Maruki leaned forward slightly, his posture softening as he prepared for the exercise. He could feel his own body still adjusting to the dull aches, but he focused on the task ahead.
"Alright," he said, his tone calm and steady. "Let’s begin."
He straightened his back, placed his hands gently on his lap, and closed his eyes for a moment to center himself. He then took a deep breath, inhaling slowly through his nose. His chest expanded gradually as he counted silently in his head, ensuring that he wasn’t rushing the process.
"Inhale slowly for four seconds," he said, eyes still closed, trying to convey his calmness through his steady words. "Imagine your lungs filling up—slowly, but deeply. Don’t force it. Just breathe."
He held his breath at the top of the inhale for a moment, his chest rising gently. His eyes flickered open briefly.
"Hold it for four seconds," he continued, his voice gentle yet instructive. "As you hold the breath, visualize the moment before your death. Don’t be afraid of it. Acknowledge it as something that happened in the past. It is no longer who you are. You are here now."
He gave her a moment to process the thought as he demonstrated, holding the breath for just a few seconds more before continuing.
"Now," Maruki exhaled slowly, letting the air leave his body with a gentle sigh. "Exhale slowly, taking about six to eight seconds. Imagine the pain or tension in your chest floating away with that breath—like smoke, dissipating into the air. Let it go since our minds are made to cling to the true material. This is where we trick it."
He exhaled fully, his shoulders relaxing as he released the tension from his body, his expression softening with each breath.
"It’s alright to feel the memory of it, but let it be a memory, not a part of you anymore," Maruki said softly. "You are whole now. This breath is yours. Feel your body healing with every exhale."
After a few seconds of silence, Maruki opened his eyes and gave Hamuko a warm, supportive smile. "Now, you try it. I’ll walk you through it again."
no subject
"Alright," he said, his tone calm and steady. "Let’s begin."
He straightened his back, placed his hands gently on his lap, and closed his eyes for a moment to center himself. He then took a deep breath, inhaling slowly through his nose. His chest expanded gradually as he counted silently in his head, ensuring that he wasn’t rushing the process.
"Inhale slowly for four seconds," he said, eyes still closed, trying to convey his calmness through his steady words. "Imagine your lungs filling up—slowly, but deeply. Don’t force it. Just breathe."
He held his breath at the top of the inhale for a moment, his chest rising gently. His eyes flickered open briefly.
"Hold it for four seconds," he continued, his voice gentle yet instructive. "As you hold the breath, visualize the moment before your death. Don’t be afraid of it. Acknowledge it as something that happened in the past. It is no longer who you are. You are here now."
He gave her a moment to process the thought as he demonstrated, holding the breath for just a few seconds more before continuing.
"Now," Maruki exhaled slowly, letting the air leave his body with a gentle sigh. "Exhale slowly, taking about six to eight seconds. Imagine the pain or tension in your chest floating away with that breath—like smoke, dissipating into the air. Let it go since our minds are made to cling to the true material. This is where we trick it."
He exhaled fully, his shoulders relaxing as he released the tension from his body, his expression softening with each breath.
"It’s alright to feel the memory of it, but let it be a memory, not a part of you anymore," Maruki said softly. "You are whole now. This breath is yours. Feel your body healing with every exhale."
After a few seconds of silence, Maruki opened his eyes and gave Hamuko a warm, supportive smile. "Now, you try it. I’ll walk you through it again."