Mindfulness and meditation, these days, the two words are used interchangeably. And in the framework of an 8-week mindfulness course, it is ok to do so. However, in this article, I will disentangle them for you. TLDR: Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present Read more…
Meditation has been proven to have many benefits, including sharpening focus, controlling stress response, and enhancing cognitive performance. It is also a proven way to change the brain, specifically the brain’s size and structure. Meditation is a practice that has been around for thousands of years and is now being Read more…
This is a guest post by David Chorlton from Meaningful Paths. Let’s face it, 2020 and 2021 were two stressful years. The global pandemic, the financial concerns and the combative politics have all combined to make life extraordinarily difficult. We have been confined to our homes, furloughed from our jobs, Read more…
We all know that meditation is a great and helpful practice that, if used properly and regularly enough, can lead to improved physical and mental health. Meditation and mindfulness exercises are used by millions around the world including fitness experts, doctors, celebrities, and more. One group of people that use Read more…
We all want to see the results of our efforts. However, the meditation instructions often include to not worry about the results. These two are reconciled by not thinking about results while doing the practice but assessing our progress once a week or once a month while we are off Read more…
So, you have read about the many benefits of meditation and want to try it yourself. A simple google search will reveal thousands of options. Now, where do you begin? The truth is that there is no single best option for learning meditation. Sure, having access to a skilled teacher Read more…
You are sitting in your meditation posture and the end of your dedicated meditation session nears. The sound of the gong marks the end of the session and then … yes, what then? The best thing to do after the end of a meditation session is to try to consolidate Read more…
Recently, I have started to fast regularly. And I wondered how it would affect my meditation practice. Turns out that there are a lot of variables (surprise 😉 ) that affect meditation more than fasting. It is best to wait 2 to 3 hours after having eaten a meal to Read more…
When people think about meditation, they often picture a monk sitting cross-legged in the lotus position. But it does not have to be like that. Actually, the other positions in which you can do meditation are just as good. I might even argue that some positions are even better suited Read more…
The first real course on meditation that I ever took was an MBSR course. It was not a cheap one, so I hesitated for a long time. But I’m so happy that I did. I guess this is obvious since I’m now writing a blog on mindfulness. But what exactly Read more…
One of the things that people starting a meditation practice struggle with a lot is how they can know if they are doing it correctly. It is one of the main concerns of the people participating in my courses. And this is what I always tell them: It is sufficient Read more…
When doing a simple online search for meditation, you quickly find that there are many dozens of different meditation styles available. So how do you chose which type of meditation you should do? The key thing is to start to understand the differences between the different types and if they Read more…
It is not easy for everybody to have access to a qualified meditation teacher. Especially not if you live in a remote area. So the question arises whether it is a good idea to learn meditation by yourself. But can it be done? Let me reassure you, learning to meditate Read more…
Many people are stuck in a past that was hurtful or wonderful. But just the same, they come back to it time and again without ever moving on. Dwelling on the past means to revisit the same episode of your life over and over again, each time hoping for a Read more…
When you start a practice that will take up a substantial amount of time, like mindfulness meditation, you would at least want to know what you are aiming for. I at least do. So, let me summarize by paraphrasing the words of Jon Kabat-Zinn: The true goal of mindfulness is Read more…