Sacred Practice: Take a Moment to Relax

Between work, family, and the 1001 items on our To-Do Lists, rushing around has become a way of life for us all. But the more relaxed you are in your body, the more you’ll flow through the day and allow yourself to live in communion with the sacred. Yes, you can be busy and be more relaxed. It just takes awareness and practice. Once you’ve got the hang of it, this practice can be done throughout the day–you don’t even need to stop what you’re doing or take time out.

Practice:

Find a comfortable place to sit and sink into this present moment. Take three deep breaths.

• Move your attention away from your mind and into your body. As you continue to follow the flow of your breath, begin to scan your body.
• Start with your face: your eyes, your checks, your jaw. Then move to your arms, your hands, your chest. Feel your back against the chair: scan your upper back, then your lower back. Now, notice your legs, the weight of your thighs, your calves and your feet.
• Feel your breath moving throughout your body. Notice any places of tightness or holding on.
• You might notice a gripping in your jaw, in your throat, or in your lower back. Or you might notice  a clenching in your hands. See if you can find some release by breathing into your body. Perhaps your lower back can relax against the back of your chair; your shoulders can drop away from your ears, or your hands can open and rest on your lap.
• Throughout the day, you can notice this holding in your body and simply release. It’s a small action, yet powerful!  You can do this in a meeting when you notice you are sitting on the edge of your chair. You can do this when you’re our walking and notice that your hands are tightening into a fist. You can do this when you’re driving and notice that your jaw is clenched.
• When you become aware of any tension or holding in your body, breath into it, relax, and release it.

The more relaxed and at ease your body feels, the more receptive it is to becoming a holy temple. Give yourself (and your body) this sacred gift.