Hi friends,
Welcome to your meditation.
My name is Amber and today I have a warm and cozy practice to help you get through a long winter.
So grab your tea and your coziest blanket and let's jump in.
All right friends,
Here we are.
I've got a candle and the fireplace going in the background and I have a cup of tea here as well.
Let's settle into a comfortable seated position,
Maybe sitting on a pillow on the ground or in bed with the covers over your legs.
If you have a blanket,
You might put it on your lap or drape it across your shoulders.
And we'll begin with the eyes open today,
Just kind of gazing around the room where you are,
Letting the eyes adjust to the light and noticing what objects are here in the room with you.
Noticing the colors and and the shapes,
Starting to feel yourself arrive here.
Gently closing the eyes now,
Invitation to set an intention for your practice.
I find that setting an intention actually changes the way that my practice goes and your intention should be as personal to you as possible.
It might be to to allow yourself to rest or to really savor the coziness of the present moment.
Or perhaps it's as simple as not fighting what's here and being okay with what is.
Bringing attention to your breath now,
Noticing your inhales and your exhales.
And on your next inhale,
Notice how the breath nourishes the body as it flows from your nose into your lungs and the rest of the body.
And then as you let that breath go,
Either through the nose or the mouth,
Feel a sense of release and relaxation go through the body,
Letting the breath rinse through the body like an ocean wave on a beach.
Here in the Pacific Northwest where I live,
The winters are long,
Cold,
And rainy.
And when the weather's like this,
I start to feel myself naturally crave more rest and a slower pace.
I love a luxurious slow morning with a hot shower and a big breakfast.
Right now,
I'm really loving avocado toast with some slices of orange on the side and a whole French press of earl grey tea.
I'm journaling more and meeting up with my friends at coffee shops.
But you know,
The winter isn't always nice and cozy.
It can actually be really challenging at times,
Especially if you've got a job or other responsibilities that require you to move at a faster pace than your body and mind naturally want to at this time.
It can be really hard to get out of bed when it's dark and cold or leave the house when it's raining and snowing and you feel like you haven't seen the sun in days or even weeks.
So what I think really makes the winter bearable and sometimes even enjoyable is really savoring the small things,
Even if it just takes 10 seconds here and there throughout your day.
You know,
Feeling the warmth of your coffee cup in your hands in the morning,
Paying attention to how a pot of soup smells when it's bubbling on the stove,
Or really listening to the sound of the rain falling outside.
So I invite you to savor this moment right now,
Wherever you are.
Really notice what's around you and how you're feeling right now.
And perhaps if you've gotten distracted and started thinking about something else,
Come on back,
Savoring this present moment,
This little pause.
Now as we come to the end of today's cozy meditation,
Give yourself one last movement of your choice.
If you enjoyed this meditation and it helped you feel a little bit cozier,
Please leave me some feedback below and I look forward to seeing you again next time.
