Space Oddity - a guided visualisation

Today I bring you a guided visualisation, which takes all of five minutes to carry out, even whilst sitting at your desk.  Wherever you decide to do it, I really encourage you to take this time to relax, switch off your phone, light a candle or burn some oils, and really feel the benefits of letting go as you allow your body to defy the effects of gravity.

Before you click the link below, if you have the time, why not blow away any tension by carrying out a few cleansing breaths first.  Whist this isn't a specific yoga pranayama (breathing) technique (these will be demonstrated at a later date), it's a useful start point for introducing the concept of conscious breathing.  When you focus on the breath, all other sensations, thoughts, etc move to the edge of your awareness.

So, when you are ready and you're in a comfortable seated/reclining position:

• Inhale very deeply through your nose, suck in the breath, make a noise, almost exaggerate the effort
• Next, hold that breath to a slow count of five
• Then, let all the air out very, very slowly through your mouth - and as you do, literally blow away all of the tension in your body, until you've blown out all of the air
• Repeat 2-4 times

Continue to breathe deeply and evenly throughout the visualisation, this will aid your concentration and promote relaxation.


Click here to enjoy five minutes of guided imagery: Space Oddity

Afterwards, take a few moments to reflect on how you felt during the visualisation.  Did you have any distractions, were you comfortable, could you build more of these techniques into your day?  

Meanwhile, I hope I have given you another tool to reduce stress in the run up to the festive season.  

And remember, keep calm and carry on :)