Welcome and thank you for choosing to practice together today.
Let's begin by settling into a comfortable position.
And offering your body the chance to relax.
Of course,
Relaxation isn't always promised.
But when we invite it to join us.
We increase the chances.
And as we begin to arrive,
Maybe choose to close your eyes to bring the attention inward.
And as always,
If you prefer to keep them open,
Just allow them to glaze over.
And not do any work focusing on anything.
And pay attention to your breathing.
Noticing that it's there.
Noticing that it's supporting your existence.
And then also notice the body.
Maybe deliberately just release the shoulders and let them fall down.
Increasing the space between the ears and the top of the shoulders.
And maybe if you have the ability to be lying down,
You pull the shoulder blades flat behind you,
Creating space across the chest.
In this moment,
Nothing is expected of you.
There's nothing to perform.
There's no judgment.
Of your actions.
No needs for meeting specific tasks.
All of that is on pause and far,
Far away.
For you have chosen to dial in to this present moment.
I invite you to take a deep breath to symbolize that freedom right now.
I'd like to invite you to plug in to peace.
What if it was that simple,
That peace?
Could be accessed.
Just by plugging into it,
Just like we plug in a machine to the wall.
But the circuit is available all we need to do is choose it.
Peace is always present.
It isn't a reward that we get after years of practice,
Or focus,
Or release,
Or expertise in mindfulness.
It's available to anyone willing to pause.
To seek it.
And to truly believe it exists.
Maybe peace has a color in your mind.
Maybe peace has a sound.
Maybe peace has a soothing texture in your mind.
Just imagine what peace is.
Not only to you,
But everywhere,
To everyone.
Follow the breath as you seek peace.
Maybe the breath itself is how you plug into peace.
We talk so often about world peace.
Or peaceful interactions.
And what if peace was never lost or far away?
What if it was simply.
.
.
That we just lost the connection to it.
As you breathe your way.
Into plugging into peace.
Know that peace doesn't erase our challenges.
Instead,
It changes the amount of space those challenges take up within our perception.
Maybe peace feels like being held.
Or maybe it feels like a warm blanket Maybe it feels like being gently rocked by the waves of the ocean.
Whatever it is to you,
Allow the next few moments to bring you into that experience of peace.
Maybe it sounds soothing to you to breathe deeply.
If so,
I invite you to breathe deeply in through the nose and allow the ribs to expand.
And the back to widen.
And maybe the shoulders raise a little.
And then ride the crest of that inhale like a wave and gently exhale through the mouth.
Allowing everything to let go and to settle.
And to smooth out.
And then feel that gentle pull once again to breathe in.
And then repeat.
Just allowing yourself to be at peace.
Wouldn't it be great?
If peace has no task list to access it.
Wouldn't it be great if it was this simple for everyone?
All the time.
And let's savor this moment lingering here plugged into peace for just another few breaths And now let's slowly transition out of our practice,
Joining back up with the things we pressed pause on.
Now with the confidence of knowing that peace is always there.
Always inviting us whenever we prioritize plugging in.
Take one more deep breath in.
And maybe offer yourself a sigh or even a yawn as you exit.
If your eyes are closed,
Maybe open them now,
And then a stretch or a change in your body position to fully return.
To what's next.
Knowing that what is is always accessible.
Thank you so much for choosing to practice together today.
I'm grateful for you.
Be well and thrive.
