Body Awareness

Hi. Welcome to this practice where we'll be focusing on the different sensations present in the body as a way for us to connect to the present moment. So begin by finding a comfortable, upright position. Softening the space between the eyebrows, relaxing the shoulders, and you can close your eyes if you'd like. When you're ready, taking a few deeper breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Allowing the mind and body to settle and arrive. Now, returning the breath back to its natural rhythm and just beginning to notice the physical sensations of the body. You can rest your focus on the entire body, or perhaps there's a specific sensation calling your attention. Allowing any and all sensations to arise. Experiencing the changing nature of sensations. How they rise and fall, come and go, begin and end. Noticing the texture of sensations, the shape, size, movement. Doing so with a kind curiosity. If at any moment the mind gets distracted, maybe it begins to wander, that's okay. It's normal and natural. As soon as you notice it has, this is a moment of waking up, of being present. This is mindfulness. So just gently acknowledging the thought, the movement of the mind, and then gently and kindly returning the focus back to the body. Maintaining a steady, gentle awareness on the body. Noticing any sensations, expansion, stillness, vibration, tension, softness, movement with the breath, a collection of sensations constantly changing and shifting. And just resting in this experience with care and kindness. Perhaps noticing the temperature of the body, noticing where feels cool or warm. Noticing where there isn't any sensation. Recognizing that this is a sensation too. We're not changing anything about the body. We're just noticing what's always here with us. And noticing without judgment, without evaluating or analyzing, but simply holding sensation in our awareness with a sense of curiosity, care, and compassion. And again, when the mind wanders or gets distracted, this is human and totally natural. Just gently shifting the focus back to the body. Letting go of any thoughts, stories, memories. Resting the focus and awareness on the body. Noticing what happens when we pay attention in this way. Without judgment and full of curiosity and care. What begins to shift, to soften, to come and go. And now slowly guiding your attention back to the room or the space that you're in. Noticing any sounds around you, the temperature of the air, the light or darkness behind your eyelids. Feeling the contact between your body and the surface beneath you. Maybe taking a gentle stretch. And in your own time when you're ready, you can gently open the eyes. Maybe take a deep breath in and a slow breath out. I'll see you around....