Hey everyone,
Welcome to this loving-kindness practice,
Also known as META.
This practice involves sending compassionate wishes to ourselves and others.
And today we're going to tailor it towards the race experience,
Specifically for runners,
Triathletes,
Or really any event that you can partake in.
So this can be used at any time,
But for optimal practice,
We recommend practicing the night before a race or even the morning of.
So one of the reasons why I love this practice,
And especially practicing it right before a race,
Is because the racing community and the atmosphere is such a deep,
Loving,
Enriching experience,
And it's why we love to do what we do.
So through the racing community,
We motivate each other,
We're laughing,
We're struggling together,
We're learning from each other and helping each other out.
We're also competing against each other and making each other better.
So even though all different,
We all share common goals and we share this common humanity.
So this practice is one for us to capture this common humanity and to deepen and enrich our connection to everyone.
And we do that by sending wishes to ourselves and others.
So with this can be a great way to just enrich your overall experience and create a more joyful and heartfelt race overall.
So when you already begin to settle in and finding a comfortable position,
We can do this either sitting or lying down.
And settling in and making any adjustments that you need to prepare yourself for this practice.
You can think of finding a position that promotes relaxation,
But also allows you to be attentive.
And whenever you're ready,
Either closing the eyes or having a soft gaze.
And allowing this to represent that you are giving yourself permission to be here.
Shifting from our usual mode of doing to simply being.
And allowing yourself to settle into this stillness.
Maybe taking a few deeper than normal breaths.
And letting go on the exhale.
Just feeling what it's like to be alive right now.
No need to judge or analyze.
Simply noticing what is here.
Noticing the presence of the body.
Noticing what it's like in the mind.
Noticing thoughts.
Noticing our external environment.
It's without needing to change anything.
Just observing and allowing our entire experience to be here now exactly as it is.
And taking one deeper than normal breath.
And letting go on the exhale.
And we'll begin shifting our spotlight of attention to our compassionate practice.
We'll begin our practice by directing wishes towards ourself.
So sitting quietly and repeating and offering these phrases to yourself.
May I run happy.
May I run healthy.
May I run safe.
May I run with ease.
May I run happy.
May I run healthy.
May I run safe.
May I run with ease.
And continuing to repeat these phrases to yourself.
You might hold an image of yourself in your mind's eye.
And really feeling and allowing yourself to receive these wishes.
May I run happy.
May I run healthy.
May I run healthy.
May I run safe.
May I run with ease.
Don't worry about if you're doing this right or if you're feeling anything in particular.
Just notice those judgments and come back to repeating those phrases.
Taking one more deeper than normal inhale and breathing in and feeling all these wishes to embody.
And on the exhale feeling these wishes penetrate and fill every cell of your body.
We'll now begin to extend these wishes to our fellow racers and participants.
Silently repeating and offering these phrases.
May you run happy.
May you run healthy.
May you run safe.
May you run with ease.
May you run happy.
May you run healthy.
May you run safe.
May you run with ease.
And appreciating how each of us share this common goal.
And have been brought together at this particular time,
At this particular place,
On purpose.
For a common purpose.
May you run happy.
May you run healthy.
May you run safe.
May you run with ease.
Taking one deeper than normal inhale.
And on the exhale maybe seeing the warmth of your wishes almost like a fog or a mist.
Covering and spreading onto everyone participating and at the starting line.
We'll now extend these wishes to all of the spectators,
The volunteers,
People handing out food and water at the aid stations,
Everyone behind the scenes.
Repeating and offering these phrases.
May you be happy.
May you be healthy.
May you be safe.
May you live with ease.
And repeating those phrases silently to yourself.
If feelings of warmth or love or friendliness arises in the mind or body.
Connecting with that and allowing those to grow as you repeat the phrases.
May you be happy.
May you be healthy.
May you be safe.
May you live with ease.
Taking one deeper than normal inhale.
And on the exhale connecting to the feeling of warmth in your heart.
We will now extend these wishes to all of our fellow runners around the world.
From each city,
State,
Country.
Imagining all these millions of people that share this common experience.
And repeating and offering these phrases.
May you run happy.
May you run healthy.
May you run safe.
May you run with ease.
May you run happy.
May you run healthy.
May you run safe.
May you run with ease.
Repeating these phrases and letting these words expand.
Along with the sensations and feelings that arise within you.
And letting go of that practice and sitting with whatever sensations or feelings are present with you right now.
You may choose to savor this moment by breathing in these feelings or simply resting in stillness.
You may even offer yourself a compassionate gesture to yourself.
Such as placing a hand on the heart or on the face.
And offering yourself some sort of gratitude for practicing.
And offering any words that you may need to hear to feel complete.
An invitation to hold this intention of loving kindness and compassion.
And embodying this during the racing experience.
Maybe before,
During,
And or after.
Whenever you're ready,
Begin to wiggle your fingers and your toes.
Making any slight movements with your body to reorient yourself to the room.
Thanks for practicing.
Have fun out there.
