With a focus on mindful breathing and savoring, this meditation helps you prepare for or can accompany you through a chemotherapy infusion. (15 minutes)
Welcome to mindfulness breathing during chemo infusion. The breath mindfulness exercise will allow your body and mind be more receptive to the therapeutic effects of the infusion therapy. It will also allow for relaxation and reduce the experience of the side effects. As you sit in the infusion chair, take a deep Deep breath in through your nostrils and breathe out through your mouth. Now, you can really begin to notice the sensation of the legs and back making contact with the cushion of the chair or the bed you're laying down. And when we have this word contact, what is Is it really a sensation of warmth or heaviness or tingling or some other sensations? Just noticing Whatever it is, an in -moment when you're ready, becoming aware of the state of the body in this moment, is the more full of energy. First the body tense or relaxed. It doesn't really matter. Just noticing the state of the body in this moment. In the moment, noticing the state of the mind. At this full of thoughts, Mostly empty of thoughts. Thoughts moving quickly or slowly. Again, it really doesn't matter. Just noticing. the state of the mind in this moment. And when you're ready, you can begin to pay attention to the breath. And there's no need to breathe in any special way. Just noticing the natural sensation of the breath. Becoming aware of the sensation of the air moving into the nostrils. Noticing the temperature of that air. It's warmth or cooneness. You might even notice that you have tiny muscles in the nostrils. The flax of flare as you breathe in. Just noticing the sensation of the breath in this bone. That's right. In the moment, some may begin to notice that mind begins to wander. To thoughts, feeling, In the chest, one memories. And if the mind wonders that's okay, because that is what minds do, they wonder. Just noticing. Where the mind has wandered off to. Acknowledging that thought or feeling. And then letting it go. And gently, a firmly. Returning the focus of the tension back to the breath. And with each passing breath, becoming more focused, becoming more aware And soon, you may begin to notice that the mind wanders again. And if the mind wanders, that's okay. Just noticing where the mind has wandered off to. Acknowledging and accepting that thought or feeling. You might even say to yourself, in the space of your own mind, Okay, to have this thought or feeling right now. And then you can let it go. And gently, profoundly, returning the focus of the tension back to the breath. Again and again. Each time that you notice that the mind has wondered. And you become aware of where the mind has wondered off to. And you acknowledge and accept that thought or feeling. And you return the focus of your attention back to the breath. You're strengthening your mindfulness. Each time you return your attention back to the breath, You're learning to step back, to step back, to step back from your thoughts and feelings, I end to the clear open space of mindfulness. And soon, You may begin to notice the sensations, thoughts, feelings, images and memories. Come and go, all under own, like clouds passing in a clear blue sky, Like cloud drifting. This thoughts come out of nowhere. Change shape and then fade into the distance. Or on their own. And there's no need to hold onto this thoughts, or push them away. You can just let them go. And the part of the mind is like those thoughts, that thing like clouds. But there is a deeper part of the mind that is more like the space in which the clouds pass, the observing awareness that is open fast, spalas and free, just watching, just observing peacefully. And you can focus your attention on that part of the mind where you can continue to focus your tension on your breathing. That's right. And now you can take a few long moments to focus on the best parts of this experience. appreciating and savoring whatever path, sedative thoughts and feelings have come up in you in this practice. Focusing on this experience now. Or you can continue to focus on your breath. Knowing that you can return to the state of mindfulness whenever you need to. Simply by bringing your attention back to the breath, then very slowly and gently. When you're ready, you may feel a little more comfortable, a little more centered, and a little more hopeful about the future. We open your eyes and return your attention to the room.