Written by:

Updated on:

January 2, 2024

This 2 minute body scan script is a quick, straightforward practice for cultivating body awareness in the present moment. Foregoing a lengthy introduction, it dives straight into practice, an ideal meditation for taking mindful pauses throughout the day. This is also a great practice to use with your students at the beginning of a longer session, acting as a small taste of what it means to be mindful.

Short body scan meditations (like this one) remind us that mindfulness does not need to be long and drawn out. Even if we only have a few minutes, we can take pause to inhabit the present moment - and our bodies - with caring awareness.

This short body scan script can be used in your personal practice or when guiding others. It offers an easy way to cultivate mindfulness and promote wellbeing in a short amount of time. Think of this practice as a quick reset, shifting our attention from busy mind to grounded body.

  • Practice Time: < 5 minutes
  • Purpose: To increase presence and body awareness
  • May Help With: Stress, Grounding, Presence, Awareness
  • Practice Level: Beginner
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Here’s a Sample of the “Short Body Scan Meditation Script” Guided Meditation Script:

Let’s begin by taking a moment to allow your body to settle into a comfortable position.

You may close your eyes or keep them slightly open. Willing the spine to lift, the shoulders to soften
(5 seconds).

Today we will practice a short body scan,
checking in with our bodies helps to settle the mind
and to notice what physiological sensations and emotions might be present (2 seconds).

Begin by taking a full breath in and a long breath out (5 seconds).

Now bringing awareness to the top of your body, your head, face, neck, shoulders (3 seconds).

short body scan, Short Body Scan Meditation Script

Noticing any sensations, movements, any places of holding (5 seconds).

Now moving down to the arms and the hands (5 seconds).

Sensing the back of the body, the front of the body (3 seconds).

Sensing yourself seated.

Feeling the contact of your body with the chair or the cushion (10 seconds).

Now sensing your upper legs, your lower legs, and the feet (5 seconds).

Noticing if there are any particular places that call out for attention.

Places where sensations feel most vibrant or dynamic (10 seconds).

How to Use the Short Body Scan Meditation Script

This script can be used in a number of ways, both personally and professionally. For example, you can:

  • Record yourself reading this script and share it on your website or social media
  • Lead this meditation during an in-person group session
  • Read it to yourself and then practice from memory
  • Record it and play it back to yourself while you practice
  • Guide a family member through this short body scan meditation
  • Modify it to suit your needs, such as shortening it even further to craft a 1 minute body scan script (a micro-practice to use numerous times throughout the day)

Conclusion

Mindfulness practice does not need to be extensive. Even when we are short on time, we can take 1 or 2 minutes to pause and check in. This short body scan meditation script is an ideal practice for enhancing bodily awareness - in this present moment. Use it to cultivate your own wellbeing or to support others in bolstering theirs.

About the author 

Sean Fargo

Sean Fargo is the Founder of Mindfulness Exercises, a former Buddhist monk of 2 years, a trainer for the mindfulness program born at Google, an Integral Coach from New Ventures West, and an international mindfulness teacher trainer. He can be reached at [email protected]

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