Floating on clouds

Sometime we need to take a moment for ourselves. This is a peaceful meditation that will help you to relax and let go. Removing negativity and welcoming new beginnings. It’s the perfect practice before bed to encourage a betters night sleep. 

Start by lying on your back, in “Savasana” let your feet roll open and your arms rest at your sides. If you need extra support, you can place a pillow under your head or lower back. When you are feeling comfortable take a moment to connect with your breath. Breathe in and out through your nose, slowly lengthening and deepening your breath. On your inhalation, bring yourself into this moment, on your exhalation, allow yourself to let go. When you feel ready, allow your breath to flow naturally. Start to visualise that you are floating on a cloud. The cloud is white and fluffy, you feel like you are laying in a bed of cotton wool, it’s soft and comfortable. The cloud surrounds any areas that need healing, you allow your body to sink into the cloud, so you are feeling completely relaxed. Notice the beautiful clear blue sky above you and feel the warmth from the sun on your skin. Notice the birds flying past singing sweet tunes. Listen to the soft hum from the world below, noticing the love and laughter filling the planet. Take a moment to absorb that loving feeling from your family and friends, inhale their laughter and appreciate the kind smiles from strangers. Admire the worlds natural beauty. Listen to the water running in streams and rivers, washing away negativity. Listen to the wind blowing through trees, spreading seeds ready for new beginnings. Thank yourself for allowing this time for you, you are beautiful, your are kind, you are unique and you are strong.

Footprints in the snow

This meditation practice will help you let go of anything you no longer need and reflect on life. It will help you find courage and inner strength, so that you can face life’s challenges and accept whatever the universe sends. We can’t control what’s to come, but we can choose to live life with love, learn from our mistakes and grow.

Start by lying on your back, in “Savasana” let your feet roll open and your arms rest at your sides. If you need extra support, you can place a pillow under your head or lower back. Bend your knees and rest your legs on a chair if you feel discomfort in lower back in Savasana. When you are feeling comfortable take a moment to connect with your breath. Breathe in and out through your nose, slowly lengthening and deepening your breath. On the exhalation allow your body to relax and sink into the earth. When you feel relaxed, allow your breath to flow naturally. Visualise you’re in the mountains, notice the white snow glistening in the sunlight, the beautiful blue skies with fluffy white clouds and the magnificent mountains around you. Listen, you hear nothing other than the song of the wind in the distance. Enjoy all the space around you, no one is watching you, there is no judgment or exspecations. Start walking, every step is meaningful, listen to the snow crunch beneath your feet. After a few steps, look back and see your footprints in the snow, these represent something that has happened in your life, something you need to let go of.

It begins to snow, feel the snowflakes gently melt into your skin. Watch the snow. Watch the snow as it begins to fill your footprints, slowly they disappeared, you know they are there but now the indentations have been erased and the surface is smooth and clear. Learn from this and let go of whatever is no longer serving you. Allow yourself to feel cleansed, blessed and free. Now as you walk through the snow feel confident that you can face whatever is coming your way. Remember it’s okay to stop, to take in the view and focus on you. It’s good to look back, reflect and let it snow. We can’t control how the weather will be for the rest of the walk or where we may end up, but we can ask the universe to guide us and enjoy the journey.

Written by Adriana

Breathing in Autumn

We tend to go through life and never truly notice what is around us or what we need. When you are out, do you ever stop to look around you? Do you notice the beautiful colours of autumn or the rain as it dances? Are you too busy to notice what your body needs physically, mentally, or spiritually? This meditation is about connecting with your body and breath. It will take you on a journey, so you can enjoy the beauty of autumn.

Sitting in a comfortable position, relax, take a few moments to notice your breath. How do you feel?  Take a deep inhale and as you exhale let go of any tension or negativity and allow yourself to be in that moment.

Take as long, as you like, allow your breath flow naturally.

Notice the world around you, do you notice the leaves falling from the tree’s, little by little, or do you wake up one morning and notice a thick carpet of warm orange and red? 

Imagine the trees as they will look in a few months standing bear, notice the complex shapes of the branches. Take a moment to ponder and appreciate these beautiful and majestic trees. Appreciate the work they do, gifting us with the oxygen we breathe.  

Now visualise the branches of the trees as if they were the capillaries within your lungs, notice how intricate they are and yet, how naturally you breathe, regardless of the myriad of complex and challenging channels. 

Compare and notice this beautiful connection between us the trees and all that is living, take time to appreciate the miracle of breath.

Pranayama Practice- Nadi shodana (right hand- index and middle finger to third eye, thumb on the nostril breath in through left nostril, close it off with ring and little finger, breath out and in through right). Nadi means little river, it refers to the channels through which prana flows, shodana means purification, cleansing our nasal energy passage.

Lay down if this is more comfortable, visualise you are in a forest with someone you love. Notice everything around you, the colour of the leaves, the cool crisp air, the birds in the trees, the conkers on the ground. You walk through the forest and come to two paths, one path to continue your walk, another to a cosy café with a wood fire and warm drinks. Which path would you like to take? Which path would the person you are with like to take? It’s okay to disagree and it’s okay to go your own way.  This Autumn, it’s okay to slow down or to even stop. As we move from one season to the next take time for yourself, maybe you practice some yoga or take a bath so you can let your mind and body slow down or even stop!  Notice your lungs once more, notice how your breathing feels now. 

Written by Adriana and Charlotte

Edited by Pauline