3 Minute Breathing Meditation For Bereavement Care Staff

Hello and welcome to this short three-minute breathing space meditation.

My name is Lucy Livesey.

I'm a bereaved mum.

I'm also a mental health nurse and mindfulness teacher and we at the Ellie's Gift Project wanted to create a track that bereavement midwives and healthcare professionals can use just to give them some time and some space to step away and to find the time to just relax.

So wherever you are finding somewhere to sit or stand and you can gently allow the eyes to close or you can lower your gaze and tuning in first to the sounds that you can hear.

So what sounds can you hear all around you?

And you may be listening to this with headphones on in which case still noticing sound.

What is it you can hear at the moment?

And then getting a sense of your body.

So how the body feels.

What sensations are present in the head,

The neck,

Shoulders,

Arms and hands,

Back of the body,

Front of the body,

Lower body,

Feet.

Noticing any sensations in your body and also noticing how the body moves with the breath.

So your breath in your body in this moment now.

As you breathe in and breathe out how does the body move?

Where does the body move?

Where do you feel your breath?

Where do you notice those movements?

And just following the in-breath and the out-breath.

Anytime the mind becomes distracted just very very gently and in a kind way bring your attention back to this moment now.

Back to your breath as you breathe.

And then expanding your awareness out again noticing sound and feeling.

Noticing sensations in your body.

Noticing how the body feels.

The connection of your feet connecting to the floor,

The back of your body if you're resting on a chair or if you're standing how it feels to stand.

So you're noticing the breath and the body opening your awareness up to this present moment.

Bringing in a sense of kindness and compassion and acceptance to whatever you find.

The body gently moving with the breath.

Your body in this moment.

Moving the mind away from thinking about the future or the past but just connecting to this moment now.

And then very very gently if the eyes have been closed opening the eyes.

So you may want to take a moment to pause before moving on to your next activity now.

This was just a short meditation to enable you to tap into the present moment.

To provide you with a short exercise to allow you to feel grounded and supported.

And I want to say as a bereaved mother that we as a community are forever grateful for the work that you do.

You are superhuman.

So thank you.

Take care.