A Relaxation Exercise
Introducing Relaxed Breathing
This is an exercise in learning to trust your breath.
You should be sitting down comfortably with your arms and legs
uncrossed and your hands at rest.
And be aware of the contact between your body and the surface
which is supporting you.
Feel yourself sink a little into that surface as you begin to relax.
And turn your attention to the inside of your body, notice where the
breathing is happening in your body.
And allow your muscles to relax as you allow your breathing to sink
deeper into your body.
You can feel your breath flow in and out and as you concentrate on your breath you can feel that it is slowly going deeper and deeper into your body.
And now, every time you finish breathing out, I want you to pause for a moment, before breathing in again.
This pause is the key to good breathing.
Allow yourself to explore this pause.
And allow the pause to be whatever length it wants.
You can trust that your breath will always come again.
Pausing between the breaths, waiting for the next breath to come
when it is ready, it will always come.
And imagine that you are standing on a beach, a beautiful beach on a warm day, looking out to sea and watching the waves.
Waiting for the waves to flow in and out.
And imagine that the waves are your breath.
And as you wait for each wave, you wait for each breath,
allowing each breath to wash over you like a wave, as you breathe in..........
Watching the wave recede as you breathe out.........
pausing until the next wave.........the next breath..........is ready to come..........
And continue to breathe in this way as you stand on the beach, watching the waves,
for as long as you want to..........
And you can use this exercise in any situation in your daily life when you want to relax.
Breathing in this way always brings you back to yourself,
allowing you to feel relaxed and in control of any situation.
And now allow the image of the beach to fade....................
And in a moment you are going to count from one to five, and as you count, bring yourself gently out of your rest, so that when you reach five, you will be feeling relaxed and refreshed.................
One Two Three Four Five
Now you are relaxed and refreshed and ready to return to
your daily life with confidence.
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