Welcome to this relaxing breath practice.
The aim of this practice is to simply help you slow down,
Connect you to your breath and help relax you.
To help you relax and start the process of balancing yourself emotionally,
I invite you to join me in taking three lion's breaths.
You will take a deep inhalation,
Fully inflating your lungs,
Then open your mouth as wide as you can,
Stick the tongue down to your chin,
Before forcing all the air out.
Take a moment now to relax your face and jaw.
Relax the forehead.
Relax the area around the eyes.
Take your bottom jaw or a little waggle to help remove any tension you may be holding there.
Invite now to adopt a comfortable position that you can hold easily and gives you a tall spine enabling you to breathe freely.
Your comfortable position could be sat on the floor or sat on a block or a cushion.
If these are not options for you today,
Then consider lying on your back or perhaps sit in a chair with your feet on the floor.
Ultimately you want to be comfortable so you can focus on your practice without being distracted by any physical discomfort.
Invite now to close your eyes or take a soft gaze,
Not focusing on anything specifically.
Settle into your position,
Then draw your awareness to your natural breath.
And alter the pattern of your breath,
Merely focus on the natural inhales and natural exhales.
Settle into your position,
Then close your eyes or take a deep breath.
I invite you now to start focusing on deepening your breaths.
Focus on breathing into your belly,
The side ribs expanding,
The front of your chest expanding.
And savour the release of every exhale,
Trying to make the exhale longer than the inhale.
I invite you now to start to control your breath by joining me in a breath passing ratio of 4 to 6.
You will inhale to my count of 4 and exhale to my count of 6.
To help keep your rhythm,
After I've stopped counting,
You will hear a sound shaker in the background.
I invite you now to exhale as quickly as you can.
Inhale,
2,
3,
4.
Exhale,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6.
Inhale,
2,
3,
4.
Exhale,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6.
Inhale,
2,
3,
4.
Exhale,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6.
Inhale,
2,
3,
4.
Exhale,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6.
I encourage you now to continue with this count.
Or if it's not comfortable for you today,
Then modify it to suit your breath.
Find a comfortable and sustainable rhythm.
If you feel like you need to reduce the length of the exhale,
Then try a ratio of 4 to 4.
Inhaling for a count of 4 and exhaling for a count of 4.
Conversely,
You might find today you want to increase the length of your inhale and or the length of your exhale.
Explore your breath until you find your pattern that suits you today.
So so so keep focusing on breathing into your belly and savor the release of every exhale.
So I'm going to leave you now to settle in.
Enjoy the relaxing familiarity and rhythm of your breath.
You'll hear my voice again shortly.
Until then,
Enjoy slowing down.
So so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so I invite you now to release your breath.
Allow it to return to its natural rhythm.
Try not to control it.
Save the natural ebbs and flows of your natural breath.
See if you can notice any differences,
However small,
From when we started our practice.
See if you can notice any differences,
However small,
From when we started our practice.
Enjoy the sensations of simply being present,
Calm,
Still.
How well affliting they may be.
I invite you to slowly open your eyes and let them adjust to your surroundings.
Notice the vibrance of the colours.
The details of your surroundings.
Notice and enjoy the stillness and calm you feel.
When you're ready,
Go forward into the rest of your day and week carrying the feeling of this practice with you.
Remember,
You can use this relaxing breath whenever you like.
And it can also be used as a way to prepare you for your meditation.
Thank you for watching!
