Welcome and Happy New Year.
My name is Arlo and thank you for sharing this time with me.
As the new year emerges,
We may find ourselves caught in between.
Looking back,
While also looking ahead,
Examining who we once were,
Who we're unfolding into,
And who we hope to become.
My hope is that through this meditation,
We facilitate self-compassion and that we can arrive here through connection.
So,
Without critiquing or hyper-correcting ourselves,
We can instead be here now.
Without judgment or weightiness,
We can choose to let go in this moment.
And if you find yourself returning to sharp thoughts,
I invite you to return to the breath.
Finding a soft seat or perhaps resting your head on a pillow and allowing the earth to meet you where you are in fullness,
Let us begin.
Observing the inhale and the exhale with wonder.
Instead of changing or adapting it,
Here we are witnessing.
So frequently,
With good intent,
We hyper-correct ourselves throughout the day,
Throughout the week,
From moment to moment.
This can feel taxing and weighty and cause sharp thoughts to emerge.
And what if we went through our day to day with curiosity?
Letting go of shoulds,
Don'ts,
And inviting wonder.
Now that we've observed our breath for a few moments,
Maybe you've noticed a fuller inhale and a deeper,
Slower exhale.
Frequently,
We perform our tasks with shallow breaths.
If you find yourself overwhelmed or simply overstimulated throughout day to day tasks,
I invite you to witness the breath.
Knowing that even when we feel stuck,
We're constantly moving through the journey of the inhalation and the exhalation,
Filling the deepest parts of our belly until we reach the top of the rib cage.
Exhaling as if deflating a full balloon slowly and with great warmth,
Taking a hand to the belly and appreciating your body for all that you are,
All that's led you here,
And all that is becoming.
Reminding yourself that sharp thoughts come and pass as everything does in due time.
Allowing yourself to welcome more movement throughout the body in your hands and feet,
Wiggling the toes and fingers,
Nodding the head yes and no.
If you're lying on the floor,
I welcome you to softly push yourself up with softness into a seated position,
Bowing down in reverence to our teachers that have led us here,
To our ancestors who have led us here,
To ourselves,
To this space.
Thank you so much for sharing this time with me.
May the breath lead you wherever you may go.
A reminder that this tool is with you wherever you are and that you can always return to the breath.
Thank you.
Have a wonderful day,
Week,
Or evening wherever you are.
Thank you.
Thank you.
