May all Beings be Happy

How sweet it is:

The lights turned down. Seventeen guys in the classroom, several new ones.

Chair yoga, a forward bend, a hip opener, a spinal twist, a lunge, a balancing pose.
Breathing: Ocean Sounding Breath for 15 breaths " let's sound like the Ocean"
Ocean Sounding breath with ears closed ( sounds much louder) for 10 breaths.

Meditation:

Focus your breath in your heart.
from your heart develop this positive intent towards yourself:

May I be happy
May I be safe
May I be free from suffering
May my heart remain open

Picture a loved one in front of you, connect your heart to their heart, send this positive intent towards them:

May you be happy
May you be safe
May you be free from suffering
May my heart remain open

Imagine a person you don't know, you have no positive or negative attitude about, a neutral person.
Send this positive intent towards them.

May you be happy
May you be safe
May you be free from suffering
May my heart remain open

Bring into your awareness everyone in this room

May every person in this room be happy
May you be safe
May you be free from suffering
May my heart remain open

Imagine a web of connections going out to all our relations, to everyone we know, all our relations

May all our relations be happy
May they be safe
May they be free from suffering
May their hearts remain open

Think of the whole world, all the beings who fly or walk or crawl or swim upon this earth,

May all Beings be happy
May they be safe
May they be free from suffering
May their hearts remain open

The we just sat in silence for a while

Then I asked them how this practice worked for them.

They said

I also prayed for my enemies, I always pray for them.

I don't have a loved one, so I sent my love to the loved ones of everyone else here.

It took a weight off my heart.

It changed my perspective.

I relaxed me.

I helped, it helped me forget I was here, and let go of the negativity of this place.