- So with that, let's practice,
and then I will give KJ his formal introduction,
and we'll turn it over to him.
So to begin, for my friends at the center,
you can turn off your cameras if you'd like.
Sometimes it's nice to be unobserved while we practice.
So bringing yourself into a nice, upright position.
There's no need to be uncomfortable while you do this,
but just settling into a nice, straight spine, tallness
and dignity in your body.
Feeling the ground underneath your feet
and the support of your chair
or wherever your body is meeting the Earth.
And then if you'd like,
you can close your eyes or simply soften your gaze.
Whatever is most comfortable for you right now.
So the idea here
is that we are drawing our attention inward.
So probably you've been active with thoughts and ideas
and activities today.
So just allowing those to settle in, to settle down,
to be set aside,
and likewise, just setting aside
anything that you might have happening in the future
so that you're resting right here in the moment.
Now, distractions may come in thoughts, ideas,
physical sensations, emotions.
That's all normal.
It's part of life. It's part of living.
So it's not a problem to be solved.
Just notice when you have a distraction
and use that with awareness to notice
and bring your attention back to this moment.
So again and again, bringing your attention back,
perhaps to the breath,
perhaps to the body.
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Simply to this moment.
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So meeting yourself here in the stillness and the quiet.
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Finding the healing that can occur just by settling in,
settling down, centering.
(soft music)
Now, maybe scan through your body
and see if you notice any areas of holding on or tension
that you can simply let go,
and just release a bit more,
surrender a bit more.
Noticing that when you relax and release,
that there is more support for you.
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Just even noticing this in your body
when you release any unnecessary tension or holding
that the floor and the chair can just hold you
a bit more strongly.
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Seeing what energy is saved.
Just relaxing and releasing energy that you can use
to focus your attention on this moment.
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So now, as a way to close our practice,
perhaps bringing some gratitude to yourself
for taking the time and the effort to be here right now.
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So, really savoring in the moment,
savoring in the gratitude
and savoring in your presence with yourself.
And then maybe moving to an intention
for how you'd like to spend this next hour together
in this community.
Maybe it was curiosity or open-mindedness, open-heartedness.
Whatever it is for you.
Coming up with that intention
that you can visit again and again.
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So now, with gratitude and intention,
bringing some small movements to your body.
Maybe even taking some larger motion
if that's what's right for you right now,
and reopening your eyes if they've been closed.
Noticing the area around you.
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And preparing for KJ's talk with us today.
Thank you so much for practicing with me today.
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