Embodiment Practice

Take a pause. Find stillness where you are. Bring your attention to your breath--notice where in the body your breath is landing.

Now follow the breath as it comes in through the nose, hits the soft pallet of the mouth, travels down the back of the throat, into the chest and down into the belly. Your exhale is just a relaxing...a letting go. Follow every millimeter of your breath.

After a few rounds of slow, rhythmic breathing look around your space.  Notice what is pleasing to you, beautiful or something that brings a feeling of joy. It could be a color, or a plant, anything. Just notice. Allow your gaze to rest there or move the gaze slowly around your space noticing what is good, beautiful and pleasing to you.

Perhaps you take opposite hand to forearm and begin to squeeze the forearm, feeling the bone. Repeating to yourself. “I am here. I am safe. I am supported”. As your body begins to orient to the space around you and you feel into your body notice how your breath, body and mind begin to respond. You begin to settle.

If you are still feeling any excess energy or anxiety take a moment to stand if you aren’t already. Intuitively let both hands rest on the body. Perhaps one on the belly and one on the chest. Lift both heels coming onto the balls of both feet with your inhale, then firmly drop the heels on your exhale. Repeat as many times as you need to. Lifting onto the balls of your feet with an inhale and firmly dropping both heels with your exhale.

After orienting to your surroundings and feeling into your body allow the breath to move down the body. Inhaling in through the nose and filling up the belly allow the exhale to now travel down through the pelvis and into the legs and out through the soles of the feet. Repeat, repeat, repeat as many times as you need to. You may begin to feel the strength and heaviness of your legs. Feel the support of the ground beneath you. Feel the earth as she rises up to meet you.

Again feel how the breath, body and mind to respond. Feel fully embodied--take up every inch of your body with presence and breath.

Now, begin ...