Yucatán Dream

(wind whooshing) Deep within the Yucatan Forest, brackish water laps against the tangled roots of a mangrove tree. Above in the branches, an emerald hummingbird rests after a long day of feeding on flowers. Beneath it the tidal river moves slowly towards the shoreline, where an estuary awaits. In the distance a great blue heron catches its dinner as the sun sets. (wing whooshing) Before we take this journey, let's begin by winding down. For tonight's wind down, you are going to use your imagination. So get your imagination ready and let's begin. So no matter what's been going on today, whether it's been a busy day or a calm one, (wind whooshing) this is an opportunity to put everything down. To let go of any inner chatter and find a place of rest in both the body and the mind. So first, get yourself comfortable in bed. Just taking a moment to pause and be still. And when you're ready, taking a big deep breath, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. (wind whooshing) And as you breathe out, allowing the body to sink down into your bed. (wind whooshing) Feeling the weight of the body, allowing thoughts to come and go. Now imagining (wind whooshing) a steady flow of warm sunlight flowing down through the body. (wind whooshing) Dissolving any tension, any discomfort as it begins to feel the body starting with the toes. Moving up through the feet and the legs, being filled with sunlight. (wind whooshing) The qualities of warmth, space, and ease as it continues to travel up through the body, (wind whooshing) up past the waist to the back and the stomach. It is as though it washes away any discomfort. It continues up to the chest and the back into the shoulders and down the arms, (wind whooshing) all the way down to the hands and fingers. A sense of relief in the body and stillness in the mind. As it continues to travel through the neck and the throat into the head and face all the way to the very top of the body until there's nothing other than that sense of stillness remaining. And now just gently bringing the attention back to the body. (wind whooshing) Near the ruins of Tulum, five men climb a wooden pole high up in the air and sit on a wooden square. They are wearing white shirts, red pants and caps, embroidered with small flowers and feather-like ribbons strapped under their chins. Four of the men tie a yellow rope around their ankles while the fifth stands on the round platform in the center, keeping rhythm with a small flute and drum. They are performing the Danza de los Voladores or the Dance of the Flyers, a ceremony that has been practiced here for generations. Often in times when rain was needed for the land. The four men begin to turn slowly leaning back and opening their arms wide, sending gratitude to the...