One of the greatest gifts of the holiday season is that we naturally spend time outdoors in the sunshine. Being in nature automatically promotes relaxation, inner balance and wellbeing. To deepen your inner glow – and to maintain it once you’re home and your tan has faded – try this very simple meditation.

You can do this if you have 5 minutes spare mid-sunbathing or while the kids are playing. It’s best done lying down, and outdoors if poss:

Take seven deep breaths and on the exhale really be present to the connection of your spine on the ground (or the lounger etc). Sense the surface beneath you, and as you continue exhaling, try to feel your body sinking into the ground, letting go. If you have time and want to power up even more, repeat for another seven breaths, and this time as you exhale and feel your spine dropping, focus your attention on the world around you – the sounds, the scents, the feel of the air and the light on your skin. Gently open your eyes when you’re ready, and take just a couple of seconds to connect with gratitude for the simple gift of being alive, right now.

This is one of my favourite exercises, and it’s part of my daily practice.

Starting a practice like this while you’re on holiday makes is much easier to continue with it as part of your routine when you get home. If you can do it daily for a week, you’ll notice that you’re more present. And from simple presence, life flows with much more grace – and we flow with it.

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