Hello and welcome to Mindful Driving.
I'm Joanna Mason and today I'm offering a breathing technique to help you relax,
Connect more deeply and release stress.
Once you have practiced this technique it will become a tool that you're able to use anytime you want to relax and reconnect with your inner wisdom.
Let's begin by sitting comfortably on a chair or in the driver's seat while you're parked safely and make the next breath extra deep and extra beautiful.
Feel your body as it expands with the inhale.
Let the belly rise and the shoulders rise and let the spaces between the ribs expand and stretch.
And as you exhale,
Let your eyes close.
Allow your shoulders to relax,
Ribs and chest relaxed,
Belly relaxed and let this relaxed feeling spread up through the neck,
Through your head and down your legs.
Adjust your posture now to this newer,
More relaxed state of being.
You may like to slide your bottom back in the seat,
Becoming taller and better aligned for inner peace,
Joy and harmony.
Let your shoulder blades draw back towards each other,
Heart open and bringing the backs of the hands to relax on your thighs.
Let them stretch open with the inhale,
Hold the stretch for the pause,
Then letting the hands gently curl inwards once more with the exhale and continue to move the hands with the breath,
Stretching the hands open with the inhale,
Pausing for the pause and then curling them in with the exhale,
Pausing with the pause.
And each time the mind begins thinking about something else,
Gently bring it back to the present moment,
Back to the breath and to the movement of the hands,
Opening with the inhale,
Pausing with the pause and then slowly curling them in with the exhale and with each breath you become a little more present in this moment and as you let go of any emotional attachment to the past,
Letting go of worries about the future and with each breath you become a little more present in this moment and as you let go of any emotional attachment to the past,
Letting go of worries about the future and letting your awareness come into this moment,
This wonderful moment and continuing to move your hands with your breath,
Opening the hands with the inhale,
Releasing with the exhale and allowing this mindfulness practice to bring your awareness to your breath and to the movement and as thoughts come into your mind,
Let them pass by like clouds and bring your mind back to watching or feeling your hands as they move with the breath.
And I hope you've enjoyed this practice today.
Until next time,
Be happy,
Be kind and be safe.
