This practice is called the Affectionate Breathing Practice.
And the invitation is to find a comfortable posture.
One that embodies a sense of dignity and ease.
Allowing some time now for your body to find a comfortable way to be,
A position that will feel supportive for the length of this 15 minute practice.
As you settle in,
Allow your eyes to gently close,
Or they can remain open with a soft gaze a few feet in front of you.
Taking a few slow,
Easy breaths.
And as you take these slow and easeful breaths,
Releasing any unnecessary tension in your body.
If it feels supportive to you,
Giving yourself permission to offer yourself soothing or supportive touch.
And allowing this contact to remind you that we're not only bringing awareness,
But we're bringing affectionate awareness.
Bringing warmth and affection to our experience right now,
And to ourselves.
As we settle in,
Inviting you to keep your hand or hands where it is or where they are.
Or if you'd like,
Gently release your hands,
Maybe letting them rest in your lap and really keeping with you the energy of kindness.
In this particular practice,
We'll be feeling the breath in our bodies,
Specifically the movement of breath in,
Through and out of our bodies.
And for some people,
This focus on the breath can be uncomfortable or not accessible.
So just checking in with yourself and if you feel that way,
It's perfectly fine to return your attention to sensations of soothing or supportive touch.
It can also sometimes be supportive to bring the attention or awareness to the soles of your feet,
Making contact with the earth beneath you.
Or if you prefer,
You can focus on your entire body swaying gently back and forth as you breathe.
And if it feels right,
Beginning now to notice the sensation of breathing,
Feeling the sensations of breath movement in your body,
Feeling the body breathe in and feeling the body breathe out.
Perhaps noticing how your body is nourished on the in breath and relaxes on the out breath.
Just being and letting your body breathe you,
Nothing you need to do,
Nowhere you need to go.
Just allowing yourself to be as present as possible in this moment,
In this body breathing and tuning into the rhythm of your breathing.
Breathing,
Breath flowing in and breath flowing out.
Taking some time now to really feel the rhythm of your breathing,
Tuning in and connecting to the movement of this life force energy.
As breath moves in and out of this body in this moment.
Sometimes it can be helpful to incline your attention toward your breathing as you might toward a beloved child or a pet,
A dear friend.
Allowing yourself to tune into that warmth,
That loving attention and care as you tune into your breath moving through your body.
Feeling your whole body subtly moving with the breath,
Like the movement of water that's flowing.
Just noticing and noticing when your mind wonders,
Acknowledging that that's what minds do,
They wonder into the past,
Into the future.
And whenever that happens,
Just noting the mind has wondered and inviting your attention to return to our focus of attention right now,
Which is the rhythm of breathing.
Maybe noticing if there's a sense of watching or witnessing your breath and seeing if it's possible to let that go to dissolve any sense of separation between witness or observer and breath and just be.
See if you can just be with your breath,
Really feeling it.
The oneness of self and breath and body and present moment.
If it feels right,
Allowing your whole body to be gently rocked and caressed,
Caressed from the inside by your own breathing.
If you like even giving yourself over to your breathing,
Just being,
Just breathing,
Being,
Breathing.
And now gently releasing your attention to your breathing,
Sitting quietly in your own experience,
Allowing yourself to feel whatever you're feeling and be just as you are.
And whenever you're ready,
Slowly and gently opening your eyes,
Reconnecting with your space and allowing this attention and awareness to accompany you with whatever's next.
Thank you.
