Hey there, I’m Mel and welcome to Yield. This breathing practice is an exploration in self-worth by delving into the depths of the heart and exploring who we are.
Start out by finding a comfortable position, whatever feels good for you. Just relax, bringing one hand onto your belly and the other onto your heart space. Just notice your body, starting with the soles of your feet, moving all the way up through the legs, hips, chest and head. Noticing the support of your back body, noticing any sensations you feel. Just allowing yourself to be supported, to be held.
Now breathing in through the nose and releasing the exhale through the mouth, as you exhale let go of any expectations, surrendering to this moment, feeling any tension dissolving, any resistance giving way to the breath. Notice the journey of the breath as you inhale and exhale. The belly rising and then releasing. Following each breath come back to your centre, settle, relax to feel at rest. Returning to breathing in and out of the nose.
Allow your mind to wander, just observing the thoughts as they arise and watching them, noticing their shape, their form, allowing them to be as they are without judgement. Noticing the thoughts as they rise and fall in the mind like the breath. Being mindful, attentive and aware of your thoughts rather than seeking to contain or control them. Being accepting and allowing them to be without resistance.
And just know that you are enough, that you have been made with love, that you have been created with intention and design, and that everything about you, all the parts of you, all of you is beautiful and worthy of love. You are exactly who you were born to be. You are where you are supposed to be. You belong.
Bring your awareness to your face. Feel the softness, the ease and keeping your mouth closed, create a soft smile. Feel the corners of your mouth rising up towards your cheeks. Notice how it feels when you are smiling, how does it feel? Just noticing, noticing how natural and easy it is to smile. Just smiling, makes you feel better. Take a moment here to bring your awareness to what makes you feel happy and peaceful, What creates a smile on your face and in your heart when you think on it?
What makes you feel good about yourself? What are some of the things that you have done, aspects of who you are that reflect who you really are, that are most you, that you are most proud of? What do you want to tell people about? Take a moment to be with yourself, with that version of you. Feeling the warmth, the goodness and the kindness of being you.
Think about who you want to be, what are some characteristics do you want to embody more in your life? How would your life be different? What would that look like? that you want to embody more in your life. What does that look like? How would that feel. Just allow your imagination to create the image of who you desire to be. Watching it taking form in your mind noticing how you feel, any thoughts that arise.
Bringing your attention back to the breath. With each inhale allow yourself embrace who you are, every aspect of who you are. Feeling that love for yourself, seeing yourself with the eyes of kindness and affection. Releasing any thoughts of judgement or criticism by need to contain or control who you are to be moulded or shaped by the ideas of others. Knowing who you are in your heart, knowing and appreciating your entire being. You are here, you are worthy of love and that you belong.
Just stay here as long as you need, staying with your breath, staying with your heart, being as yourself.