This is a short practice for when you may be feeling stressed,
Overwhelmed,
Out of sorts,
Or just need a moment for yourself.
Wherever you are,
Make yourself as comfortable as possible.
This practice can be done anywhere,
Even standing up.
Once you are settled,
Bring your attention to your shoulders.
The shoulders often carry a lot of tension,
Particularly during moments of stress and uncertainty.
As you notice your shoulders,
It may feel good to roll them forwards or backwards.
And once you have made them comfortable,
Say to your shoulders,
I give you permission to relax.
As you allow your shoulders to loosen,
Bring your attention to your belly.
There may be a knot or tension here in moments of stress.
The physical sensations often manifest themselves within the stomach,
Creating some discomfort.
Notice anything you can feel here and then say to your belly,
I give you permission to relax.
Next,
Bring your focus to your mind.
In moments like this,
The mind often runs in circles,
Analyzing and overthinking,
Exacerbating feelings of stress,
Fear and uncertainty.
Notice the thoughts,
Watch them run,
But just let them flow by you like water.
No need to get caught in the stories behind them.
Often when you allow your thoughts to move without engaging them,
You will find they start to slow,
To settle,
To shift into a more logical pattern.
You may even find if you stay here long enough,
That everything goes quiet and your mind becomes completely still and empty.
Allow this sense of calm and quiet to drift over you,
Settle you and you may find it helpful to say to your mind,
I give you permission to be still.
And if as you find yourself moving into stillness,
You notice that there are other parts of your body that feel tense,
Tight or uncomfortable,
Simply take a gentle awareness there and say to these places,
I give you permission to relax.
You can stay here in this stillness for as long as you like or as long as you have time for.
Finish this practice by bringing a gentle smile to your face,
Then continue on into your day.
