Palm Of The Hand

The really wonderful thing about this practice is that you can do it anywhere, anytime - you always have the palm of your hand with you! It's great for reducing anxiety in the moment when you notice it arising.

Transcript

This is an informal practice called Palm of the Hand. Open the palm of your hand. Take some time to take a good look at it, Noticing the slightly different shades of skin on your palm. Have you ever noticed that the skin on your palm wasn't exactly all one color? Now look closely at the lines on your palm, The creases. Notice how the creases might lead into each other, Or might have little creases coming from the bigger main creases. Notice the difference in coloration between the main creases, The little creases, And the rest of the palm of your hand. An experiment was stretching your hand out so that your fingers bend back slightly and the skin is stretched taut across your hand. Do you notice any changes in the lines on your hand when you do this? And how does it feel when you stretch your hand out like this? What sensations do you notice? And what happens when you hold this stretch for a few more seconds, Maybe even 10 or 15 seconds? And maybe try stretching it out even a little bit further. What do you notice now? Any other changes? What happens when you hold that stretch for a minute or more? Notice any thoughts coming up in your mind? Now relax your hand and let the fingers naturally curl slightly inward. How does this change the sensations that you can feel? How does this change what the palm of your hand looks like? And now relax your hand even more and see what happens to your fingers and your palm. Any changes in the color or the creases in your hand? And what about in your thoughts? Do you notice any new thoughts arising in your mind? Now with one finger of your other hand, Gently trace the lines in your palm. Notice the physical sensation that you're feeling. Keep your attention on the contact point where your finger touches the palm of your hand. What does that point of contact feel like? Just close your eyes and make slow circles with your finger around the surface of your palm, Keeping your attention on the sensation that you're feeling. When your mind wanders, Gently guide your attention back to the sensation of your finger on your palm. You may even want to add your fingers to the mix and notice what that sensation is like when you trace your palm down to the tips of each finger, All the way to those fingertips. You can do this for as long as you like. When you're ready, You can gently open your eyes. As you're doing this practice, You may have noticed that you weren't worrying and stressing so much. That's because you're staying in the present moment by using your senses, Your sense of sight and your sense of touch. Physical sensations keep you in the present moment and allow you to let go of drifting to the past or the future where worry and stress take place. Remember you can do this practice whenever you'd like, Whenever you start to feel tense or stressed, Just come back to the palm of your hand.

Reviews

Wonderfully interesting practice! Will work perfect during anxious moments and I can do it anytime and anywhere! Thank you!