Something really beautiful happens when it rains,
Particularly after a long period of dry.
You can feel this in your body.
It begins with a tension.
As if the sky is holding so much.
Holding and holding.
Until eventually it can't hold any longer.
The clouds break open and the rain begins to fall.
The sky stops trying to hold it all together.
This release is palpable.
It feels as though the whole earth exhales.
A deep,
Long-awaited breath out.
As if she has been waiting for this moment.
Waiting for the fall.
Waiting for the release.
But this letting go,
This softening,
Is not met with grief or sadness or shame.
It's met with celebration.
With life.
The trees and plants stand a little taller.
The birds sing in delight.
The cracks in the earth begin to soften and mend.
Everything breathes again.
With this breathwork practice,
I invite you to bring this feeling into your body.
Exploring what it feels like to acknowledge the tension you're holding.
And to experience the relief of letting it go.
Let your body rest back into the surface beneath you.
Surrendering any urge to hold the weight of your body up.
Just for this moment,
Allow the ground to support you completely.
Let go of the weight you've been carrying.
Let your shoulders soften down.
Let the muscles that support your spine take a break.
Let the tension around your eyes and jaw melt.
Let your belly soften.
And begin to bring your attention to your breath.
You can breathe in and out.
Breathe through your nose or your mouth for this practice.
Whatever feels easiest for you.
Simply noticing the rise and fall of your belly and chest with each breath.
Begin to explore your breathing with curiosity.
Directing your breath first into your belly.
And then into your lower chest.
Into the sides of your ribs.
Into the back of your body.
And finally breathing all the way up to your collarbones at the top of your ribcage.
Allow your breath to become a little deeper now.
Let your inhales become full and spacious.
Bring awareness to any tension around your chest or belly.
Get curious about this tension.
Where does it feel more difficult to breathe?
Where does your breath naturally want to flow?
If you notice an area of restriction,
Allow your breath to gently explore this place.
Let the tension be felt.
Let it be acknowledged.
And then on the exhale,
Let the breath go completely.
No need to slow it down.
No need to control it.
Just letting it fall out of the body.
You might even let it leave with a sigh.
As if with each exhale you're releasing something your body no longer needs to hold.
And then on the exhale,
Let the breath go completely.
Continue taking deep,
Full breaths.
Breathing into the places that feel tight,
Or guarded,
Or brake.
And then letting them soften with the exhale.
Letting any tension,
Any holding,
Be washed through like rain falling onto dry earth.
Breathing in fully.
And letting go completely.
Allow yourself to continue to breathe.
Continue this exploration for the next few minutes.
Breathing into the places that feel tight.
And then releasing them on the exhale.
Now slowly begin to let your breath return to its natural rhythm.
Allowing the inhale to soften.
Just noticing how your body feels now.
Perhaps there is a little more space.
A little more softness.
A sense of relief.
Just like the earth after the rain.
Take a moment to feel the surface beneath you again.
Noticing the weight of your body.
The gentle movement of your breath.
Noticing how the body knows how to hold and how to release.
Just like the sky.
Just like the rain.
And whenever you find yourself carrying too much,
You can return to this simple rhythm.
Breathing in and letting go.
Allowing the body its own quiet exhale.
And when you're ready,
Gently begin to bring some small movement back into the body.
Wiggling your fingers and toes.
And slowly opening your eyes.
Thank you for joining me today.
