Healing Rest: A Sleep Practice

Good evening,

Welcome,

Arriving at the very end of your day,

Arriving here,

This beautiful chance to rest,

To restore,

Allowing your body to find as much support and steadiness,

Wriggling,

Shifting,

Moving as much as you need to find the most comfortable shape.

You could plump your pillow,

Rearrange your sheets,

Snuggle and nestle down through your shoulders,

Relaxing all of the muscles in your neck as your head relaxes,

Sinks into your pillow,

Perhaps rocking and rolling,

Swaying through your hips and pelvis,

Letting go of any holding or gripping,

It's time to let go of the day that has been.

Noticing the way that the mattress beneath you is receiving the whole weight of your body,

You might like to take a really gentle breath in through your nose with me,

And a gentle exhale out through your mouth,

Breathing in,

Inviting in a sense of calm and rest,

And breathing out any residue from the day.

You might like to explore a few more rounds of gentle inhalations,

And gentle releasing exhalations,

With each releasing exhale,

Letting your body sink deeper and deeper into the softness of the mattress beneath you.

And as we begin to prepare for rest,

Perhaps we can review our day,

Without the need to label the day as good or not so good.

Maybe there was a favourite moment of your day,

The little details that are often easy to rush through.

As you reflect on the day,

Perhaps one or two moments invite you into a little bit of gratitude.

Maybe gratitude is exuding from your body for this very moment.

The nourishment of being in bed,

The chance to rest,

This chance to be still.

The invitation to offer your body an intention for healing,

For wholeness.

You might like to embody that intention with your next gentle inhale,

And soft exhale.

Can you trust that everything you need,

Everything you need,

Is already within you?

Letting go of the weight of the day.

Letting your body rest now.

Letting the darkness of this night hold you and carry you into a fresh new day tomorrow.

Trust that your body knows just how to mend,

To dream,

To heal,

To begin again.

This beautiful gift of replenishment,

This secret and magical work of healing,

Gifted to yourself each and every night.