Welcome to today's practice focused on connecting to your baby during pregnancy.
It can sometimes be hard to connect with this small human growing within you.
I'm currently at this stage where I'm starting to feel the baby move so it has helped with my connection.
I've really enjoyed practicing loving kindness during this time.
We'll be offering loving kindness to ourselves as well as to our growing baby.
To begin you can find yourself in any position that feels best for you at the stage you're in,
Allowing yourself to settle into this moment,
Recognizing that there's nowhere else you need to be but here,
Allowing yourself this time to focus on your well-being.
Maybe moving or stretching in any way that feels good,
Taking these movements until you've found a space of stillness,
Gently allowing the eyes to close if that feels comfortable for you and beginning to notice the movement of your breath,
Feeling the belly expand with each inhale.
You can place one hand over the belly and one hand over your heart,
Connecting with your heart center and your growing baby,
Feeling the belly expand on the inhale,
Sending that oxygen throughout your body and feeling it contract on your exhale,
Letting the body settle.
This is your time to slow down.
This is your time to let go of the to-do list and to just be here,
Being present with your growing little one,
Maybe feeling your heart beat,
Knowing that your baby can also hear this sound and we'll begin to offer loving kindness towards ourselves,
Taking this time to give yourself some credit for the amazing job you've been doing.
You've been growing your baby,
Providing nutrients and oxygen to this growing little one,
Silently repeating the following phrases,
May I be happy,
May I be healthy,
May I be at peace,
Allowing these phrases to sink in,
Knowing that it's okay to focus on you and again silently repeating the phrases,
May I be happy,
May I be healthy,
May I be at peace and one more round,
Allowing these phrases to reach your heart,
May I be happy,
May I be healthy,
May I be at peace,
Knowing that you're doing so much by just repeating those phrases,
Sending these positive vibrations throughout your body and next shifting your attention to your growing baby,
Imagining that you can send this message directly to them,
May you be happy,
May you be healthy,
May you be at peace,
Maybe even envisioning holding your baby,
Knowing that you're sending this beautiful energy directly to them and again repeating the following phrases silently,
May you be happy,
May you be healthy,
May you be at peace,
Knowing that you're supporting them as best as you can and knowing how much they appreciate you,
Knowing how much they appreciate it and once more silently repeating the phrases,
May you be happy,
May you be healthy,
May you be at peace,
Creating this strong positive vibration for you and your baby,
Maybe allowing a smile to gently form on your face,
Smiling to your heart and smiling down to your baby and on your next exhale,
Gently allowing that smile to relax from your face,
Beginning to let go of this practice,
Maybe noticing any shifts in the mind or the body,
Noticing any feelings in your heart,
Beginning to make some small gentle movement,
Wiggling the fingers or the toes and taking as much time as you need before gently opening your eyes.
Thank you for practicing with me today,
Wishing happiness and health to you and your baby.
