Let's do a mindful awareness practice about slowing down.
So begin by finding a position where you could be relaxed most fully.
That might be staying seated where you are or allow yourself to lie down on the floor or even on your bed.
Finding a posture that helps you relax.
And once you're there you can begin by closing the eyes.
Knowing that with the eyes closed it can help us from being distracted by the things that we see.
And begin to consider what it feels like to know that you have the time and space to slow down.
Let's bring our attention to the body and notice what it feels like to be supported by whatever it is underneath you.
Whether it's the chair or the floor or the bed.
Tune in to the experience of your body being held and fully supported.
If it's helpful you can imagine yourself being like a strong tree held by the sturdiness of Mother Earth.
See if you can meet your body today like meeting a good friend,
Releasing any judgment or criticism and noticing sensations in the body with gentleness and kindness and care.
Allowing the body to settle here.
Breathing in and breathing out.
Breathing in and breathing out.
Knowing that there's nothing else you need to be doing right now.
Just allowing ourselves this time to pause and slow down.
Begin to inspect the area around your head and your face giving yourself full permission to relax with each out breath.
Continue to slowly move down towards your neck and your shoulders.
Again relaxing with each out breath.
Breathing down the arms,
Towards the elbows,
Towards the wrists and the hands.
Letting those busy hands settle.
Breathing in and breathing out.
Feeling the back and the belly.
And again with each out breath can you soften.
Allowing your body to sink deeper as if you were sinking into sand.
Breathing down towards the hips to the thighs,
The knees,
All the way down towards the ankles and across the feet to the toes.
Experience what it's like to allow the body to relax completely here.
Allowing the breath to move in and allowing the breath to move out.
When you're so often busy or in a hurry that it's a gift to explore what it's like to slow down,
To rest in stillness and simply allow yourself to just be.
Be you here just as you are.
Noticing what's happening right now.
Breathing in and breathing out.
Breathing in and breathing out.
Like the leaves in the wind allow any impulse or desire to get up and do something or go somewhere.
Let that just go.
Like the leaves gently blowing in the wind.
Resting the body in relaxation and stillness.
Breathing in and breathing out.
Breathing in and breathing out.
Breathing in and breathing out.
When you're ready we can slowly start to bring some sensation back.
You can wiggle the fingers and the toes,
Gently blinking the eyes open.
Taking a moment to stretch the body and slowly roll up onto your side,
Pushing yourself all the way back up to seated.
And just notice what it's like to move throughout the day knowing that you can take this time to slow down.
