Breath

Welcome to this gentle mindfulness session which is based on the beautiful verse by Donna Martin in which the breath is expressed as life's teacher.

Each line is a practice in itself and may be adopted as such.

Each observance can be used as a daily mantra or affirmation or a simple mindfulness practice focusing on the movement and sensations of the breath's flow.

Sit or lie down comfortably and quietly in your special peaceful place so that you absorb the teachings,

Be guided through the practice and end it feeling refreshed,

Tranquil and content.

Take a few moments to settle,

Drawing in a series of long deep breaths in through the nose,

Out through the nose.

Feel the lungs fully as you breathe in and empty the lungs completely as you breathe out.

Deep quenching breaths.

Slow down,

Slow down.

Be aware of how you feel right now,

Right at this moment.

Slow down.

Know that when the breath is unstable,

Everything around you will be unstable.

When the breath is slow and steady,

So you will be.

Calm is strength,

Stillness is powerful and sometimes you may like to command the breath to slow down,

Keeping it full,

Steady and smooth,

Especially on the out breath.

When you inhale,

Feel the strength,

The richness,

The fulfillment,

Become aware of the absorption of the fresh,

Restorative air.

Then be aware that as you let go of the breath,

You cleanse and purify your body and mind,

Resting at the end of the breath in a state of contentment.

Breath is life's teacher.

Observe me,

Says the breath,

And learn to live effortlessly in the present moment.

Feel me,

Says the breath,

And feel the ebb and flow of life.

Allow me,

Says the breath,

And I'll sustain and nourish you,

Filling you with energy and cleansing you of tension and all fatigue.

Feel me,

Says the breath,

And I'll sustain and nourish you,

Filling you with energy and cleansing you of fatigue.

Move with me,

Says the breath,

And I'll invite your soul to dance.

Feel me,

Says the breath,

And I'll sustain and nourish you,

Filling you with energy and cleansing you of fatigue.

Make sounds with me,

And I shall teach your soul to sing.

Feel me,

Says the breath,

And I'll sustain and nourish you,

Filling you with energy and cleansing you of fatigue.

Follow me,

Says the breath,

And I'll lead you out to the farthest reaches of the universe and inward to the deepest parts of your inner world.

Feel me,

Says the breath,

And I'll sustain and nourish you,

Filling you with energy and cleansing you of fatigue.

Notice,

Says the breath,

That I am as valuable to you coming or going,

That every part of my cycle is as necessary as another,

That after I am released,

I return again and again,

That even after a long pause,

Moments when nothing seems to happen,

Eventually I am there.

Feel me,

Says the breath,

And I shall teach your soul to sing.

Feel me,

Says the breath,

And I'll sustain and nourish you,

Filling you with energy and cleansing you of fatigue.

Each time I come,

Says the breath,

I am a gift from life,

And you release me without regret,

Without suffering,

Without fear.

Feel me,

Says the breath,

And I shall sustain and nourish you,

Filling you with energy and cleansing you of fatigue.

Feel me,

Says the breath,

And I shall teach your soul to sing.

Feel me,

Says the breath,

And I shall sustain and nourish you,

Filling you with energy and cleansing you of fatigue.

Notice how you take me in,

Invites the breath.

Is it with joy,

With gratitude?

Do you take me in fully,

Invite me into all the inner spaces of your home,

Or carefully,

Into just inside the door?

What places in you am I not allowed to nourish?

What places in you am I not allowed to nourish?

And notice,

Says the breath,

How you release me.

Do you hold me prisoner in closed up places in the body?

Is my release resisted?

Do you let me go reluctantly or easily?

Do you let me go reluctantly or easily?

And are my waves of breath,

Of life,

As gentle as a quiet sea,

Softly smoothing sandy stretches of yourself,

Or anxious,

Urgent,

Choppy waves,

Or the crashing tumult of a stormy sea?

Do you let me go reluctantly or easily?

And can you feel me as the link between your inner and outer worlds?

Feel me as life's exchange between the universe and you.

The universe breathes me into you.

You send me back to the universe.

I am the flow of life between every single part and the whole.

I am the flow of life between every single part and the whole.

Your attitude to me,

Says the breath,

Is your attitude to life.

Welcome me.

Embrace me fully.

Use me now as you completely.

And set me free.

I am the flow of life between every single part and the whole.

Move with me.

Dance with me.

Sing with me.

Sigh with me.

Love me.

Trust me.

Don't try to control me.

I am the breath.

Life is the musician.

You are the flute.

And music,

Creativity depends on all of us.

You are not the creator nor the creation.

We are all a part of the process of creativity.

You life and me.

The breath.

You You And now bring your hands to your belly rest them there Feel the ebb and flow of the breath from deep down in your belly Through your hands up to your chest to your throat Draw the breath to the crown Fill your being to the brim Quench your thirst with this fresh cool healing inhale Rest as you expel this warm soft soothing exhale Abide in the sensuous flow of your breath In the words of Antoinette Foy Breathe deeply until sweet air extinguishes the burn of fear in your lungs and Every breath is a beautiful refusal to become anything less than infinite The breath The breath The breath This is Anne Marie wishing you peace and joy in every breath you take You