Aaliyah was a 21 year old African-American girl who lived a pretty average life. She was graduating from university next year and was pretty much focused on the future. She was driving back to her apartment on the way back from classes and parked in her designated space.

Aaliyah went into her apartment and checked her phone. Her friend Mary had whatsapped her about some meditation teacher who could heal women’s energy. Mary sounded pretty excited, like she had just had an incredible experience. Mary ended the message by suggesting that Aaliyah also try the healing service and gave the teacher’s number.

“Well, that sounds interesting, to say the least” Aaliyah said outloud and texted the number. After exchanging introductions, they set up a phone appointment in an hour.

Aaliyah had studied the idea of chakras, of energy centers in the human body, and from practicing simple breathing exercises over the past few months, had become more conscious and aware of the various energy blocks in her body. She felt a lot of tightness in her stomach and felt there was a lot of suppressed anger in her stomach region. Aaliyah also felt her heart was constricted and that she felt unable to truly love anyone, due to various past experiences.

She sat down and did a breathing exercise for the next 15 minutes, where she timed her breath for 5 seconds. She inhaled for 5 seconds, and held her breath for 5 seconds, and then exhaled for 5 seconds, and finally held her breath empty for 5 seconds, and then started again and inhaled for 5 seconds. She called it a “box breath” since it all four stages of the breath were equal.

Aaliyah felt very clear headed after doing that exercise, as she always did. Finally, the time arrived and the meditation teacher named Sam called her.

Aaliyah answered and was greeted by a deep, calm sounding voice of a man.

After exchanging pleasantries and a bit of brief ice-breaking conversation, Sam told her “Okay, let’s begin.”

“Are you somewhere you feel comfortable and safe, such as your room?” he asked Aaliyah. She replied in the affirmative.

“Okay, so sit down or lay down, whatever you would like” Sam instructed her and Aaliyah sat down in the indian position, legs crossed.

Aaliyah told him “I am ready” and he replied “Good. Let’s do the meditation now.”

“Do 10 deep breaths” Sam instructed. Aaliyah breathed in slowly, deeply, and exhaled slowly.

“Deep til your stomach and even below that” Sam added.

“Relax your body” his deep voice told her. Aaliyah could feel herself becoming more and more relaxed with each breath.

“Your shoulders, your chest, stomach ... your thighs ... Loosen them up.” Sam continued. Aaliyah could feel the tension in her shoulders and thighs melting away. ‘Wow, what a voice’ she thought to herself.

“Now breathe deeply, and feel the energy of your body” Sam instructed. Aaliyah could feel a type of energy which she could only describe as ‘ecstasy’ spreading throughout her body.

“Feel the energy ... coming together in your chest” Sam told her. Aaliyah could feel that warm energy now in her chest, and it felt better than she had felt in a very long time.

“Feel the enrgy ... in your chest ... and make it move towards the left and the right and in your shoulders” Sam continued. Aaliyah was pleasantly surprised when the energy moved towards both of her shoulders, and noticed that her nipples had become very hard. ‘This is incredible’ she thought to herself.

“Now make the energy move slowly towards your stomach” the deep voice continued. “Feel it totally ... with deep breaths”. Aaliyah continued breathing slowly and deeply and felt that energy moving towards her stomach and felt the tightness of her stomach loosening. Many of the energetic blocks of trapped emotions began melting and Aaliyah could feel herself becoming quite emotional.