Would you believe that your breath has the power to completely change your mind?
Would you believe that your breath has the power to completely alter this body and the way it works,
The way it operates?
Would you believe that in just a few minutes of guiding your inhales and your exhales,
That you could change the way that you think,
The way that you feel,
The way that you experience this life?
And it all rides on the wave of your inhales and your exhales.
The wave and the rhythm of this breath guides the wave and the rhythm of your life.
Please come to find a comfortable seated position,
Either sitting cross-legged or drawing your hips back in the direction of your heels,
Or maybe choosing to sit upright on a chair,
Erect and feet planted softly on the earth on the ground below you.
Wherever you've chosen to sit in whatever manner,
Take a moment now to ensure that your spine is long and tall.
And take a moment to feel and to notice your sit bones making contact with earth or pillow or cushion below you.
Feel and notice,
And then slowly and mindfully begin to close your eyelids down heavy,
Relax,
Settle into darkness,
And give up these eyes to the world of looking and collecting for just another couple of minutes.
As you sit here,
Eyes closed and body still,
Begin to take a deep,
Intentional breath in through your nose,
And a long,
Smooth breath out through your nose.
Take another deep,
Full breath in through your nose,
And a slow,
Smooth breath out through your nose.
Continue to breathe in this way very slowly,
Very smoothly,
Very intentionally,
Completely aware of every drip,
Every drop that comes into and leaves your nostrils.
And as the breath slows,
The body grounds and relaxes.
The next time that you breathe out,
The next time that you exhale,
Release completely.
Let all of the air leave the body,
Leave the lungs,
And then inhale through the nose to the count of four.
3,
2,
1,
Hold that breath inside of you,
Keep it in,
4,
3,
2,
1,
Slowly exhale,
4,
3,
2,
1,
And then hold empty,
Resist the urge to breathe in,
4,
3,
2,
1,
Deep breath in,
4,
3,
2,
1,
Holding full for 4,
3,
2,
1,
Slowly exhale,
4,
3,
2,
1,
Holding empty,
4,
3,
2,
1,
Breathing in,
4,
1,
Holding full for 4,
1,
Exhale out for 4,
1,
Holding empty,
Breathing in,
Holding full,
Exhale out,
Holding empty,
Inhale,
Retain in,
Exhale out,
Hold empty,
And continue to breathe in this 4 count,
Breathing,
Inhaling and silently counting to 4,
Retaining the breath and holding for 4,
Exhaling out,
And retaining empty.
Last few rounds,
Just like this.
The next time that you exhale,
Exhale completely,
Retain the air out for that same count of 4,
And then begin to stabilize and return your breath to a natural,
Normal rhythm,
Letting the air come and go freely,
Easy,
Liberated breath,
No constriction,
No holding,
And before you move,
Before you open your eyes to the world,
Take a moment here in this silence,
And notice how you feel.
Notice the quality of your thoughts,
Notice any physical sensations.
There is so much value in this pause,
In this reflection.
It is how we begin to understand.
First,
We must feel and experience.
Pausing here for this last moment,
Savoring the opportunity to turn inwards,
And notice the changes,
And slowly,
Slowly,
Begin to float,
To flutter your eyelids open,
Keeping your gaze very low and soft in front of you,
Returning back to this space.
May peace follow you for the rest of the day.
Namaste.
