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Series: Evening Journeys

For the best experience, listen with headphones or earbuds.

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On hot nights, when the heat keeps you awake.
Technique
Guided imagery: You are led to a calm place, described through all the senses.

Who is this session for?

This session is designed for those warm nights when the heat makes it difficult to fall asleep. It is ideal when you feel restless and need a mental escape to help your body cool down naturally.

How does it unfold?

  1. at the startSettling InYou get comfortable in bed, taking three slow breaths while tuning into the gentle sound of water.
  2. around 1 minInductionYou lengthen your exhales, allowing your body to release its tension and naturally find its perfect resting temperature.
  3. around 2 minDeepeningYou mentally step into a stable, comfortable boat that glides smoothly in rhythm with your breathing.
  4. around 4 minThe Cooling RiverYou experience a sensory journey under an indigo sky, feeling a refreshing breeze on your skin that carries the day's warmth away.
  5. around 7 minAnchoringYou gently touch your thumb and index finger together to memorize this cool, calming sensation for future nights.
  6. around 8 minDrifting OffThe voice slows down and fades, leaving you to drift effortlessly into sleep surrounded by the gentle water sounds.

Why does it help you sleep?

By guiding your attention toward the sensory details of a refreshing breeze and calm water, this visualization distracts your mind from the discomfort of a warm room. This mental shift encourages you to relax, which can facilitate a natural sense of cooling in your body. The imaginary rhythmic motion of the boat, synchronized with your breathing, gently slows down your thoughts and prepares you for a peaceful rest.

How to listen

Listen to this recording as you lie in bed, keeping the volume low enough so the waves sound like a gentle background murmur. Let yourself drift, knowing it is perfectly fine to fall asleep long before the journey ends.

Session published on · a site run by Stéphane H., founder of Alcyonia · description written on

Ambience: Waves, Freesound Community (Pixabay).

Listen somewhere calm, never while driving. This relaxation session does not replace the advice of a doctor or health professional.

Read the session script

Welcome to this time of rest… Go ahead and settle comfortably into your bed… feeling the reassuring support beneath you… noticing all the points of contact… where your body meets the mattress… You can already hear the gentle sound of the water… And every little sound around you… even the gentle waves… can simply carry you further down… You have nothing to do… nothing to achieve here… just allow yourself to rest… If anything needs your attention, you will instantly be fully present… but for now, you are safe.

Let's begin by taking a nice, slow breath in through your nose, letting the cool air fill your lungs, and then exhaling gently and fully…

Take another deep breath, inviting a sense of calm into your chest, and as you breathe out, feel your shoulders dropping down into the bed…

One more slow breath in, and as you release the air, let your whole body soften, releasing any warmth or tension from the day…

Your breathing can now return to its own easy rhythm… Your body already knows exactly how to cool down… just letting the fresh air enter gently.

And as you rest here… you might notice a pleasant heaviness spreading… With each number I count… your body sinks a little deeper… releasing a little more warmth…

Three… letting go of the day… Two… heavier and more relaxed… One… completely supported by the bed beneath you…

And as you sink deeper… you might imagine stepping into a beautiful boat… It is wide and perfectly stable… lined with welcoming cushions… You lie back… feeling completely secure… The gentle movement matches your breath… The more you hear the waves… the deeper your mind rests… With each breath out… the boat glides down a peaceful river… moving effortlessly…

Everyone knows how good a cool breeze feels… especially on a warm evening… As evening settles over the river… the sky turns a soothing indigo… The sun has gone down… A refreshing breeze sweeps lightly across the water… And I wonder which part of your body… will feel that refreshing coolness first… perhaps your face… or your arms… bringing a wonderful chill to your skin…

The gentle lapping of the water creates a lullaby… Any lingering warmth simply evaporates… floating away into the cool night air… leaving you feeling perfectly comfortable… perfectly balanced…

If any thoughts wander into your mind… you can just watch them float away… like leaves on the quiet river… drifting far out of sight… The boat carries you safely… surrounded by the fresh evening…

You can gently touch your thumb and index finger together… anchoring this wonderful sensation of coolness deeply within you… Every time you listen to this session… this soothing freshness will return even faster… This simple gesture can bring back this calming breeze… whenever the night feels warm… Night after night… finding this perfect resting temperature… will become more and more natural… The boat continues to float so peacefully…

And now… as the river carries you gently… you can let yourself drift into sleep now… or in a few moments… there is no rush at all… The cool air… the gentle waves… they watch over you… Your body is so comfortable… your mind is so quiet… and you can just drift… further and further down…

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