| The practice of the Inner Smile is one that is | | | | your mind's eye, is at a place several inches |
| found in Hindu, Buddhist & Taoist traditions. | | | | behind that forehead point. It's resting in the |
| This practice is a wonderful way to release | | | | center of your brain ~ a place which in Taoist |
| anxiety, to balance the endocrine system, and to | | | | yoga is called the Crystal Palace, in the Hindu yoga |
| increase within you feelings of loving-kindness and | | | | traditions is called the Cave of Brahma. It's the |
| compassion. Here's how you do it ... | | | | home of the pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus |
| Find a quiet place to sit, either in a straight-backed | | | | glands: the "master glands" of the endocrine |
| chair (sitting near the edge, with your feet parallel, | | | | system. Simply energizing these glands, by holding |
| and directly beneath your knees) or on the floor | | | | our focus here, is in and of itself a wonderfully |
| (in a comfortable cross-legged position, or in | | | | healing practice. |
| "hero" position, sitting back on your heels). The | | | | After resting your attention (still with a gentle |
| most important thing is for you to feel | | | | smile, your eyes closed, and the tongue gently |
| comfortable, and for your spine to be in an | | | | touching the roof of your mouth) for a couple |
| up-right position. Let your eyes gently close. Take | | | | minutes in this place ~ the center of your brain, |
| a couple of deep long breaths, and as you exhale | | | | the Crystal Palace, the Cave of Brahma ~ draw |
| say (either out loud or internally) "aaah." As you | | | | your focus into your eyes, and allow your eyes |
| exhale and say "aaah," feel any unnecessary | | | | to become "smiling eyes." As support for this, you |
| tension in the face, jaw, neck & shoulders | | | | can imagine that you're looking into the eyes of |
| simply melt away, like a series of thin silk scarves, | | | | the person who you love the most in this world ... |
| flowing off of your body, down to the floor. | | | | and they are looking back at you. Let you eyes |
| Notice a feeling of spaciousness in your mouth, as | | | | become filled with the energy of loving-kindness, |
| though the roof of your mouth were the dome | | | | of acceptance, of delight. Notice how this feels. |
| of a temple. | | | | And now you can use your "smiling eyes" to smile |
| Now let your breathing return to normal, and float | | | | ~ internally ~ at any part of your body that you |
| the tip of your tongue upward, letting it rest | | | | would like: infusing that place, that limb, that organ |
| gently on the roof of your mouth, right behind | | | | with the energy of loving-kindness! You might like |
| your upper front teeth (you'll find a "sweet spot" | | | | to begin with the hair on the top of your head, |
| that feels just perfect!). Keeping your tongue | | | | then your scalp, then your brain and eyes and |
| lightly touching the roof of your mouth (and with | | | | ears ... working your way down, from head to |
| you eyes still closed), allow yourself to smile ... a | | | | toe, "touching" with the energy of a smile every |
| very gentle, subtle smile ... sort of like the Mona | | | | single part of your body. Or you can choose to |
| Lisa ... as though you were just smiling to yourself, | | | | smile at a place within you that is injured or ill or |
| for no particular reason, letting your lips fill and | | | | numb. Or you can smile down at your heart, your |
| spread. Notice how this feels. | | | | lungs, your liver, your kidneys, your spleen |
| Now rest your attention (your mind's eye) at the | | | | pancreas ... loving, appreciating these organs for all |
| bridge of your nose ~ that space on your | | | | the work they do for you, night and day, with |
| forehead between the inner edges of your | | | | this energy of a smile. The possibilities are endless! |
| eyebrows. Notice that as you rest your attention | | | | To end the practice, simply bring your attention |
| there, energy builds ... which you may experience | | | | back to the Crystal Palace, the Cave of Brahma |
| as a sensation of warmth or tingling. (But | | | | ~ that place in the center of your brain, directly |
| whatever your experience is, that's just fine!) | | | | back from the forehead point. Take a couple of |
| Keep a soft focus on that area, and then, slowly, | | | | long deep breaths. Let your tongue relax back |
| draw your attention back from that point, into | | | | onto the bottom of your mouth. Open your eyes. |
| the very center of your brain (the space directly | | | | Notice how you feel! |
| between your two ears). So now your attention, | | | | |