Breathwork for the Moment
As we face systemic oppression, police brutality, and racism, ground yourself in the present moment to find your own sense of peace.
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For this practice I'd like to guide you through breath work. Breath work is an active meditation using a three part fast paced breathing pattern. It's such a powerful form of self healing that helps connect you to your body, move stuck energy and emotions and opens up your heart. I love this tool so much because it's proof that everyone holds the power within to shift and heal parts of ourselves using our own mind and bodies. For this practice, we'll be using the breath to support us in accepting what is in the present moment. Things such as systemic oppression, police brutality and racism are at the forefront of society which is taking a toll, especially on the minds, bodies and spirits of black indigenous people of color. And this practice will help us not just be present in the moment, but honor our feelings, feel our feelings and move past them in order for us to live with more peace and to move forward with more hope. Typically this is done laying down. So I invite you to do that if it's available and accessible to you. You can also do this practice sitting up in a chair. I truly want you to do whatever feels good and best for your body. When you're settled, I'll also invite you to put one hand over your heart and one hand over your belly if it's available to you. We'll start by taking three cleansing breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Just breathing in through your nose long big inhales, breathing out through your mouth, maybe even letting out a sigh and doing this two more times deep inhales in, deep exhales out. And once more breathing in and breathing out. And when you're ready, we'll begin the breath breathing into your belly through your mouth, breathing into your chest through your mouth and breathing all the way out on your exhale, through your mouth. Breathing into your belly through your mouth, breathing into your chest through your mouth, breathing out through your mouth on your exhales. Finding a rhythm that feels good to you. Trust yourself in your intuition to guide you breathing fully in and exhaling completely. If there are any emotions being stirred up, know that this is normal. If there are any tingling sensations or cramping of the hands, they're all completely normal. The practice is to keep breathing. You may be feeling sadness or grief or rage or anger, let those emotions reveal themselves in order for them to be healed. Use the breath to help you feel all of these feelings. I'll invite you to make any noises that you feel called to make or movements with your body. You can let out to scream, yell, laugh, any size. You can stomp your feet on the ground if that's available to you, pound your fist on the ground, move your body from side to side, take up as much...
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About your teachers
- More about Andy
A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.
- More about Eve
Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.
- More about Dora
As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.
- More about Kessonga
Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.
- More about Rosie
Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.
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