You can of course read these to your students as they relax, but it will be much better if you retell them in your own words. It’s easy to invent new relaxing journeys – just close your eyes and think about the places you’d like to be that make you feel relaxed, and take the kids there.
1. On the Sea Shore. Imagine that you are lying down on the soft sand by the ocean. The sand is warm and pleasant, the gentle wind is caressing you and the shining sun makes you feel very cozy. Let yourself become a bit softer and heavier, and feel how you are sinking a little more into the sand. Breathe deeply now and listen to the waves of the ocean in your breath… when you breath in the waves come closer, and when you breath out they recede. Keep breathing with the waves for another moment, see if you can smell the ocean…there is no rush… just breath and relax.
Now look up to the sky, and you’ll see big and colorful birds… these beautiful birds really want to be our friends, but they are a bit afraid because we are still moving. Let’s try to be very quiet… if we won’t move, these amazing birds will come closer. Open your palms; there are some yummy seeds there for the birds. Keep breathing… and let the birds slowly come closer… [Wait for a minute before you ask the kids to stretch and sit up].
2. Animal Friend. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Breathe in love and joy, and breathe out all worries and tension. Imagine that you are outside in nature. The sun is shining; the birds are singing… and now, in the bushes nearby, you hear a quiet rustle and a giggle. There is an animal there who is looking at you – she wants to be your friend. What kind of animal is it? Let her come closer to you and sit beside you. This is a very strong and wise animal, and she is here to support you and help you. If you have a question, secret or a problem, you can share it with your animal. She will help you and protect you. She is your best friend, she loves you very much, and she is always with you even when you don’t notice her.
3. Magic Powder. Close your eyes and breathe deeply; much deeper than you usually breathe. With every breath, feel how you become lighter, calmer, more peaceful and relaxed. Imagine a flying carpet in front of you—it’s soft, with colorful fringes. It’s amazing in its beauty.
Climb on the carpet and sit on it; let it slowly lift you up. You feel very comfortable and safe on the carpet as it takes you through the sky. Enjoy the flight! Enjoy the pleasant breeze and the excitement!
You choose to stop now and just hover and look down. Look down and see the place you are growing up in, your home, your school, your friends, family, neighbors, the view around…
All of a sudden, a wise and old wizard appears on your magic carpet and sits beside you. The wizard has a long white beard, and a long beautiful blue gown. He is holding in his hands a magic wand and a little cloth sack. The wizard looks at you with eyes full with love and hands you his magic cloth sack. Inside this little sack, he says, there is a very special magic powder; using it you’ll be able to create everything you ever dreamed of, and have all the things you might want. Using the magic powder you can change the world you see underneath you now.
You thank the wizard for the magic powder, you slowly open the little cloth sack… and POOF! the wizard has disappeared into thin air. You lower your flying carpet a bit and fly around all the familiar places in your neighborhood. Take some of the magic powder in your hands and sprinkle it where ever you would like to see or feel things differently. You can change anything you want, or ad anything you would like to create a world that makes you perfectly happy. You can bring into your world people or animals you would like to have there just by sprinkling a bit of your magic powder. You sprinkle the magic powder everywhere and a new beautiful world is revealed underneath you. The view changes, the colors become brighter, the way you feel changes… you can even ad to yourself some good qualities you might want by using this magic powder. Take your time now to create your own safe and joyful new magical world.
Thank the new reality you have created; thank your imagination and your freedom to choose and create. Keep this place you have created in your memories and in your heart, and know that you can always return to it using your imagination – and even much better; you will slowly create this beautiful reality in your real life.
Wiggle your fingers and toes gently, stretch lightly with a deep breath, open your eyes and come back to the classroom.
And many, many more...