Lavender Fields

The countryside in Provence is beautiful at this time of year. Especially here, in this tiny village along the Mediterranean coast. Tucked at the base of the Massif des Maures mountain range, this hidden town offers a unique mix of sights and sounds from both land and sea, waiting to be explored. With the sun hanging low on the horizon, the village prepares for the coming evening. Let's join them by settling in with a brief wind-down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. First, get yourself comfortable. Now just bringing the attention to the breath. Just noticing where you feel it. In the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin. In for four. Two, three, four. Hold it for four. Two, three, four. Now, breathing out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. Great. Now, returning the breath to normal. On the outskirts of the village sits a large, sprawling field of lavender, the signature flower of Provence. What a medley of colors, purple, yellow, green, blue. It is a real pleasure for the eyes and for the nose. All your senses are awake. The sweet perfume from the field reminds you of freshly washed laundry hanging out to dry in the sun. The crickets welcome you with their signature songs. Almond and olive trees adorn the field. There is no single cloud in the sky. Standing under one of the olive trees, an old man with a thick white mustache is painting the evening landscape on an easel. He's smiling contentedly, so lost in the flow of his work that he seems to notice nothing else. The sound of the brush dipping into the paint is soothing. He mixes blue and red paint, adding in white, until he reaches the perfect shade of purple. He adds delicate strokes of lavender to his canvas, perfectly recreating the fields before him. You breathe in the familiar air of the flower fields. With the moon hanging above and the dreamlike scent of lavender wafting all around, it's easy to understand how this man can become so absorbed in his art. Down a nearby alleyway is a small pottery workshop beloved by the local townspeople. Sitting behind the counter is Amelie, the talented ceramicist and cheerful shop owner who shares her love of pottery with anyone who crosses her path. The workshop is vibrant and decorated in colors that echo the different types...