Welcome.
In today's session,
We will go on a relaxing boat ride in beautiful Lake Tahoe,
Which still brings back mystical,
Magical memories for me.
I used to come a lot when I was younger.
So go ahead and settle yourself in a comfortable position.
Any position will do.
You can sit up nice and tall,
Rolling back your shoulders,
Resting your hands in your lap,
Or you can simply lie down and just relax into your comfortable space.
Take a few moments here to really find your space of comfort,
Gently closing your eyes.
Now,
Let's take a couple of deep breaths,
Breathing in through the nose and breathing out through the mouth.
Taking a long,
Deep breath in through the nose,
As deep as you can.
And as you exhale,
Allow yourself to relax deeper.
Remember,
There's no right or wrong way to breathe.
It's about finding a rhythm that works best for your body today.
One last time now,
Breathing in deeply and releasing the breath out slowly and gently,
Allowing the breaths to relax your body completely.
Let go of everything you do not like.
Breathing at a speed that feels perfect for your body.
Allow the breath to settle now.
Rest in this awareness of your body for a few moments.
Just relaxing into the present time awareness.
Just connecting with your intention to be calm and at ease within your mind.
Connecting with your intention to be mindful and recognizing your natural wish for your body to be comfortable,
Relaxed,
And at ease.
Allow yourself to really sink into your seat now,
Wherever you may be positioned,
Feeling the weight of gravity pulling you down gently.
See if you can connect with the sensations,
The pressure,
The weight,
And the support beneath you.
Feel how you're breathing,
Using your breath to really tap into this present moment.
Now give yourself full permission to let go.
Allow yourself to be completely still.
Nothing is expected of you at this moment.
Everything that requires any effort.
Right now,
All you have to do is relax.
Just be here with me.
Once you return to your daily activities,
You will handle them with ease and patience.
Right now,
Give yourself permission to be fully present in this moment.
And now,
Imagine you approach a beautiful,
Calm lake.
It is a beautiful,
Sunny day.
You can hear chirping birds in the distance,
Frogs croaking shyly,
Softly.
You hear the bees buzzing,
Searching for sweet-scented nectar and pollen to return to their homes.
There are many pine trees here in Lake Tahoe,
And the scent of them is intoxicating.
It's uplifting.
It's relaxing.
And you look at the calm lake before you.
It is as flat as any mirror,
Silver blue and crystal clear.
The sun is caressing your cheeks,
Warming your body.
The air is warm yet crisp.
It is as refreshing as this beautiful nature's presence.
The air here is surreal,
Moist and cold,
Yet highly invigorating and totally refreshing.
And in the lake,
You notice a white,
Wooden boat bound to the shore.
You decide to walk towards it.
It looks incredibly inviting.
You notice that the boat is short and broad,
But still the perfect size for you to fit into.
There are two paddles inside,
And a towel placed on the seat,
Like it was made just for you.
And just by taking your shoes off,
Your body immediately reacts in relaxation as if it knows the moment your feet come into contact with the fresh air,
It is time for you to wind down.
You feel a damp surface of the sand mixed with pebbles and grass underneath your feet.
You gather your strength and push the boat towards the water.
And as you feel it detach from the ground,
You place your right leg in and then the left.
You sit down comfortably and paddle away from the shore.
And as you get further and farther away from the shore,
Imagine the feeling of the boat rocking slightly in the water.
The boat glides effortlessly through the still water,
Moving very easily and smoothly,
Gently.
Continue to paddle through the stillness,
Gliding across the water,
Drifting gently.
And every time you dip your paddle into the water,
It creates tiny swirls.
You observe the moment the droplet merges with the water and then disappears into the vastness of the blue lake.
This motion makes you feel so connected to the nature surrounding you as your boat glides through the water.
It leaves gentle waves behind.
The waves move outward in a V shape and they get smaller and smaller and then disappear as you drift further down into the lake.
The surface becomes smooth like a mirror over and over again.
Take a few deep breaths here,
Breathing in,
Expanding your body gently and breathing out,
Allowing the breath to settle back down again.
With every breath you take,
You become more releasing everything and anything may be holding you back right now.
Allow it to drift away,
Knowing that this moment all is well.
Allow all your stress and all the tension to roll off you,
Just like the droplets roll off the paddle.
Imagine each droplet represents the stress that you carry and allow each droplet to just carry the stress away from you now,
Landing on the surface of the water and then disappearing completely.
And now you stop your paddling for a moment and just drift,
Enjoying the stillness,
Simply relaxing here,
Allowing the boat to float in any direction it wants to.
You trust the boat to keep you safe and supported as the water is so completely still,
Not even a ripple.
Imagine closing your eyes and enjoying the sunshine,
Listening to the birds chirping,
The breeze gently caressing your face,
Enjoying the subtle movements of the boat,
Feeling at most peace and very calm and ready to drift off into a restful nap,
Feeling completely safe.
Continue to take deep comfortable breaths here,
Just for a little while,
Until you are ready to return back to shore.
It is safe and you are protected.
And slowly now,
Breathing deeper,
Coming out of your nap,
Getting ready to paddle the boat back to where you found it,
Gently and without rushing,
Listening to the soft sounds of water splashing against the boat as you step out and gently tie it back up again,
Thanking the boat now for allowing you to relax and find your inner calm today,
Ready to bring yourself back to your physical surroundings.
Begin to notice your body,
Notice how you feel,
Notice your thoughts,
Feel the surface beneath you,
Wiggling your toes and your fingers in a gentle stretch.
And when you are ready,
Open your eyes.
