Accessing A Place Of Calm During Stress And Anxiety

When life feels overwhelming, your breath can become an anchor back to yourself.

This guided mindfulness meditation uses intentional breathing and present-moment awareness to help quiet mental chatter, regulate your nervous system, and cultivate a lasting sense of calm. You'll learn to gently acknowledge distracting thoughts without judgment before returning your attention to the rhythm of your breath.

Whether you're beginning your day, taking a mindful break, or winding down in the evening, this practice offers a simple yet powerful way to reconnect with the present moment.

Transcript

For today's practice. I'll be guiding you through a mindfulness meditation. With a focus on our breath. Taking a moment to settle in and get comfortable. I invite you to position yourself however you feel the most supported. If you prefer to lay down, Stretch out and allow yourself to surrender and lean into the surface beneath you. If you prefer to sit, Sit up with a straight posture with legs crossed or your feet firmly planted into the ground. You also have the option to stand or walk if that feels most readily accessible to you. Resting your arms gently by your side or positioning them on top of your lap with your palms facing upward. Inviting you now to close your eyes if you feel safe to do so. If not, You can simply lower your gaze or softly focus on an object in front of you. Before shifting our breathing pattern. Bring awareness. To your breath. Notice its pattern. It's pace. Taking note of how it feels to you in your body. Inviting you now to take a deep inhale in through your nose. Filling up your lungs with air. Feeling your ribcage and stomach expanding. As you exhale, Slowly release your breath through your mouth. Feeling your ribcage and stomach. Now contract. For the next few moments, Continue breathing just like this. Inhaling and expanding. Exhaling and contracting. If you find yourself getting caught up in thoughts, That's okay. Our minds are supposed to think. Whenever you find yourself being carried away by these thoughts, You can say to yourself. Acknowledge the thoughts and release them. Returning back to your breath. Inhaling. . . Expanding Exhaling, Contracting. As we prepare to close out. I invite you to inhale as deeply as you can. Perhaps making this your deepest breath of the day. Notice when you reach the apex of this inhale. Sustaining your breath at the very top. Hold it. Relish in it. And slowly exhale through your mouth. Feeling your mind and spirit settling into a place of calm. From this place of calm, Returning now to your normal breath. And without moving from your position, Slowly attuning back to your room. Listening and naming what you hear. Or perhaps noticing what you can smell. If your eyes were closed or lowered. Gently float them open now, Noticing. What you can see around you. Invite gentle movement back into your body, Wiggling your toes or your fingers. And moving your body in whatever way feels most nourishing to you. Trusting and remembering. That you can return to this place of calm through your breath. Anytime you so desire.