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Body Scan Meditation (Guided by the Breath)

38 Min
Meditation
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William James Davies, DCMT
Psychotherapist & Mindfulness Teacher
This practice is a truly a foundational mindfulness meditation, and a great way to get out of your head and into your body. It’s the first meditation participants on 8-week courses such as Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction encounter, with a 45 minute Body Scan in the first session, after which they are invited to practice this each day between sessions, so please don’t be put off by the length of this recording, which also includes plenty of guidance for beginners. The Body Scan has certain characteristics that set it slightly apart from many other mindfulness meditations; notably the way attention is repeatedly moved through the body, rather than remaining fixed or open, and it’s also typically practiced in a lying down posture (although, it can be done seated too). Ideally, make the Body Scan a central part of your regular practice routine, it’s likely to help you to develop greater regulation of your attention, and be more able to open up to body sensations with a compassionate, non-judging and accepting attitude. (Note the distinction between this mediation and practices such as ‘Breath & Body’ where there is no element of moving attention around the body, i.e. scanning).
From the community
2 reflections
LP
Lisa Pollard
Excellent Body Scan
Great way to start the day with this wonderful body scan practice. I really enjoy becoming intimate with every part of my body before starting my day. It feels so nourishing to pay attention in this caring careful way.
J
Jackie
Great!
First, this is a wonderful body scan. I learned that I much prefer to tightly focus on areas on my body that are experiencing sensations of chronic pain. It made me slightly nervous at first to be focused elsewhere. So, that was very helpful to recognize that. I also found some areas in my body that were quite pleasant to feel into that I was not aware of.
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