The Sleep Hammock: Guided Sleep Story With Beach Visualization

Hello and welcome.

I'm Joanne and I'm here for you tonight as a friend and as your sleep guide.

Sleep difficulties are challenging times and sleep difficulties are a normal response to stress and uncertainty.

It's common to get caught up in our thoughts,

Especially at bedtime,

When we finally wind down and become still.

So allow me to take you tonight on this guided voyage where we will journey together to a quiet and peaceful beach where you will feel safe and secure.

This guided experience that I offer will help you let go of the day.

It will help you focus on peaceful images and sensations rather than ruminating and focusing on images that make you feel stressed,

Worried and anxious.

This guided journey will help you relax the body and mind as you release the day while helping you ease into restfulness,

Thereby preparing you for a good night's sleep.

So begin by settling in.

Pull up your blankets and adjust your pillows and then shift into your most favorite sleep position.

And when you're ready,

Close your eyes and begin to relax.

As you lie here,

Feel the heaviness of the day give way to gravity as your body sinks down into the softness of your bed.

Enjoy the feeling of coziness from your blankets,

Sheets and pillows,

Feeling safe and secure.

Your breath can help you relax and let go,

So take a few slow deep breaths,

Filling your lungs to a comfortable fullness and then gently release the air,

Letting the breath help you release tension on the exhale.

Going at your own pace,

Each breath in helps deepen your state of relaxation.

Each breath out helps you release tension and stress.

With your eyes closed,

Visualize your sleep space that you're in.

Notice the walls that surround you.

See the ceiling above and any furnishings within the room.

Now allow the imagery of the walls,

The ceiling and your furnishings to slowly fade away from your mind's eye and see yourself now standing on the top of a little sandy hill covered in grass.

As you look out into the distance,

Notice a white blanket of sand spread out in front of you that extends all the way to the seashore.

See yourself walking down,

Down,

Down this hill until you're level with the sand and now slowly walking towards the shoreline.

Take off your shoes.

Feel the warm sand between your toes and under the soles of your feet.

The sand is not too hot to walk on.

It has a comforting warmth that feels pleasant as your feet sink down into the softness of the grains as you walk towards the water.

See the bright blue sky above and the white fluffy clouds slowly floating across the vast blue horizon.

It's a beautiful sunny day,

The temperature is just right.

A gentle warm breeze lightly touches your skin and gently caresses your hair.

The warm sun feels soothing against your body and any tension that you've been holding onto begins to soften and melt away.

You can feel the sun's warmth at the top of your head,

Relaxing each hair follicle,

Opening the lines of tension on your face,

Smoothing out your forehead,

Melting away the tension between your eyebrows.

The healing warmth smooths out and relaxes your entire face.

This comforting warmth feels like a safe hug as it wraps around your neck,

Shoulders and back.

All of your muscles soften and let go.

As you continue to walk towards the shore,

Look out to the water.

See the deep blue ocean that lies before you.

Waves roll in and roll out.

This ebb and flow is calming and a peaceful feeling settles within you.

Peace washes over you with each wave that rolls in.

Your thoughts,

Worries and concerns all roll back to the sea.

Look to the left,

Then to the right.

You see that you're alone here and you feel completely safe.

Life has been quite stressful lately.

So much is going on in the world.

And this quiet oasis is just what you needed.

You deserve to feel peaceful,

Welcome it,

And embrace the quiet and the stillness that surrounds you now.

The warm grains of sand massage the soles of your feet,

Leaving footprints behind with everything that's happened today and everything that's been said.

And as you get closer and closer to the water's edge,

You feel lighter and lighter,

More and more relaxed.

Hypnotic lapping waves gently ebb and flow.

The call of seagulls flying overhead brings you back to the awareness of the fresh sea air,

The gentle sea breeze,

The pleasant scent of the ocean,

The warmth of the sun,

The soft sand beneath your feet.

You feel content,

Peaceful,

And at ease.

At last,

You reach the water's edge and your feet sink down into the cool,

Wet sand as the waves roll in and roll out.

Now it's time to choose which direction you want to walk along the beach.

You can choose to either walk to the left or to the right of the shoreline,

Whichever direction you feel drawn to.

This is your journey and you have complete control.

Now begin your walk along the water's edge,

Your feet and ankles immersed in the shallow waves.

Hear the splashing sounds your feet make with each step you take.

You can choose whether the seawater feels pleasantly cool or pleasantly warm.

It's completely up to you.

Feel the warmth of the sun as it bathes your shoulders and back as you stroll along.

With each step forward,

Your feet sink down into the wet,

Rippling sand,

Leaving footprints that are quickly smoothed away by the tide that rolls in.

Breathe,

Feel the fresh sea air filling your lungs,

Spreading through your entire being.

You feel so alive,

You feel invigorated by the freshness of the salty air and you're filled with an overwhelming feeling of complete wellness and relaxation.

You feel totally relaxed in your body,

Your mind is more quiet and still.

You are fully present in this moment,

Savoring the experience of walking on this quiet,

Peaceful beach.

See the tide roll out onto the sand.

And how it quickly recedes back into the sea.

The waves roll back and forth very gently.

And it is very,

Very calming.

You can stop for a moment if you wish,

So you can take in the beautiful scenery that surrounds you.

The beach extends far into the distance in both directions.

Behind you are tropical plants on the sandy hill from which you came.

In front of you,

The vast deep blue ocean.

Above you,

A bright blue horizon,

And below,

The soft white sand.

You are grateful for this safe place that is here just for you.

You've helped create this safe place in your mind.

A place that you can visit any time you want.

To nap,

Or to sleep,

Or just to rest and relax.

In the distance,

You happen to notice a wicker swing hammock suspended from a leaning palm tree on the beach.

The fresh air and the lapping waves have left you feeling a bit sleepy,

And you now want to rest for a while.

And so you walk slowly now towards the swing hammock.

Just ten steps away.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Here you are now,

In front of this teardrop shaped wicker hammock that hangs securely from the trunk of this unique palm tree that leans forward.

The bottom of the hammock is two feet off the surface of the sand,

And this allows it to swing.

The hammock looks like a cocoon.

It has a round opening for you to easily slip inside.

You're intrigued,

And so you decide to go in.

As you crawl in,

You find yourself on a clean and dry comfy mattress.

A couple of soft,

Cozy pillows are there as well.

It is spacious inside,

Yet feels very snuggly.

Lie down and stretch out.

Wiggle and shift around until you feel just right.

It feels amazing resting here inside this cozy swing hammock.

You can feel the hammock slightly swaying side to side as though it is gently rocking you to sleep.

Your body relaxes.

Your mind relaxes.

And you slowly begin to drift and let go.

The sun feels warmer,

But now that you're cocooned inside the hammock,

You are sheltered and safe from the sun.

A calming,

Gentle breeze filters through,

And the leaves of the palm tree make soft,

Rustling sounds that harmonize with the lapping waves.

Nature's lullaby,

Helping you drift deeper down into relaxation.

It is so restful and peaceful here on this beautiful beach in this comfy wicker swing hammock.

You have no cares,

No worries.

All the things that were weighing you down earlier have all faded away,

And you feel calm and peaceful.

Just let go.

Let your body be held by the soft surface below.

Allow the hammock to fully support you.

You are safe here.

You can let go.

The sunshine dabbles through the wicker and radiates comfort and warmth,

Nourishing every part of your body.

A warm wave of relaxation,

Along with a sleepy feeling,

Begins to meander through you from the top of your head all the way down to the tips of your toes.

Feeling your head with relaxation,

And then your face,

Your neck,

Your shoulders,

Your arms,

Hands and fingers.

This wave of relaxation fills your chest,

Your belly,

Your back,

Your hips,

Your legs,

Your feet,

And your toes.

Your whole body is relaxed.

Your mind is quiet and still.

You feel peaceful and calm,

And you know that very soon you are going to fall asleep,

Because this is the perfect place to fall asleep.

This peaceful paradise created just for you.

This is your peaceful beach,

Where you can feel calm,

Relaxed,

Peaceful,

And at ease.

You are safe here.

The temperature is perfect.

The breeze is perfect.

The sand is perfect.

This hammock and how comfy you feel is perfect as well.

This is going to be an amazing place to sleep.

Safe and sound on this quiet beach.

The lapping waves that ebb and flow,

Ebb and flow.

Blue sky and fluffy clouds floating by.

Soft white sand.

Comfy hammock gently swaying back and forth.

Back and forth.

So deeply relaxed.

Completely at ease.

No cares.

No worries.

Safe as you can.

Letting go.

Letting go.

Letting go.

Letting go.

Letting go.

Good night.

Sleep well.

Sweet dreams.