Showing up to this morning practice is really a form of self-love and self-care,
Where you can intentionally take a pause before jumping into the busyness of the day.
So go ahead and find yourself in the most comfortable space,
Somewhere that you can either sit or lie down in stillness for just a little while.
Go ahead and start to position your body for practice.
Again,
You can sit on a cushion,
On the floor,
You can sit on a chair,
On the bed,
You can lie down,
You can even stand if that's comfortable.
But just start to elongate your spine in whatever position that you're going to be in,
Creating a strong back,
But a very soft front.
And if you want to grab any comfort items that you might need for your practice,
Such as a pillow or a blanket,
You can go ahead and grab that now.
Just want to give the reminder that the goal of practicing mindfulness or stillness is really just that,
We're just practicing.
Practicing being with our bodies and with our breath,
There's no wrong way to do this.
The goal also is definitely not to stop your thoughts.
So if they come,
Let them come,
You can just notice them without judgment.
You can always pull yourself back,
You can either come back by the sound of my voice,
Connect with your own breath or any sounds in your space,
Or even if your feet are connected to the ground or your bottom on the chair,
Just come back to that awareness.
So if you feel comfortable closing your eyes for your practice,
Go ahead and do that now.
If you'd rather keep them open,
That's completely fine.
And start to check in with your body.
How are you feeling in real life,
Physically,
Mentally,
Emotionally?
Start to settle yourself in and start to notice how you're really feeling.
Again,
It's no judgment.
We're just here being real with ourselves and honoring whatever is here.
Feel your feet,
Your bottom or your back that is against the surface beneath you.
Notice how supported you are in this moment,
How you're literally being held by something.
Take a deep breath in through your nose,
Hold at the top,
And then release out of your mouth.
Just imagine you're releasing any energy that isn't serving you as you start this new day.
I invite you to continue to breathe in and out a little deeper than your normal breath,
But at your own comfortable pace.
So as you're breathing in,
I am taking in new life and new energy.
Breathing out,
I'm releasing any stagnant energy,
Asking that it be recycled and returned back to the earth.
Breathing in,
I draw in new light and new love.
Breathing out,
I'm sending that light and love into the world,
Asking that this energy manifests back to me throughout this day.
Breathing in,
I create blessings over my body,
My mind,
And my spirit.
Breathing out,
I release any pain,
Fear,
Resentment that might be stored in my body,
Asking that it be replaced with love and with peace.
Breathing in,
I align myself with my desires and my visions and my goals for this day.
And breathing out,
I let go of the past and the future,
Asking that my guides help order my steps.
And breathing in,
I smile at the gift of another day to be alive on this planet.
And breathing out,
I clear my thoughts so I may remain open and open-minded as I journey through this day.
And if you feel comfortable,
Maybe place one hand or both hands on your heart space.
Just start to connect with your heart and your heartbeat.
Maybe even slightly bow your head down towards your heart.
And offer gratitude to yourself for showing up to this practice,
For making it an opportunity to sit with yourself before you offer yourself to the world and to others.
Offer gratitude for the privilege and the access that has been given to you to practice this morning.
And offer gratitude for your body and your breath that is here keeping you alive,
Literally.
And now let's take the deepest breath we've taken today into that gratitude.
Take a deep breath in.
Hold it at the top just for a second.
And then release the fullest exhale that you've let go of today.
And just smile.
Put a smile on your face.
Smiling triggers that you are peaceful,
That you are open,
That you are happy.
And when you're ready,
If your eyes were closed,
You can open them now.
Just start to come back fully into your space.
Look around.
Reorient yourself.
And maybe even wrap your arms around your body.
Around your beautiful body,
Give yourself a nice big hug.
Show yourself some love and affection as you're walking into the new day.
Thank you so much for being here,
Not only with me,
But with yourself and for yourself.
And I pray that whatever kind of day that you need today,
That you'll have it.
Please take care of yourself.
And until our next practice,
Take care.
