This meditation is called Affectionate Breathing.
Please take a few moments to find a posture in which your body is comfortable and will feel supported for the length of the meditation.
Letting your eyes gently close,
Partially or fully.
Taking a few slow and easy breaths.
Releasing any unnecessary tension in your body.
If you like,
Placing a hand over your heart or another soothing place as a reminder that we are bringing not only awareness,
But affectionate awareness to our breathing and to ourselves.
You can leave your hand there or let it rest at any time.
Now beginning to notice your breathing in your body.
Feeling your body breathe in and feeling your body breathe out.
Perhaps noticing how your body is nourished on the in-breath and relaxes with the out-breath.
Letting your body breathe in.
There's nothing you need to do.
Now noticing the rhythm of your breathing.
Flowing in and flowing out.
Taking some time to feel the natural rhythm of your breathing.
Perhaps inclining your attention towards your breathing as you might toward a beloved child or a dear friend.
Feeling your whole body subtly moving with a breath.
Like the movement of the sea.
Your mind will naturally wander like a curious child or a little puppy.
When that happens,
Just gently returning to the rhythm of your breathing.
Just letting your body breathe you.
There's nothing you need to do.
Allowing your whole body to be gently rocked and caressed.
Internally caressed by your breathing.
If you like,
Even giving yourself over to your breathing.
Letting your breathing be all there is.
Becoming the breath.
Just breathing.
Being breathing.
If you notice that your mind has wandered.
Simply noticing that your mind has wandered.
And gently returning to the breath.
Gently returning to the rhythm of your breathing.
Just breathing.
Letting your body breathe you.
And now gently releasing your attention to your breathing.
Sitting quietly in your own experience.
And allowing yourself to feel whatever you're feeling.
And to be just as you are.
Gently returning to the rhythm of your breathing.
Gently returning to the rhythm of your breathing.
