It’s so easy to go on auto-pilot, checking off the to-do lists that make up our lives. But I’ve learned that I have a greater sense of balance and ease when I make conscious decisions about being kind to my body. One of the most relaxing and beneficial is the body blessing gratitude meditation.

It is easier to keep focused and live intentionally when I do regular check-ins with my body. These don’t take a long time! It’s just a matter of allowing my mind to notice what my body is feeling.

When I can connect my mind and body with gratitude, the voices of negative self-talk go quiet.

Finding this sense of mind body balance means that I focus on my basic needs. I am less likely to experience the negative symptoms of menopause when I include a short meditation practice every day. Even if you’re not riding the midlife roller coaster, a short gratitude meditation can really improve your day! Meditation is a great tool for developing our spiritual wellness.

When I take the time to give my body what it really needs (including gratitude!), I have so much more energy. 

The Body Blessing Gratitude Meditation is an invitation to slow down, breath deeply, and honor yourself.

Your body works hard every day. Even if you aren’t as young as you once were or your jeans are a few sizes bigger, your body is still the only one you get. Treat her well!

Using a 10 minute body scan meditation allows you to give thanks for each part of your body. It can create a mindset shift in how you view your body and everything she does for you every day. When you move through life with a positive mindset, you’ll notice greater ease and less irritation.

If you like this guided meditation script, make sure you take a look at my experiment in discovering the power of meditation, where I have lots of free meditation downloads for you.

How to do the Body Blessing Meditation

This practice can be done in one of two ways. Some people prefer to lie down and allow themselves to fully relax. Using just your mind, you focus on each body part as the meditation script says to. If you have had a long day or are in a rough relationship with your body, I suggest lying down. 

If you’re feeling more energetic or are celebrating your body, this gratitude meditation can be like a mini party. You can move your body however it wants to move as the meditation script flows to each body part. I suggest doing this for the first time in a room by yourself so you can move without judgement.

The most important thing is that you give yourself an open mind and a little time. Even though it’s short, you’re likely to have a lot of feelings arise from this 10 minute body scan. Start at your feet and scan all the way up the body to your head. Then do a second mental scan, thinking of how each body part contributes to your humanity as you move throughout the world. How does your body help you connect with your self, spirit, and others?

The Body Blessing Gratitude Meditation is adapted from the Body Blessing Dance from Christine Valters Paintner’s book The Wisdom of the Body. If you’re interested in the how the body and mind and spirit all contribute to your personality, you’ll enjoy the whole book.

Doing a Gratitude Meditation Sounds Too “Woo Woo” For Me

If you struggle with the idea of meditating, there are other ways to thank your body for all that she does for you. Check out my 26 Reasons to Love Your Body post for a writing exercise that can help increase your gratitude. It will lead you through a body scan in a little different format that might feel more your style.

If writing still sounds too challenging or triggering, I invite you to take notice of your thoughts. It’s really easy to get caught in a cycle of body-bashing. But when we take time to slow down and be grateful for the many gifts our body allows us to enjoy, we can reap both mental and physical benefits.

I hope you enjoy the benefits of a little slow down time to give your body the gratitude she deserves.