Very few of us truly drop in and experience our physical bodies anymore.
We've become so attuned to the ego,
To the inner voices of our parts,
And to so many outside distractions that it's truly hard to sense what's happening within our physical forms these days.
So,
That's what this practice today is about.
It's about cultivating a deep somatic awareness,
Dropping in to the body and getting curious,
Really becoming so focused on each little detail that we begin to paint a full picture of what's going on in there.
If at any time this becomes overwhelming or you feel there's too much to focus on,
Remember that you can always come back to the breath and that you always have permission to stop,
To walk away.
So,
Tuning in to the breath now,
Just beginning to notice what it feels like as you breathe in and breathe out.
Simply noticing the difference in the inhale and exhale,
Noticing where the breath reaches in the expanses of the body.
And then beginning to scan,
Starting at the top of the head.
As we scan downward,
Just noticing any pockets of tension,
Any heaviness,
Any tingling,
Tension.
So again,
Starting at the top,
Beginning to scan down your shoulders,
Chest,
Hands,
Just the stomach,
The hips,
Boots,
This,
This,
These,
The shins and calves.
Just noticing where you felt any stickiness,
Any tension,
Anything at all that's caught your mind's eye.
We'll just focus on breathing there,
Allowing the breath to flow towards that sensation and in that breath,
Allowing there to be the flow of love,
Flow of peace,
Health,
Bliss.
How can you love your body more tenderly?
What are you storing in your body that you need to release?
How regularly do you breathe love into yourself?
Here,
You might also pair in a little bit of self-massage or just gentle touch,
Allowing the areas of the body where you feel any stagnant energy to speak to you,
To call to you,
Allowing your hands to move and very gently cup,
Massage,
Or just send energy to those parts of the body.
If you know how to move energy through you,
You might allow yourself to notice the heat in the palms of your hands as you flow that energy into and over any parts that need your loving kindness and attention.
Know that you have full permission to sit with this practice for as long as you need to,
To give your beautiful body,
Your beautiful vessel,
Permission to experience your own love,
Experiencing your own love of yourself,
That love,
That attention,
That tenderness,
Putting your energy first,
Preserving and expanding your energy tenfold in a way that will allow you to show up even more profoundly for others.
This is why it's so important that we are a part of the community,
That we are a part of ourselves,
That we care for each other with extra special attention and help.
So I'll close out this practice inviting you to stay with this again for as long as you need to,
Otherwise to go about your day feeling the sensations of love in your body,
Really taking that in for this final moment,
Feeling love in your body.
You can't quite key in on that immediately.
Call to mind a beloved pet,
A loved one with whom you don't have much strife,
Whatever makes it easiest for you to call up that feeling of love and just bask in that for a moment.
Notice where you feel that in the body,
Notice where it lights you up.
As you go about your day,
Notice when you feel that sensation once again,
When you know that you're in the presence of love and walk in gentleness.
