You may know that diamonds are formed under high temperatures and pressures.
They are found deeply below Earth's surface at a temperature of over 900 degrees Celsius,
Making them a precious finding from an extraordinary process.
When we're in the midst of chaos,
It's hard,
Actually,
Nearly impossible to see how all of the stress and pressure can transform into something beautiful.
Once we have space from the heat and chaos,
We are able to see the lessons that can transform our lives.
This pressure,
In some way,
Is sacred,
A part of our journey to experiencing the beauty of the diamond,
The joy after the hardship.
In this practice,
We'll gently explore our pressure and stress through a series of breathwork and compassionate reflection.
We'll open our practice by finding an easy posture,
One that allows ease and comfort,
Either seated or lying down.
Finding a comfortable position for your hands,
They can be on your lap or by your sides.
Then settle into the body,
Finding ease in the face,
The neck,
And shoulders.
Allow your hips to be heavy,
And breathe easily.
Gentle inhales and exhales through the nose,
Experiencing the breath move through both nostrils.
And now feeling the breath move throughout the body,
Exploring the depths of the breath.
If your mind has moved outside of your body,
Bring it back into your next breath.
And when you're ready,
We'll bring in a breathing technique called alternate nostril breathing.
This is for clarity and can bring us ease and wisdom in the mind.
So let's place the index finger and middle finger of your right hand in between your eyebrows.
And take your ring finger of your right hand and place it on the left nostril.
And your thumb will then rest on your right nostril.
Taking a clearing breath in.
And exhale,
Letting go.
Place your ring finger on your left nostril,
Closing the left nostril.
Inhale through the right nostril.
Close the right nostril with the thumb,
And exhale with the left.
Inhale left.
Close left,
Open right,
And exhale right.
Inhale right.
Close right,
And exhale left.
Inhale left.
Close left,
Open right,
And exhale.
Inhale right.
Close,
Exhale left.
Inhale left.
Close,
Exhale right.
Inhale right.
Close,
And exhale left.
Close right.
Close left.
Keep flowing through on your own now.
A few more breaths.
And letting go of this technique.
Taking a clearing inhale through both nostrils.
And exhale,
Releasing and letting go.
Gently allowing your hand to return back to your lap.
And gently noticing how you feel here.
Maybe there's some clarity in your mind.
Maybe you feel a little light-headed.
See if you can breathe into your mind.
Breathe into the brain.
Feeling into any sensations in the body.
Just being present with what's here with you.
All the discomforts or challenges.
Just being with them.
Gently sensing into the space around your body.
Feeling into your surroundings.
And if your eyes are closed,
You can allow them to open to a soft gaze.
Looking around you and coming back into the environment that surrounds you.
With each challenge comes change.
And change,
Although hard to accept sometimes,
Can introduce new ways of living,
Along with insights that can enrich our lives.
Although pressure is not necessary to experience joy,
When we come out of the other side,
There may be a diamond,
A lesson,
A piece of wisdom that naturally inhabits our body.
So as you move through your day,
I welcome you to reflect on the pressures in your life that you've moved through.
What lessons or diamonds did you receive?
Until next time,
Take care.
