breath practice
The Slowing Breath
Before you begin
Lie in bed, comfortable and warm. This breath practice is designed to be fallen asleep during.
The practice, step by step — read it all first if you like
Lengthen
Breathe in for four, out for eight — gentle, never forced — for ten rounds.
Soften
With each out-breath, let one body part grow heavier: brow, jaw, shoulders, hands, legs.
Drift
Stop counting. Let the breath do whatever it likes. Drifting off is the goal, not the failure.
Accessibility
No counting required once learned; counts can be shortened to whatever is comfortable.
How long do you have?
Or read through it quietly above, at your own pace.