Theme/Mantra: “Pause. Breathe. Deep Breath. Again.”
Reading:
Afraid So by Jeanne Marie Beaumont
Is it starting to rain?
Did the check bounce?
Are we out of coffee?
Is this going to hurt?
Could you lose your job?
Did the glass break?
Was the baggage misrouted?
Will this go on my record?
Are you missing much money?
Was anyone injured?
Is the traffic heavy?
Do I have to remove my clothes?
Will it leave a scar?
Must you go?
Will this be in the papers?
Is my time up already?
Are we seeing the understudy?
Will it affect my eyesight?
Did all the books burn?
Are you still smoking?
Is the bone broken?
Will I have to put him to sleep?
Was the car totaled/
Am I responsible for these charges?
Are you contagious?
Will we have to wait long?
Meditation:
Mother’s Breath
Sit comfortably.
Exhale with a goal to reset the diaphragm.
Breath in- through your nose for a slow count of seven.
Hold your breath for a moment.
Breath out through your nose for the count of seven.
Hold for a moment.
Repeat several times.
Focus on the words, “I breathe easily knowing that I am safe and secure.”
Physical Movement:
Bent Knee sitting Forward
Sit erect, with your legs extended. Fold one leg into half butterfly, so that the sole of the foot presses high on the inside of the other thigh.
Inhale while raising your arms overhead, palms facing each other.
Exhale, bending toward your outstretched thigh.
Stop when your back begins to round.
Grasp your extended leg where you can without straining (calf, ankle, foot).
Bend your leg slightly if you must.
Relax. Breathe into the stretch.
Repeat on the other side.
Hero
Now sit with your back straight.
Cross your legs so that your right knee is on top of your left knee.
(Your right foot pointing to your left, or pointing back along your left upper leg, depending on your flexibility. Left foot the same, in the right direction).
Move your feet away from your hips, and feel the stretch in your hip.
Place the palms of your hands on the soles of your feet.
Bend your upper body forward onto your knees.
Relax and breathe slowly.
Return to the upright seated position.
Repeat with your left knee on top of the right.
Reflection:
I am breathing deeply even as I write this.
Life is full. With so many things. Things that go wrong. Things that go right- but time demanding things that sometimes leave us ragged.
We don’t always have control over what those things are, nor how many things we need to be juggling.
Deep breaths do so much to calm the mind and physical body.
Pausing regularly amidst the minute-to-minute scheduled full life- can do so much to help us find the strength to do what we have to do.
Life is hard.
I am sorry for those of us who were taught otherwise.
But now we know- we can breathe through the tough times.
Song: Just Breathe by Pearl Jam
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Yes I understand that every life must end, uh-huh
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, uh-huh
Oh I'm a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love
Some folks just have one, yeah others they've got none
Stay with me...
Let's just breathe...
[Verse 2]
Practiced all my sins, never gonna let me win, uh-huh
Under everything, just another human being, uh-huh
Yeah I don't wanna hurt, there's so much in this world to make me bleed
Stay with me
You're all I see...
[Chorus]
Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see
No one knows this more than me
[Verse 3]
As I come clean...
I wonder everyday, as I look upon your face, uh-huh
Everything you gave and nothing you would take, oh no
Nothing you would take
Everything you gave...
Until Tomorrow- Peace