I would like you to bring your awareness to how you’re feeling. How you are holding your body? How are you really feeling about being in this class? And notice where you’re holding tension. Most of us are holding unnecessary tension somewhere in our body, all the time and we don’t realise that this is signalling to the brain that we’re in danger of an immediate threat. 

So now if it’s comfortable, close your eyes. And keep your awareness on your body as you’re listening to me. 

And I just want you to breathe. Not changing anything. Just let everything be as it is. Perhaps you’re always trying to control things But here now, Just Be. Just allow you. 

And now imagine that the part of you that is aware of yourself as a living being, your self awareness, is above you somehow. Like your higher self. And you are looking down on yourself just observing, just notice what’s going on for you.

And from this place of self observation, notice what is happening in your body.

Notice if you're pulling your shoulders up for example. Are you holding your jaw tense? Squinting in your eyes. Are you squeezing your hands? Clenching your belly. Gripping with your toes. Or anything else you notice and give yourself permission to gently unwind, just see if you can let go of some of the effort you are putting into just being. Allow yourself to sink into the chair. Feel the chair you are sitting on.

Notice the parts of your body that are touching the chair. Are you allowing your full weight to be in the chair or are you pulling away from it? Can you firmly feel your feet on the ground?

Now notice how you're breathing. Is your breath shallow and fast or deep, slow and full. How is the way that you are breathing signalling to your brain about your environment? Just reflect on that. If you were a newcomer to your body as it were, a visitor, what’s it like in there? What are you expressing to the world? What are you saying about your environment? And now take a breath in through your nose and just let out a sigh through your mouth. And again. In. Sigh out. Our breath is so powerful. We can use the out breath to let go and allow.

Ask yourself, can I anchor into where I am right now? Into this moment. Or are thoughts getting in the way? How much of you is really here? And if all of you is not here, where is the rest of you? That’s really important to know. Where do you go?

Take a snapshot now.

1-10 How stressed are you?

1-10 How connected to your body do you feel?

1-10 How is the experience of breathing for you?