Hi,
I'm Miriam Amavi,
And we're here to do a really soothing and yummy rest practice or relaxation for when you feel tired,
Depleted,
Exhausted,
Or uninspired.
And I really want to emphasize that resting is something that we need in order to feel alive,
In order to process all the information that we consume during the day,
To process our feelings,
To feel like ourselves again,
To come to ourselves and rest is not something for when we have done everything else and we've checked off everything on our to-do list but it's really about learning to rest even when not everything is finished.
Because you deserve it and you're worthy of resting whenever you feel like resting.
Because life just feels so much better when we feel connected to ourselves and to our bodies and to the moment.
And for this practice you only need two pillows.
If you do have a couch you can put your feet or your legs on.
I invite you to do that.
You can just put something comfortable in front of your couch.
And then you can put your legs over the edge of the couch so that the edge meets kind of the insides of your knees.
And you can put a pillow underneath your head and have a blanket and wrap that around you.
If you don't have that or if you just don't feel like putting your legs up the couch.
You can also take two pillows.
And we're going to come into a butterfly or reclined butterfly pose and for that you can just put your feet together bring your knees onto these pillows so you're really supported here we want a lot of props you can also put a pillow underneath your head and always always always get a blanket even when it's warm get a thin blanket and wrap that around you and then just come to lie down on your back maybe on your yoga mat maybe on a carpet Get yourself as comfortable as you like to be,
Maybe fidget for a little bit.
And then you can also put something on top of your eyes if you do have an eye pillow or just like a clean towel just put that over your eyes and allow your hands to fall wherever they like to fall Maybe take a couple of deep breaths if that feels nice.
And let your body melt into the pillows and into the ground.
And it's okay.
If there are some thoughts.
That want you to be productive or to.
.
.
Do that other task.
And allow yourself to just be here and rest.
Maybe say to yourself,
I'm worthy of resting.
You will not lose everything when you take just a couple of minutes for yourself.
And just let yourself melt.
All your muscles melt.
If you like.
Let your face melt.
Let your tongue just be loose.
Maybe open your mouth slightly.
Let your shoulders just become really flat like a pancake against the ground.
May your arms and hands just be really heavy.
Your belly.
Relax.
It doesn't need to hold anything here.
Your hips can be heavy and maybe feel that really slight lengthening in the inner earth eye.
And feel how your knees are held here.
If you have your legs up the couch,
You can just feel how The couch is holding your legs.
And allow yourself to.
.
.
Just be here.
However you are arriving here.
Or that your thoughts are loud,
That's okay.
Whether your body is having sensations that are uncomfortable.
It's okay that they're here.
You're giving your body space to restore,
To heal.
Spee.
Not needing to function to fulfill anything right now.
Rest is not a luxury.
Rest is an essential for a grounded and happy and fulfilling life.
You Notice how the surface beneath you is holding you.
The earth is always there to catch you.
Feeling the warmth.
Of the pillows,
Of the blankets.
Letting your eyes be heavy.
Letting your muscles just hang loose.
From your bones.
That your whole body Be really happy.
You don't need to breathe deeply or anything like that.
Let your breath be what it wants to be.
Let your thoughts be what they want to be.
And just continue to let yourself melt.
An ice cream cone on the pavement.
In the midday sun on a hot day in July.
If you want to stay.
Just stay here.
For a while.
And if you're ready to continue with your day.
If you're lying on the floor with your pillows,
You can just gently stretch out your legs.
If you have your legs on the couch.
You can just gently roll your ankles and your wrists and then bring your knees towards your chest.
Lying in Shavasana here,
You can bring your knees also to your chest.
And maybe just gently rocking from side to side.
And then gently rolling onto one side.
Staying here.
With your awareness in your body.
And then with your upper hand.
Gently press into the floor.
Back up.
To just a comfortable seat.
And feel into your body here.
If you can notice how that moment of rest sinking into your tissues,
Your bones.
If you can feel some tingling,
How your relationship is to your body right now and to your life.
If you like,
You can give yourself a little hug.
And if you like you can start to do some gentle stretching,
Some intuitive movements to guide your nervous system back into this more active mode.
And I hope you can take a little bit of that calm or that rest with you into your day,
Into your evening,
Into your morning.
And if you like to go deeper in somatic work,
You can always check out my course,
Somatic Exercises to Soothe Your Nervous System.
For example,
If rest is just not easy for your body and there seems to be a lot of energy going on,
Be sure to check out that course and all my other exercises and courses and somatic meditations here on Inside Timer.
I'm Miriam Amavi.
I'm so glad we're practicing together and see you next time.
