Nature does not hurry,
yet everything is accomplished.
– Lao Tzu
Finding moments of deep inner calm can truly feel like a luxury these days. The constant barrage of notifications from our phones from apps that were built to be addictive, family life, work demands, social pulls – even when all categories of life are amazing – life can be – a lot!
Supine breathwork is a wonderful respite. I wanted to offer a short practice because sometimes we just have a few minutes. And sometimes that’s all we need.
This practice requires no experience in meditation or mindfulness, or breathwork for that matter. And because you are lying down it is fully accessible to anyone that finds sitting uncomfortable.
The Basics of a Supine Breathwork Meditation
Supine breathwork meditation is a form of mindfulness practice where you can lie down comfortably on your back, allowing your body to fully relax. You can lie on the couch, or on a yoga mat, in a reclining chair or even in bed. The primary focus of this meditation is your breath. By consciously directing your attention to your breath and the sensations associated with it, you cultivate mindfulness and promote a deep sense of relaxation.
I really like to use a body scan in a supine breathwork meditation and I often do this practice in the morning upon waking or before bed. A body scan involves systematically directing your awareness to different parts of your body. As you scan through each body part, you become attuned to the physical sensations, tension, and any areas of discomfort, while maintaining steady, mindful breathing.
Benefits of a Supine Breathwork Meditation
Stress Reduction
One of the most significant benefits of this practice is stress reduction. By focusing on your breath and releasing physical tension, you activate the body’s relaxation response, lowering stress hormones and promoting a sense of calm. Since stress can be sourced as the root cause, or central cause of almost all disease the benefits of stress reduction are really limitless. The heavy hitter benefits include – improved digestion, better nutrient absorption in the body, more clear thinking, improved decision making, even better skin!
Improved Sleep
Regular practice of this meditation can lead to improved sleep quality. As you learn to let go of daily stressors and quiet your mind, falling asleep and staying asleep become more manageable.
Enhanced Mindfulness
The body scan technique enhances mindfulness by training your mind to stay present and aware of bodily sensations. This heightened awareness extends to your daily life, helping you make better decisions and respond more skillfully to challenging situations.
Emotional Regulation
Supine breathwork meditation can help you regulate your emotions. By practicing mindfulness, you become more attuned to your emotional reactions, allowing you to respond to them in a more balanced way.
Breathwork and Tree Planting
Why even make this link? Modo was founded on the concept that in order to do the important work of regeneration and sustainability we need to begin within. We do this inner work with the shared vision of using our deeper connection within as an engine to create and sustain positive change.
Trees are our collective lungs. They exhale much of the oxygen we breathe and have the ability to sequester, or breath in CO2. Scientists are constantly uncovering the vast wisdom and intelligence of trees and forests.
We are SO grateful to the countless Modi’s out there that participate in our collective initiatives like Sweat For Sustainability that have helped us plant so many thousands of trees over the years. When our inner growth reaches out to create a healthier and more sustainable worldThis is the dream – and this community makes dreams come true. inner growth out to a healthier and more sustainable world.
If you haven’t taken part in a tree planting contribution this year and would like to join in and take a moment to plant a tree with us!
Hope you enjoy the practice. Reach out if you have questions.
Jess
Jess Robertson is a mom, a bass flute player, a loving cat-mom, dog aunty, and the co founder of Modo Yoga and the New Leaf Foundation.