And go ahead and let's find whatever position today that you want.
So finding that comfortable position,
A tall spine with those shoulders relaxed.
Maybe you are seated in a chair or on a cushion.
Maybe you're reclined in a Queen's throne.
Maybe you're lying down in Shavasana,
Tall spine and shoulders relaxed.
And then begin to slow and deepen the breath,
Not forcing anything but just allowing that breath to relax,
To grow deeper,
To move more slowly.
And as that breath begins to relax,
Channel that slow deep breath through the nose.
Follow its path as it moves in and as it comes back up and out.
Gentle and deep,
No judgment,
Just breath.
And as you turn inward,
Grant yourself permission to be here,
To allow the mind to leave that to-do list,
That busy day and be fully present for the practice.
And with this focus on your breath and noticing each inhale and exhale,
Begin to work toward having each be equal in length and depth.
So start by counting the length of the inhale and then the length of the exhale.
And first maybe work to have them both be at least a count of three or four.
And again,
Not forcing yourself to a specific count.
Pick something that you can maintain with ease that feels natural and deep.
And if distracting thoughts appear,
Which is normal and natural,
Simply acknowledge them,
Let them go and refocus on the breath.
Feel yourself going deeper and deeper.
Allow yourself to release as we open the mind to the word and niyama of purity,
Planting that seed in the mind's eye.
Purity within your whole life and within each area,
The body,
The mind,
Your relationship,
And your environment,
Your space,
And assign a lightness and brightness to the idea of purity.
Knowing that purity is light and bright,
We can then look for and identify those areas of heaviness.
What feels heavy in your life?
Thinking about the body,
Take a few breaths first just to check in with the body.
See how it's feeling,
Where it's feeling it,
Where there are areas that feel light and bright,
And maybe areas that feel heavy,
Or cluttered,
Or tight.
Maybe you feel heaviness in the digestive track.
Maybe you feel tightness and tension in your back or shoulders or hips from sitting too much,
Worrying too much.
Where are those toxins hiding and accumulating?
And with the role of observer and not judge,
How could you purify these areas that you're finding?
What might help you clean out the toxins the clutter,
The stress,
The tightness,
The tension,
The heaviness?
And use that breath as well.
Breathe into those areas of the body now and begin to let in a little light,
And then move the focus specifically to the mind.
See how it's feeling,
How cluttered or full it feels.
Does it feel like it's always busy and never has any time to be still?
Does your mind move from idea to idea,
Struggling to stay on one task at a time,
Worried about what is to come,
Or what just happened,
Or what might be forgotten?
Does your mind feel like it's out of storage space?
And where is it maybe storing unnecessary items that you have forgotten to delete?
How might you help the mind,
Purify the mind?
What distractions could you clean out?
How might you be able to organize your day and your tasks to allow you focus time rather than the illusion of multitasking?
Where could you find some more white space?
Relationships with others and the relationship with yourself,
How pure do they feel?
Are your relationships relaxed?
Or do you find some of them difficult and heavy?
Do they add weight to your life,
Or do they bring you lightness?
Are they spacious and easy?
Do they make your heart feel lighter or tighter?
And how might you be able to improve the purity of your relationships?
Are there some truths that need to be shared?
Some boundaries that need to be set?
Maybe there are even some relationships that need to be cleaned and cleared.
And lastly,
Bring that awareness,
That breath,
To all of your environment,
Your home,
Your work.
Maybe allow the mind to visualize these areas and try to see each one as clearly as you can.
Do you see lightness and spaciousness?
Or darkness and clutter?
Does the environment make you feel tight or relaxed,
Heavy or carefree?
And what changes could you make to feel bright and light and spacious in the space?
Impurity doesn't always mean or require perfection.
It means not pushing away parts of ourselves,
But facing them truthfully.
When we are pure,
We are unafraid,
Not hiding.
We are pure with each moment.
Hurrying,
Multitasking,
Busyness,
All of those things degrade and undermine purity.
Feeling light and clear and focused.
Feeling true.
All of those things elevate our ability to be truly,
Fully pure.
There's less to store,
Less to clutter,
Less to carry.
No matter the moment,
Whether good or unfortunate,
Facing it with purity.
Breathe in lightness and brightness.
Allow yourself to see the moment clearly,
Purely,
Leaving no clutter,
No weight,
And no residue behind.
And spend the next few moments and breaths,
Bringing this purity in,
Releasing heaviness and clutter with your exhales.
Inhaling in lightness and brightness.
Give yourself permission to see yourself and your life clearly in that full brightness and carefree lightness.
Feel yourself inhaling slowly.
Feel the body exhaling and the breath leaving the body.
As the mind comes back to your space and to this world,
Be sure to bring that lightness and brightness with you.
That power of purity is within you.
Invite some gentle movement,
Maybe those fingers,
Those toes,
Taking your time as you are ready to reopen the eyes and reenter the world whenever you like.
