Breath Awareness

Namaste.

Once you're comfortable in a posture that allows you to be alert and relaxed at the same time,

Please scan your body a few times with a heightened sense of awareness.

Feeling into the essence of being alive and perhaps smiling to it.

Namaste.

Bring your awareness to your breath as it is in this moment.

I'd like to invite you to take two deep breaths and focus on really feeling them as they enter your body and leave your body.

As you bring the breath return to its natural rhythm,

Notice where it is in your body that you can feel the breath easily or sense the breath.

Inhale where it is subtle breath or within your body either you feel it here you feel it here.

Exhale.

Inhale here you don't feel it since you exhaled.

Are you able to feel a cool or a warm air as the breath enters your nostrils?

Perhaps a subtle sensation in the nostrils or the back of the throat.

Or a warmth on the upper lip.

The movement of the chest or belly.

Or just a sensation of your entire body breathing.

Where you're most easily able to feel the natural rhythm of the breath.

Allow your attention to rest there.

If it's difficult to feel the breath,

Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly and feel the breath breathing in and out.

So for the next three incoming and outgoing breaths,

Sense each breath and let the mind be calm and your body relaxed.

I invite you to continue to focus on your breath in this relaxed and calming manner for the next minute.

Each time you notice your attention has wandered from the breath,

Please gently bring it back to it.

Be aware.

Breath north and south.

You you you As you feel each breath more succinctly are you able to notice how it affects you?

Sense how it can calm and relax you.

I'd like to invite you to focus on the next six breaths in a row.

If you get lost after a few breaths,

You can always start again.

Stay with the breath or return to it gently.

You you be focused,

Attentive and steady.

Practice this simple technique of mindful breathing several times a day as you continue with the rest of your day.

In the next meditation,

We'll add another element to this mindful practice.

Namaste.