Written by:

Updated on:

February 12, 2024

Each and every day, our physical body does a lot for us. However, we don’t always take the time to offer it appreciation. By cultivating gratitude for the body, we develop a more harmonious and loving relationship with the vessel that carries us through life.

This body gratitude meditation script is a practice for deepening your awareness of just how much your body does. It may increase feelings of acceptance, contentment, and awe.

You can use this meditation for your personal practice or when guiding others. Read below on how to use this script, including important considerations to make when leading the practice. 

  • Practice Time: 20 minutes
  • Purpose: Gratitude
  • May Help With: Acceptance, Contentment, Awe
  • Practice Level: Intermediate
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Here’s a Sample of the “A Body Gratitude Meditation Script” Guided Meditation Script:

Begin in either a seated posture, or lying down
Close the eyes and breathe slowly and evenly in and out through the nose

Use awareness of the breath to anchor you in this present moment
Follow the breath for three long, patient inhales,
And three long patient exhales

And now notice the body itself
Beginning at the top of the head
Notice the face, the back of the head
The entire head

Acknowledge all that’s happening in the head right now
Feel the breath, moving in and out through the nose
Recognize the function of the eyes, even as they are closed
Aware of the function of the ears
The mouth
And of course, the mind that makes sense of it all

Notice how much, and how often, you’ve benefited
From eyes, ears, mouth and nose
How much, and how often, you’ve benefited
From the functionality of this capable mind

body gratitude meditation script, A Body Gratitude Meditation Script

Recognize too, that not everyone can see, hear, smell, taste,
Or even think and cognate in the same way that you do

Let that awareness help you feel into a deep, heartfelt sense of gratitude
Feel and send thanks to the eyes, ears, nose and mouth
Send thanks to the mind

Be present with this awareness of gratitude for all the ways
That all the parts of the face and head are serving and protecting you

And then shift awareness down to the neck and the throat
Open to the awareness of gratitude
For your voice, your ability to speak, swallow, and be well fed
Drop down to awareness of the shoulders
And let gratitude spread

As you become more aware of the functioning of the arms
Your ability to move, to reach for things
To hug and to hold

How to Use the Body Gratitude Meditation Script

This body gratitude meditation script is a practice suitable for personal and/or professional use. Consider these four ideas for using this exercise:

  • Personalize it and record it for your own use.
  • Use it as inspiration for a personal daily body scan practice.
  • Use it in one-to-one sessions with students.
  • Lead this script during a mindfulness retreat.

When guiding this script, there are a couple of things to remain mindful of. First, it’s important to note that some people may need the guidance modified due to limb loss, limb difference, blindness, deafness, or trauma. Also, everyone has a different relationship with their body, and feeling grateful for the body may not be so easy. Difficult emotions can arise when we tend to the body, so be mindful of your audience and guide this practice with both care and wisdom.

Conclusion 

Most of us could benefit by cultivating a little more appreciation for the vessel that carries us through life. This body gratitude meditation script is a practice for helping us do just that. Use this script with care, acknowledging that it’s not always easy to feel gratitude for the body. In baby steps, we can deepen our ability to hold our physical body with care, awe, and appreciation.

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]