Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Winter's Eve at a Scandinavian Sauna

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hey friends, welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax and we get sleepy. As always I'm your host Thomas, thanks for tuning in. Tonight's story was written by Lotty and I'll be reading it to you. Under the magical light of a full moon, we'll make our way to a wood-fired Scandinavian sauna that sits in the middleing warmth of the sauna. You'll release any tension or stress in your body to make room for the things that bring you peace. But first, I'd like to say a big thank you to Rocket Money for sponsoring tonight's episode.

Starting point is 00:01:08 If one of your new year's goals is to manage your budget better and save money, you need to try Rocket Money. There are a few things more frustrating in the modern world than having difficulty cancelling unwanted subscriptions, or perhaps even worse, completely forgetting you even had them. Well Rocket Money, formerly known as True Bell, is a personal finance app that finds and cancels your unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending, and helps you lower your bills all in one place.

Starting point is 00:01:43 In fact, every time I tell you about Rocket Money, it jogs my memory that I've still not cancelled a contact lenses subscription, I don't particularly need anymore. Rocket Money will quickly and easily identify your subscriptions for you, so you can swiftly say goodbye to any you no longer want. So stop throwing your money away, can't so unwanted subscriptions and manager expenses the easy way by going to rocketmoney.com slash get sleepy. That's rocktmoenn.com slash get sleepy. Rocket money.com slash get sleepy. and get sleepy. And speaking of subscriptions, at least ones that you hopefully do want to have, our ambition

Starting point is 00:02:35 is to help you get the very best sleep possible and get sleepy premium is the best way to experience the show. On the premium feed, everything is completely out-free, and you'll have access to our huge catalogue of nearly 500 full-length stories and meditations. You'll also receive a new weekly bonus episode every Thursday, available exclusively to our premium supporters. Tomorrow's episode is called Stargazing in Georgia. It's a serene and sleepy story, read by the equally soothing voice of T.K. Calman. When you first sign up to get sleepy premium, you'll have a 7 day free trial to make

Starting point is 00:03:21 sure you're enjoying it. Then you pay either a monthly or yearly plan and can cancel anytime should you wish. Just go to GetSleepy.com slash support or follow the link in the show notes where you'll find all the info you need on our premium feet. Now then, let's take a moment to settle in and relax before our story. Become aware of your body resting on your bed. Feel the mattress and pillows supporting your weight. Notice the soft, supple bed covers that surround you. They are protecting and preparing you for deep sleep. Give yourself full permission to relax. grounding breaths in and out. Notice how your breath feels as it travels up into your nostrils and down through your body. Then when you are ready, take pleasure in letting out a long exhale.

Starting point is 00:05:14 Notice how your out breath feels as it flows out of you, warm and gentle. Notice how wonderful it feels to simply breathe. As you continue, feel as more and more space opens up between you and the events of the day. Slowly and rhythmically, let the gap widen. Feel the details of the day drop away from you, like snow falling off the glossy pine branches. And now that your mind is relaxed and your body is at peace. You are on dry soil, carpeted with fallen pine needles, but snap gently under your weight. You watch your breath bloom out of you, quickly becoming a cloud of condensation as it hits the cold air. But even as it hangs, you notice that your body feels warm and dry. You are wearing a thick but light coat that protects you from the winter air pressing coolly against your cheek. You take a moment to appreciate the invigorating feeling of the cold air in your nose and mouth.

Starting point is 00:07:58 It is exquisitely fresh. With every breath, you can almost taste the clear, glacial water and snow. The milky light of a full moon falls in gentle shafts around you as it is filtered through the tall slender trees above. Then as your eyes adjust, you notice it dance and shimmer on the snow that weighs down waxy branches of pine. As soon as you notice this, you detect the unmistakable scent of pine trees. Sharp, astringent and woody, it fills your nose and grounds your senses in this forest. A wave of gratitude washes over you. How wonderful it is to be in nature on a night like this one. You raise your head to look up above you.

Starting point is 00:09:29 The pines rise elegantly towards the crystal clear sky. Through the silhouette of the branches, eucalymp's are magnificent spatter of stars. They shine like white pale purple and green jewels sewn onto deep blue velvet. But they are vastly outshined by the pale orb of the full moon. You give yourself a moment to take in this beautiful sight, feeling the tingle of amazement that runs through your body as you look into the vast unknown of our universe. How lucky you are to witness it. When you have taken in all you can, you slowly bring your gaze back down to earth. As the trees enter your line of sight, you

Starting point is 00:10:50 notice small, soft yellow lights in the distance. They are half obscured by the trees around you, so you move forwards to get a better look. As you brush away a low pine branch, you realise they belong to two strings of lights that line either side of a footpath. Each light is about the size of an egg and they are spaced evenly every few metres along a thick green cable. You notice how they softly illuminate the pine needles around them and the rough, nobile bark of the trees. You feel a sense of ease wash over you. You understand that the natural thing to do is follow these guiding lights. So without any hurry, you begin to tread the path.

Starting point is 00:12:16 The dry earth feels compact and solid beneath you, and the more you move along it, the greater essence of peace and stability engulfs you. You gradually become aware of the stillness in the forest. The forest is quiet and peaceful except for the sound you make as you move along the path. But at the same time you can sense something magical in the air. You take your deepest breath yet and it floods you with a sense of well-being. Then slowly and intuitively you turn your head and see a magnificent sight. A few meters away, among the tree trunks, stands a deer. She is a doe and the moonlight glistens on her smooth caramel-colored height. Your eyes find hers. They are deep, dark, and warm. You can see the lights from the path reflected in them. You hold the connection between you, at the same time,

Starting point is 00:14:11 becoming aware that you have stopped moving. It's as if this gentle creature can see into your heart. You fill your chest expanding with warmth as though your heart is a glow. Her breath is quicker and lighter than your own. She is inviting you to look inside yourself. You trust her so you allow yourself to give in to the warm, tingling feeling that is collecting in your heart. As you stand, connecting with the beautiful dough, you experience happy and easy memories. Your heart is showing you the places and the people that you love. You can fill them, filling you up with gratitude and joy. Your breath is steady and nourishing, naturally flowing deep into your lungs. Carmly, you turn your feelings to the doe. It's as if you can extend some of your hearts glow to her. You thank the doe for her presence, and in return she slowly blinks. Then she gracefully

Starting point is 00:16:15 turns and counters lightly into the forest. As you listen to the sound of her footsteps fade away. You return your attention to the forest and this curious path. You continue along it, your own movements, lighter and softer than before. The path begins to curve gracefully to the left. You keep following it, trusting the little warm lights and watching your clouds of breath. Soon the trees start to thin. More and more snow blitters the ground. You watch its surface sparkle in the moonlight. The trees are becoming shorter now and you can see something beyond them.

Starting point is 00:17:37 Your pace quickens slightly. Then a beautiful view erupts beyond the trees, a still and silent lake. You reach the edge of the forest and look out onto the lake. It is dark and glossy. The full moon is reflected perfectly in its waters. You realise that the path has opened up onto a small beach. The shore is covered with smooth grey pebbles that peak through the blanket of snow on the ground. They hang from the branches of the trees. You take in this amazing sight. All around the lake you can see the white and sparkling pine trees frosted with snow. These two are reflected as mirror images in the lake. You let a small sigh escape you. Then, you notice the sweet smell of wood smoke, warm and inviting.

Starting point is 00:19:32 You breathe a tin, letting it fill you with nostalgia. You turn towards the smell and see what looks like a cozy wooden cabin at the end of the beach. Its one window glows orange and warm. A tiny tin chimney sends out puffs of soft grey wood smoke into the night air, and a narrow jetty runs from its door to the water. Without hesitation, you head for the cabin. You fill the fresh snow, crunching beneath you. As you reach

Starting point is 00:20:31 the quaint structure, you notice an unusual warmth in the air. Opening the cabin door, you see what looks like steam coil out of it. Like your breath in the cool air, it hangs, misty and pale. You step past the threshold and into a small changing room. The walls, floors, ceiling and benches are made entirely of light wooden panels. The soft but inviting smell of tree sap floods your nostrils. You breathe it in deeply and understand that you have just found a Scandinavian sauna. At the same time, you are aware of the same warmth here. You notice the cool skin on your face, tingle in it. You peel away your coat and hang it on a wooden hook. Then your eyes rest on the white fluffy towels that lay neatly stacked on the bench. You reach out to touch one. It is soft, dry and inviting.

Starting point is 00:22:25 You ready yourself for the sauna by wrapping the towel around you. Just then you see another door in the changing room. It's made of wood too, but with a large tinted glass window. Beyond it, you can see the sauna, empty and ready for you. Let softly with the warm orange glow of a fire. Greatfully you open the door and enter the sauna. The fantastically warm air welcomes you. You choose a spot on the smooth wooden benches, feeling the wood against your skin.

Starting point is 00:23:30 Your eyes rest on the log burner, black but pristine, with a glass window lending a view into the crackling fire inside. The flames dance and flutter, casting a glowing flickering light. You relax your body into your seat on the bench and fear the deep sense of calm spread over you. Your body is becoming warmer and warmer. The muscles in your neck and shoulders are lengthening and releasing. This fantastic sensation creeps through your whole body. You notice the long muscles of your arms and legs soften. It's as though each and every part of you is relaxing deeply in this heat. All the day-to-day tension that is held there is disappearing. You take a deep breath in to support your body as it releases the stress it does not need.

Starting point is 00:25:11 Then the tiny muscles in your jaw follow. Then your back. Each vertebra seems to sigh with relief. Finally, you feel your shoulder blades slacken, releasing what feels like years of tension and strain. Your whole body is surrendering to this heat. It occurs to you that this is your time to release anything you no longer wish to carry around. Your heart is still open, still glowing from your encounter with the dough. You use it now to see what you could do without. In this six-quisitely relaxing place, you allow the old tensions, stresses, thoughts becoming lighter and more spacious inside.

Starting point is 00:26:52 Your breath becomes deeper, slower and more sustaining. As a result, a profound sense of well-being spreads through you. You are so wonderfully relaxed, but you know your time in the sauna is coming to an end. You get up and move tranquilly towards the door. You open it and make your way back into the changing room, noticing a thick white dressing gown and extra towel hanging up for you. You take them off the hook and open the door to the outside. The cold winter air hits your warm body. It feels refreshing and revitalizing. Then, your eyes find the jetty and the smooth dark lake beyond. Intuitively, you know what to do. You move purposefully and barefoot along the jetty. The cold of the wood feels wonderful against your hot feet. You reach the end and find a ladder like those in a swimming pool.

Starting point is 00:28:50 It extends from the jetty down into the lake. You leave your towel and climb down the ladder. As your feet touch the icy water, shivers run up your legs. You can feel your arm hairs standing on end, but you keep climbing down. When the water moves up to your thighs, you let go and allow yourself to drop into this natural plunge pool. The cold water takes your breath away, but at the same time it invigorates your body. You have never felt so cleansed and refreshed. You can feel every inch of your body alive and well. Your heart is beating with life.

Starting point is 00:30:13 A sense of immense gratitude tingles through you as if you can feel the moonlight shining from within. The water is not deep. You marvel at your own body's movements as you pull yourself back up the ladder. Finally, you reach the jetty and slip on the bathrobe. You wrap your head in the towel. They feel so warm and comforting against your skin. Then, you make your way back to the sauna, aware of the cold water dripping from your body and onto the jetty's dark wood. time, you open the door and find not a changing room, but a bedroom. Without a shadow of a question, you step inside. The room is candle lit. The pale wooden floors and walls glow warmly. In its center is a broad, squashy bed. There is a faint scent of herbs in the air,

Starting point is 00:32:02 relaxing and soothing. You pad towards the bed, feeling not too cool, not too warm. The bed sheets are crisp and clean. Nightcoves have been laid out for you. You pull them on and their light cotton feels soothing against your skin. Then you climb into bed and lay yourself down. Your body sinks gratefully into the mattress and you let out a sigh of thanks. The pillows As you lie in this bed, relaxed and happy, you notice how good you feel. You know how rejuvenating and calming the sauna has been for you. Then your awareness comes to rest on your heart center, still warm and full of that glowing feeling. You take a moment to sink into it. This is the space inside you that has been made to enjoy life. Everything that lights you up can be found here. From your hobbies and interests, to your loved ones and dreams.

Starting point is 00:34:32 You notice how much more space there seems to be for your heart after the sauna. You take a smooth, flowing breath in and feel deeply content. Your eyelids are heavy and slowly they close. Your breathing becomes even. Your mind softens. And gently you drift into a long and beautiful sleep that nourishes every part of your being. you ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... you ... ... ... ... you you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Winter's Eve at a Scandinavian Sauna

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.