In this meditation, I return once again to the foundational relaxation form that lies at the heart of this meditative path.
This practice is designed to strengthen the “muscles of attention” — helping us enter meditative awareness more deeply, more steadily and more peacefully over time. It is also a gentle place to begin for anyone new to meditation, or for those returning to the practice after some time away.
Together, we move slowly through posture, bodily awareness, relaxation and breath before entering the deeper stillness that exists beneath thoughts, emotions and sensations.
Using the breath as an anchor, we gradually relax the body, observe the movement of thoughts and feelings without attachment, and reconnect with the deeper centre of awareness within.
This meditation offers support for grounding, relaxation, contemplative awareness, stress relief and reconnecting with inner stillness.
It can be used as part of a daily meditation practice, for calming the body and mind during a busy day, or as a gentle meditation for sleep, winding down and evening stillness.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Returning to the foundational form
00:38 – Opening bell
00:49 – Ritual gesture and entering meditation
01:35 – Grounding through posture and bodily awareness
02:31 – Awareness of the breath
03:04 – Breathing out tension and stress
03:35 – Breathing with the whole body
03:44 – Checking in with the body
04:21 – Relaxing the body into stillness
05:33 – Observing thoughts and emotions
06:13 – “I have a body, but I am more”
06:55 – Resting in the deeper centre of awareness
07:24 – “I am I”
08:20 – Returning awareness to the body
09:01 – Bringing this peace into the day
09:33 – Closing bell