6, 2025
Love the calming effect your voice brings Thankyou ๐
Becca
June 1, 2025
Fantastic for grounding after an emotional day. I used this just before bed as I was still wired from my day. This has helped a lot to set me into a rest and repair set of mind, and a warm softness in my body. Very sweet visualisation as well. Feeling much more at peace.
Kim
May 1, 2025
Pure magic! Nothing was helping ease my anxiety. But this little meditation and breath work calmed me right down. Absolutely incredible. I will definitely be coming back to it. Thank you so much!!!!
Katherine
February 18, 2025
Such a kind and soothing voice perfect to begin my journey into the day. Thank youโฃ๏ธ
Nien
January 11, 2025
Perfect breathing exercise. I feel totally warm, comfortable and cloudy (like in fluffy) nice and calm. Thank you ๐๐ปโค๏ธโจ
Tanya
August 16, 2024
Another brilliant breathwork practice. Thankyou Bodhi ๐คฒ
Heleen
July 29, 2024
Wonderful exercise and visualisation. Very calming. Thank you ๐
Andy
April 2, 2024
Very calming and relaxing. Lovely meditation and I enjoyed the visualisation. Thanks ๐
Betsy
January 29, 2024
Lovely grounding meditation. Loved the visualization.
Michele
December 20, 2023
What a great way to start the day.....thank you ๐
Jody
November 29, 2023
Wow that was unexpectedly wonderful! My cat even came to join me during the โanimals join youโ part โ happiness ๐ฅฐJust splendid medicine after a challenging afternoon. Thank you so much!
Linda
October 23, 2023
Thank you! Just what I needed for a nervous system reset. Blessings. ๐
Silverback
October 14, 2023
So tranquil soothing & relaxed Much appreciated Namaste ๐๐ผ โบ๏ธ ๐ช๐ผโญ๏ธ๐๐ฟ
Violet
October 12, 2023
Thank you ๐๐ผ๐ I enjoyed making that part of my morning practice
Marie
September 27, 2023
I canโt even begin to tell you how much I love this meditation! So grateful to you! ๐๐ป
Jacqui
September 21, 2023
Your uplifting, joyous, calming voice is so pleasant. Thank you.
Katy
September 1, 2023
This was close beautiful. I loved the visualizations. Thank you.โฎ๏ธ๐โจ๏ธ๐ชท
