Letting Go With Breath

Take a pause from all activity and either sit or stand in a way that allows you to be comfortable yet alert. It's ideal, if possible, to gently close your eyes. With each of the following conscious breaths, inhale fully, extending your natural in breath so your lungs are filled with air. And then exhale very slowly so that you can feel the actual sensation of releasing the breath and letting go. Now with this first set of three breaths and with this first breath breathing in deeply.

And as you exhale, imagine letting go of all thoughts. You might picture thoughts as clouds appearing and then passing out of sight, leaving a wide open sky. Breathing in deeply, filling the lungs. And then breathing out, sensing thoughts as clouds, appearing, and disappearing. One more time.

Inhale deeply, filling the lungs. And with the exhale, letting go of thoughts, leaving a wide open sky. And as you continue now, the second set of breaths, as you exhale, imagine letting go of all physical tension. So inhale deeply. Breathing in, filling the lungs.

And then breathing out, letting go, letting go of any areas of tightness. Sensing, softening and dissolving. Again, inhaling deeply, filling the lungs. And with the out-breath letting go of physical tension as if ice is melting to water. And one more time.

Inhaling deeply, filling the lungs. And exhale, let go of any tightness or tension. Dissolving, releasing, letting go. And now with this third set of breaths, as you exhale, you'll be imagining letting go of all the burdens in your heart. So inhaling deeply now, filling the lungs.

And as you exhale, sense a loosening and releasing as if water is disappearing into vapor. Inhaling deeply and filling the lungs. And releasing the burdens of your heart, water disappearing into vapor. And one more time, inhaling deeply, filling the lungs. Exhale, letting go of pain and sorrow.

Letting go. And now simply allow the breath to resume in its natural rhythm. Sense the possibility of simply relaxing open with the in-breath like a gently expanding balloon. And letting go with the out-breath, relaxing and settling into greater and greater ease and wellbeing. Continue this breath, relaxing with the life that's here, as long as you'd like.

And then when you're ready, explore re-entering activity with a relaxed and open attention.