Find a comfortable seated position where your spine is tall and not rigid.
Let it feel natural.
Let yourself feel supported.
And gently close your eyes.
Placing a hand on your heart and a hand on your belly,
Take a slow,
Steady breath in through the nose and exhale soft through the mouth.
Again,
Inhale and exhale,
Letting your shoulders soften and let your jaw settle.
As you continue to breathe,
Feel your chest and your belly rise on the inhale.
Soften on the exhale.
Nothing to force,
Nothing to fix.
Just breathing.
Today's practice is rooted in care.
Care for ourselves.
Care for black mothers.
And as you sit here,
I invite you to remember you are not meant to carry everything alone.
There is strength in community.
There is healing in being seen,
Supported,
And heard.
And this space is here for you to be held.
So bring awareness to your heart and imagine a steady warmth there.
A quiet,
Grounding presence.
And with each breath,
Let that warmth expand.
Soft,
Steady,
Supportive.
And today we honor connection.
We honor the voices,
Stories,
And experiences that deserve to be listened to and respected.
We honor the mothers,
The women,
The families,
The communities that continue to show resilience,
Strength,
And love.
And as you breathe,
You ask yourself gently,
What does support feel like in my body?
Just pause.
Notice.
There's no right answer.
What would it feel like to not have to do it all alone and to be supported?
Let your body respond before your mind does.
There is space for you.
Space for you to soften and to receive.
Space to simply be.
There is space here for you.
Now in your mind's eye,
You picture yourself.
Not how you think you should be,
But exactly as you are.
Whole.
Worthy.
Join me.
And repeat quietly to yourself.
I am supported.
I am not alone.
My voice matters.
My experience matters.
Care is my birthright.
We are stronger when we care for each other.
Take a deep breath in.
And a slow breath out.
We take a moment here to honor Crystal.
Her life,
Her impact,
And the love that continues through her legacy.
Take a deep breath in.
And a slow breath out.
Pull your shoulders gently back and down.
And keeping your eyes soft,
Wiggle your fingers and your toes and begin to bring awareness to the body.
And one more full breath in.
And a slow exhale out.
When you're ready,
Gently blink your eyes open.
Take with you this reminder that care exists.
Support is possible.
And we're not meant to do this alone.
In honor of Crystal and in recognition of Black Maternal Health Week,
May we continue to show up with care,
With a sense of awareness,
And with each other.
