Let's Take this moment to set intention for a mindful practice today.
Wherever you may be seated,
Make yourself comfortable.
Close your eyes and bring your awareness within.
Slowly breathing in,
Feeling every sensation of your breath as it enters your body.
Inhale and as you exhale slowly release not only the air but any energy that has been weighing you down today.
Let go of tension,
Worry,
Frustration.
Let it release as you slowly sink deeper and deeper into this beautiful presence and stillness.
Let it go.
Thank yourself for showing up today and taking this time for your well-being.
Welcome to another relaxation practice with me.
We will go through a forest visualization together.
It is a guided relaxation in which you imagine walking through a beautiful forest in the mountains.
Inhale deeply and exhale slowly.
Allow your body to begin to relax as you start to create a picture in your mind.
Let the forest visualization begin.
Imagine yourself walking on a path through a forest.
The path is soft beneath your shoes,
A mixture of soil,
Fallen leaves,
Pine needles and moss.
As you walk,
Your body relaxes and your mind clears more and more with each step you take.
Breathe in the fresh mountain air filling your lungs completely.
Now exhale,
Breathe out cold air,
Feeling refreshed.
Take another deep breath in,
Revitalizing and breathe out completely,
Letting your body relax further.
Continue to breathe slowly and deeply as you walk through the forest and continue the forest visualization.
The air is cool but comfortable.
Sun filters through the trees,
Making a moving dappled pattern on the ground before you.
Listen to the sounds of the forest,
Birds singing,
A gentle breeze blowing.
Leaves on the trees shift and sway in the soft wind.
Your body relaxes more and more as you walk.
Hold your steps and breathe in unison with your strides.
Continue to breathe slowly and deeply as you become more and more relaxed.
As you walk through the forest visualization,
Feel your muscles relaxing and lengthening.
Notice your arms swing in rhythm with your walking.
They become loose,
Relaxed and limp.
Feel your back relaxing as your spine lengthens and the muscles relax.
Feel the tension leaving your body as you admire the scenery around you.
Your legs and lower body relax as well,
Feeling free and relaxed.
As you continue to walk through the forest visualization,
You begin to climb up a slight incline.
You easily thread along smooth rocks on the path,
Feeling at one with nature.
Breeze continues to blow through the tree tops but you are sheltered on the path and the air around you is calm.
Small saplings grow at the sides of the path.
Around you is an immense array of greens.
Some of the leaves on the trees are a delicate,
Light green.
Some leaves are deep,
Dark,
True forest green.
Many trees have needles that look very soft and very green.
The forest floor is thick,
Green moss.
Small trees grow on either side of the path.
Picture the variety of trees around you.
Some have smooth,
White bark.
Others are darker with coarse,
Heavy bark,
Deeply grooved.
Enjoy the colors of the bark on the trees.
Light,
Tan,
Brown,
Red,
Black,
Many combinations of color.
You admire the rough,
Brown bark of pine trees and enjoy the fresh pine scent.
Smell the forest around you.
The air is fresh and filled with the scent of trees,
Soil and mountain streams.
You can hear the sound of water faintly in the distance,
The gentle burbling sound of a creek.
As you continue to walk through the forest,
You are gaining elevation and getting closer to the sound of a running stream.
Continue to enjoy the forest around you.
Enjoy the forest visualization.
As you near the top of the mountain,
You hear the stream very close now.
The path curves up ahead.
You can see sunlight streaming onto the path.
As you round the corner,
You hear the water and see a clearing in the trees up ahead.
A beautiful look out point awaits.
You are growing tired from your journey.
Your body feels pleasantly tired and heavy.
Imagine yourself walking toward the clearing and the stream.
Stepping stones make an easy path across the stream and toward the edge of the mountain.
Hop on each large flat stone to easily cross the small,
Shallow stream.
Up ahead is a large,
Smooth rock,
Like a chair waiting for you to rest.
The rock is placed perfectly high up on this beautiful vantage point.
Sit or lie down on the rock if you wish.
It's very comfortable.
You feel very comfortable and at ease.
The sun shines down on you.
Looking around,
You see mountains in the distance,
Faint and blue.
You can look down from your vantage point into a valley with trees and a brilliant blue lake.
Across from you is another mountain.
Clearing around you is made up of rocks,
Soil,
Pine needles,
Moss and grass.
Grass and mountain wildflowers around you blow gently in the breeze.
A deer quietly emerges from the edge of the forest to graze in the clearing.
As the deer grazes its head to look at you,
You can see its nostrils moving to catch your scent.
The deer cautiously walks to the stream to drink before disappearing back into the forest.
Squirrels dart in and out of sight as they romp through the trees and race across the clearing.
Feel the sun warming your body as you relax on the rock.
Enjoy the majestic landscape around you and feel your body relaxing even more.
Your body becomes very warm and very heavy.
Continue to breathe the clean,
Fresh air.
You feel so relaxed,
Calm,
At ease,
In unity with nature around you.
Enjoy the sights,
Sounds and smells of the forest around you.
Feel the sun warm on your skin.
Feel the gentle breeze blow across your cheek.
Listen to the birds singing.
Hear the stream flowing.
The leaves rustling in the breeze.
Squirrels chattering.
See the flowers,
Trees,
Valley and mountains around you.
Lay back on the comfortable rock and you can look up to see the blue sky.
Small white clouds float gently across the sky.
Watch them drift slowly by,
Shapes ever-changing.
Enjoy this peaceful place.
When you are ready to leave this peaceful place,
Slowly begin to re-awaken your body.
Know that you can return to this forest visualization in your imagination whenever you like.
As you re-awaken,
Keep with you the feeling of calm,
Peace and relaxation.
Wiggle your fingers and toes to wake up your muscles.
Shrug your shoulders.
Watch if you want to.
And when you are ready,
Open your eyes and return to full wakefulness,
Feeling alert and refreshed.
Thank you.
From my heart and soul to yours,
With all my love and gratitude.
Namaste.
