Greetings,
Insight Timer community.
My name is Lisa Reed and I'm a yoga instructor.
I teach both asana,
The physical movement of yoga,
As well as meditation.
This meditation is dedicated to resilience through rest.
Please know that I won't be guiding you out of this meditation,
So if you have somewhere to be,
Please plan accordingly.
Now,
Set your resolve to rest deeply.
Acknowledge that you are committed to this rest for your benefit,
As well as the people who surround you,
Near and far,
Our global community.
When we commit to deep rest,
Our body,
Mind,
And spirit become more resilient,
Less reactive,
And more proactive.
We become resilient not only for ourselves,
But for the benefit of all,
Everywhere.
Begin to find your comfort wherever or however this needs to look,
For wherever you might be,
No matter the time of day or night.
Come into this supreme comfort.
Notice if you need to turn,
Stretch,
Or curl into a ball.
You can find support under your head,
Under your knees,
Or between them.
Find what makes your body sigh with relief.
Create this comfort for yourself.
Invite a deep yawn to come forward.
Take a deep breath in with this yawn,
And a big sigh out,
Softly closing the lips.
Feel supported on whatever surface you're resting on,
Your head cradled,
And your eyes float softly closed,
Or find a soft and steady gaze.
Ask your body for permission to surrender.
Take a long breath in,
And let it out in a long and steady stream.
The body becomes quiet and still.
Witness yourself becoming the most comfortable you've ever been.
Find refuge in this comfort.
Find sweetness in this moment.
The body breathes a sigh of relief as it drifts further towards restoration,
Towards becoming more resilient.
If you are covered right now,
Notice how the blankets hug you in just the right way.
The body surrenders as you deepen your resolve,
Committing to this practice even more.
Check in if there is any tightness or gripping that might be happening in the body,
Tension in the mind.
The legs,
Seat,
Belly,
Throat,
Shoulders.
Let the muscles release,
Even if it's just the intention of release.
Notice any micro-tensions in the face.
Soften the jaw.
Let the tongue release from the roof of your mouth.
Check in with the space between your eyebrows.
Notice the tiny muscles around your eyes.
Let them soften.
Relieve them of their tension.
Erase all expression from your face.
Take another deep breath in and a sighing breath out.
Again,
Inhale,
Exhale.
Once more,
Deepest breath in,
Longest breath out.
Now bring your breath back to its natural rhythm.
Resolve to rest deeply.
Repeat to yourself quietly three times.
I surrender to my rest.
I surrender to my rest.
I surrender to my rest.
You are doing the best thing for your body,
Mind,
And spirit at this very moment.
Become the witness for your rest and resilience.
The body becomes absorbed in this deep rest and cues the mind to do the same.
Invite in another yawn.
Take an inhale.
And with that,
Allow a deep,
Sighing exhale.
Signaling to the brain to release its grip on thoughts,
Worries,
And narratives.
Breathing in softness and grace.
And breathing out stillness and rest.
Inhale.
And exhale.
The body remembers its natural breath cycle.
And the breath begins to breathe you.
No thought.
No force.
Simply being breathed.
Dedicated to rest deeply.
To unburden your body and mind.
So that your spirit may come back to its restful state of surrender.
Remembering who we really are.
Resilient.
And peaceful.
Grace.
Resting.
Being.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
The spirit releasing any other tension that is not serving you in this moment.
Releasing unwanted tension.
Releasing unnecessary strain.
Let yourself drift.
Finding softness above and below.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
Feeling the rise and fall of the breath.
Feeling the lightness within and without.
Floating.
Drifting.
A weightless cloud afloat.
When we learn to rest deeply,
We invite in restoration.
When we are rested,
We become more resilient.
We are peace.
We are grace.