Hannah Borno

On my recent anti-anxiety mission, I discovered the most beautifully calming visualisation ever. I tried it when lying in bed with my mind whirring , then saw these golden threads spinning out of my mouth and drifted into calm on a lavender scented pillow. It sounds weird, but really it’s beautiful - you have to try it. It was given to me by Lisa from Yogaplace on Bethnal Green Road and here is her version in its entirety….


‘Sit or lie comfortably with the eyes closed, establishing a comfortable breath, breathing in and out of the nose. After a few
breaths, part the lips and teeth slightly as though you are holding a petal between them, continuing to breath in through the nose but allowing the out-breath to pass through the lips and teeth. The face, lips and breath are soft and the exhalation will become longer as it almost trickles from between the lips.


As you exhale visualise the breath as fine golden thread that spins from between the lips and out into the room. The longer the breath becomes the further you can visualise the golden thread spinning into the distance.


As the breath becomes longer the body starts to settle letting go of the tensions we so often hold within, this is why this breath is wonderful to use when preparing for sleep. You help to relax mind and body before you sleep so when you do drift off, you can sleep peacefully as the body is already relaxed.


And if you find yourself unable to sleep then count the breaths down say from nine to zero and with every count down feel the body sinking with relaxation into the bed beneath you, if you remain awake, try counting down again from a higher number until you drift off peacefully. It’s a yogi version of counting sheep.’


I feel serene just typing this… Sweet dreams!