[MUSIC] We're going to do a guided meditation for the dance module. I'd like you to take a few moments to create a space where you can be silent and quiet for a while. This guided imagery is just a beginning to imagine yourself as a dancer in the inner landscape, inside yourself. This module is going to be about inviting you to dance, and this is the beginning. So sit down and take a deep breath, and let your breath move you into a place of deep relaxation. Allowing your body to be supported either by the chair or the floor, or wherever you have chosen to be. This is a meditation practice. Breathing deeply in and out. Allowing yourself to find the stillness within you. In your mind's eye, gently close your eyes as we begin this meditation. [SOUND] Imagine you are standing tall, as tall as a beautiful ancient tree. Feel your body in perfect alignment with the sky all the way through your body to the earth. Feel yourself alluded like an ancient tray, feel yourself connected, strong, open, and wise. Allowing your body to feel nourished by the sun, by the air, from the earth and standing tall, connected and grounded. For a moment, imagine in your mind's eye you are standing tall like a tree. Now, inside the tree imagine yourself as a figure that steps out of this tree. Allowing yourself to move in the gracefulness of the way that the branches move, as they move in the wind. Just feel yourself gently swaying as you and the tree are one. Feel yourself moving from feeling very grounded. Allowing yourself to simply sway. Now breathe. Breathe in the sunshine. Breathe in the air. Feel yourself expanding into the sky, at the same time feeling grounded in the earth. Now in your mind's eye, imagine you are opening, opening yourself up to the sky, opening your body, feeling yourself expanding, stretching, allowing yourself to gently move. Now you may do this with your eyes closed in meditation space, or you may begin to gently move your body in this meditation. Allowing yourself to gently move and opening up your arms. Opening and reaching out to the sky. And feeling the sun come down, filling your heart and your entire body. Now feel yourself connected to the earth and the nourishment coming up from the earth into your body. Now, visualize yourself as a dancer. Feel yourself free and natural in this moment. Feel the dancer becoming you, and you becoming the dancer. Feel this connection to your body, the embodiment of who you are in this beautiful vision of a dancer. Now begin to move in your mind's eye. You are capable of grace, movement, and freedom. Allow yourself in this moment to move beyond all limitations, beyond inhibitions, beyond what you think might hold you back. In this moment your body is free, it's strong, it's beautiful, it's capable of moving, it's capable of jumping, it's capable of twirling, it's capable of all the movements that you can imagine yourself doing with your body. Now dwell in this moment of seeing this visionary dancer. You are this dancer. Allow yourself to become this dancer. Now gently breathe. I invite you to reconnect with this dancer within when you do the exercises in this module, allow yourself to feel the freedom, the flexibility, the movement of being able to be the dancer. Now return to being the tree feeling yourself grounded to the earth. Feeling your body opening up to the sky in perfect alignment. Feel yourself being nourished, open. Feel the healing energy of the earth flowing through your roots, your trunk up into your branches and out into the leaves of the tree. Imagine yourself gently swaying, returning to the stillness and then centering. Take a deep breath and feel the stillness and being centered in this moment right now.
