1 minute read

Welcome Rest

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Lower your gaze or close your eyes. Take three deep breaths at a natural pace, signaling to your body and mind that you're about to practice. As you settle in, gently remind yourself to stay open in this moment with full curiosity, nonjudgment, and a deep sense of self-compassion.

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Invite in rest with each inhale. Invite in deeper rest with each exhale, without any effort. Just breathe in and out. 3 Notice where you are breathing from—simply notice, with no judgment. Are you breathing from your throat, your chest? Or are you breathing from your abdomen?

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Resting is not self-indulgent; it's not selfish; and it's also not just anything that feels good. I created an acronym for rest in my work: restoratively embracing self today. We all give and do so much, and rest is a key responsibility to ourselves. This means that we honor ourselves by resting and we model this for others by example. By resting, we give others permission to also rest. 4

Bring your breathing into your abdomen. If you’re breathing from your abdomen, bring your breathing deeper into your belly. Notice what it feels like to breathe more deeply. 5

Bring your attention back to the breath, returning to the rhythm of your breath with each in-breath and outbreath, increasing your awareness, becoming more present, allowing for the spaciousness of rest in your presence and in your body. 7

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tovi Scruggs-Hussein is an award-winning urban educator with almost 30 years of courageous leadership and transformation experience. She is a recognized leader in emotional intelligence, equity and inclusion, and resilience.

Support yourself by breathing at a pace that feels good to you. As you breathe deeply from your abdomen, you massage your nervous systems with each in-breath and outbreath. Breathe freely and rest.

When you’re ready, open your eyes and return, fully present.

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