Day One Of "5 Days Of Belonging" - Get Grounded

Day 1 of 5 · Body
Begin where you already are. The body has been here the whole time, mostly unnoticed, doing the quiet work of keeping you alive. This is a slow seated practice of weight, contact, and breath that works with what's already happening rather than asking anything to change. Arrive. Keep your eyes open if you'd rather; shift when you need to; stop at any point.

Transcript

Greetings. Welcome to day one. Today we're going to explore a gentle grounding practice to help you orient to the present moment. And experience belonging as something you can begin to feel through your relationship with the felt sense. Find a comfortable seated position. Either on the floor, Or a new chair. Or whatever support your body wants today. Let your feet make contact with the ground if that's available to you. Feel your sit bones resting into your support, The chair or the floor. Notice the places where your body is supported. Your feet, Your legs, Your seat. Your back if it's resting against something. Invitation to allow the shoulders to soften. Release the jaw. Or any other tension you might be holding. Now begin to orient to the space around you. Notice the room you're in. Perhaps notice a few colors, Shape, Textures, Light, Shadow. Let your head turn left. And raid if it wants to. And now let sounds come to you. Sounds nearby, Sounds far away. Feel a sensation on your skin. Temperature. The temperature of your clothing against your skin. The support beneath you. There's nothing you need to change. Just allow for this awareness. So now begin to squeeze up and down the arms. From the shoulders down to the wrists. Just enough pressure to feel your own solidity. And if for any reason that feels activating. You can back off and just simply allow your hands to rest. Now let your hands rest on your thighs. Press your hands into your legs and feel your legs pressing back into your hands. Notice the sense of grounding that contact creates. And without changing anything. Notice that you're breathing. It is often said that the breath is a thread that sews the mind to the body. Inhale. Press your feet into the floor and your hands down into your thighs. Feel your spine grow long and let your shoulders soften. Exhale. And let that effort soften. Inhale again, This time feel your sit bones anchoring downwards like roots into the ground. Exhale, Soften. Note both at once. The bottoms are your feet and your sit bones. Inhaling deeply and filling the belly, The sides, The back. Almost as though you could press yourself up to standing. And exhale. Inviting the body to settle. Begin to soften your awareness again. Bring your attention back to the room around you. Notice sounds, Notice what you see, Notice what you feel. You might notice how grounding can be felt not only in the body and the breath. But also through the senses. Through simple, Direct contact with this moment. Take a deep, Steady breath in. And a long, Slow exhale out. When you're ready, Open your eyes if they were closed. You can roll your wrists and ankles. Or stretch any part of the body that is asking to move. Move slowly. Honoring the wisdom of your body.

Reviews

I am crazy in love with anything that connects the concept of breath, being, and belonging (Derp, intimate friendship) — we all belong to each other all living matter. The physical practice you let us through was excellent. Thank you.