Hello and welcome.
Today's practice is all about allowing ourselves to receive pleasure.
This is a very short practice and I invite you to do it in whatever position is comfortable for you.
So you may want to sit in a chair or sit against the wall or sit cross-legged on the ground.
We're just going to begin to allow whatever is on our minds from our day or anything that's coming up to just fall down to the earth.
Allowing the busy brain to take a break.
We're going to begin to focus on the breath.
Breathing soft,
Steady,
And deep into the belly and exhaling slowly and completely.
And as you continue this breath,
Just allow the shoulders to soften.
Bring your attention to the hands and notice if you're holding anything there,
Any tension.
Consciously let it go.
And then bring your attention to the feet.
Feel through the toes,
The bottoms of the feet,
The tops of the feet.
And just release any tension.
Allow your body to become receptive to the positive energy,
To the sense of pleasure that we can cultivate at any time.
As you continue to breathe here,
I'd like you to imagine what it is that brings you pleasure in your life.
It may be a particular relationship,
But it may also be something very small.
A morning ritual.
The times that you take to practice self-care.
It may be when you're walking in nature or giving yourself permission to take a little time to just unwind at the end of the day.
Sinking into a comfy chair,
Reading a good book,
Or watching your favorite show.
Whatever brings you true pleasure.
Imagine yourself in one of these situations and just notice the feeling.
Notice how your body responds when you're totally relaxed,
Totally receptive,
Open and willing to receive.
And as you imagine these small moments,
See if you can think of more.
More instances in your life.
Perhaps singing to the radio as you drive.
Listening to your favorite song,
Dancing alone in your room.
Snuggling with your pets,
Snuggling with your spouse or significant other.
Whatever it is,
Just imagine and bring that sense of pleasure to mind.
Now I invite you to consider how you can cultivate the sense of pleasure,
This softness in the body throughout your day-to-day life at different times.
Imagining how you can create more room for tiny pleasures in your life.
This may be something simple like taking a little extra time in the morning or spending a little more time alone or with people who nourish you and make you feel good.
It may be allowing yourself a certain ritual.
It may be lighting candles or sitting in meditation.
Whatever it is,
Try to think of a few examples,
A few ways that you can begin to infuse your day-to-day life with a little more pleasure.
Keeping in mind that the more you allow pleasure into your life,
The more you soften into it,
The more you breathe into it,
The more you are able to then find a sense of equilibrium,
A balance to the go,
Go,
Go and the stresses of life.
Allowing yourself a sense of pleasure is nothing to feel guilty about,
But rather,
It's something that will help to strengthen you,
To balance you.
Now,
Bring your attention back to your breath and really cultivate the sense of pleasure right here,
Right now,
Softening through the body,
Feeling the culmination of all the things that bring you joy,
That stimulate this sense of openness,
Of receptivity.
Take a nice deep breath,
Filling the body and as you exhale,
Exhale through the mouth slow.
Blink your eyes open,
Look around the room,
Allow a gentle smile to cross your face.
Beautiful job.
Thank you so much for practicing with me today.
I wish you well.
