Welcome to this guided body scan meditation.
A gentle journey inward to reconnect with your body,
Calm your mind and anchor yourself in the present moment.
Take some time to settle,
Find a comfortable position,
Either sitting or lying down,
Allowing your body to be fully supported and when you feel ready,
You can gently close your eyes and bring your awareness to your breath.
Begin by taking a few slow deep breaths in through your nose,
Allowing your body to expand and exhaling softly through your mouth,
Releasing any tension with each breath out.
Inhale through the nose,
Exhale through the mouth and now allow your breath to return to its natural rhythm.
And notice the points of contact between your body and the surface beneath you,
The ground holding you steady and safe.
If you wish,
You can set an intention for this practice,
Perhaps to find a moment of peace,
Of presence or simply to reconnect with yourself.
And now let's begin the body scan.
Start by directing your attention to your feet,
Noticing any sensations such as warmth,
Coolness or tingling.
Take a moment to acknowledge these sensations and breathe into them.
Now shift your focus to your legs,
Observe the weight of your legs and notice any areas of tension or relaxation.
Inhale deeply and as you exhale,
Allow any tension to release.
Move your awareness to your pelvic region,
Feel the support beneath you and notice any sensations in your hips and lower back.
Breathe into any tightness you may feel.
Now gently shift your attention to your abdomen,
Feeling the rise and fall with each breath.
Allow any tension in your abdominal area to soften as you breathe.
As you continue,
Notice the expansion and contraction of your chest with each breath.
Pay attention to sensations in your upper back and if there is any tightness,
Breathe into it,
Allowing it to release.
Bring your focus to your shoulders and arms,
Feel the weight of your arms and any sensations in your shoulders.
With each exhale,
Relax your shoulders.
With each exhale,
Relax your arms.
Now direct your attention to your hands,
Notice any warmth,
Jiggling or pressure and allow your hands to rest comfortably.
And now shift your awareness to your neck,
Noticing any sensations or tightness.
With each breath,
Imagine releasing any tension.
And finally,
Bring your attention to your head.
Observe sensations in your face,
Jaw and scalp.
Let your facial muscles soften and release any tension you may be holding.
And now allow yourself to rest in stillness for a moment.
Rest here in the calm you've created.
Begin to bring your awareness back to the space around you.
Notice the contact of your body with the floor or the chair you support beneath you.
And gently start to move,
Maybe wiggle your fingers,
Your toes,
Maybe roll your shoulders or stretch softly if that feels good.
Take a deep grounding inhale and exhale fully,
Letting go of any remaining tension.
You can carry this sense of calm,
Awareness and connection with you as you move through your day.
Namaste