Talks and Meditations
February 26, 2024, Anne V Muhlethaler

Breathing with Compassion for Self

A Practice Of Breathing With Compassion Toward Ourselves And Others

The image of a collage created by Evie S on Unsplash

This practice was recorded live during Anne’s program called 21 Days of Mindfulness and Loving Kindness. Anne guides participants through a transformative practice of self-compassion and compassion for others. 

Focusing our awareness on our moment-to-moment experience and the flow of life that is the breath, Anne starts by inviting us to rest with the waves of the inhale and exhale. We explore the quality and texture of the in-breath and out-breath, before leaning towards it with a tender curiosity. With each inhale we receive nourishment and care, allowing the breath to naturally carry qualities of kindness to every cell of our being.

As the practice unfolds, we are invited to extend this compassion outward, envisioning the exhale as a flow of goodness directed towards loved ones in need of support. Through this visualisation, we tap into a vast reservoir of compassion, allowing the breath to do the work of delivering kindness from our hearts to others. This act of giving and receiving is meant to foster a deep sense of connection and empathy, reinforcing our interrelatedness to all beings.