Breathe It In: A 5-Minute Fresh Air Meditation

Welcome,

Darling,

To this five-minute breathing meditation that invites you to step into fresh air,

Literally or imaginatively,

And let your breath reset your body and mind.

If you can,

Step outside or sit near an open window.

If not,

That's okay.

Your imagination knows exactly what fresh air feels like.

So find a comfortable position,

Let your body settle where it is.

Feel the temperature of the air on your skin,

Cool or warm,

Still or moving.

Then gently close your eyes or soften your gaze and take a slow breath in through your nose as if you're breathing in the morning itself.

Pause for just a moment and then exhale through the mouth,

Letting the breath leave you easily.

Again,

Inhale fresh air,

Clean and open.

Exhale anything that feels heavy or still.

There's something honest about breathing outside,

No pretending,

No performing,

Just a simple exchange between you and the world.

Notice how the air enters your body,

Cool at the nostrils,

Expanding the chest,

Softening the belly,

Letting your shoulders drop with the exhale,

Letting your jaw unclench.

Let the breath do the work.

If thoughts drift in about what's next,

What's overdue or what didn't happen,

Acknowledge them gently and return to the breath.

Inhale,

Feel the lungs full.

Exhale,

Feel your body respond.

Silently repeat to yourself,

I make room for fresh air.

With each inhale,

Imagine clean air moving through you,

Clearing mental fog,

Waking up tired places,

Bringing a quiet sense of aliveness.

With each exhale,

Release what no longer needs to stay,

Tension,

Pressure,

Old stories.

Take one final deep breath in and let it go slowly.

As you prepare to open your eyes,

Remember this,

You don't have to go anywhere to find clarity,

Sometimes it arrives on the breath,

So when you're ready,

Open your eyes,

Carry this fresh air with you,

My darling,

Steady,

Simple,

And enough.