February is the host to Sharon Salzberg’s 28 day “Real Happiness Meditation Challenge,” an online event designed to help both beginning and experienced meditators “#Commit2Sit.” Of course this year is a leap year, so we get an extra day to strengthen our meditation muscles! The challenge is inspired by her bestselling book Real Happiness: The […]
Category: Meditation
Meditation For Couples: Reduce Negativity With Mindfulness & Loving-Kindness
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and with it comes a barrage of commercials featuring idyllic couples lavishing each other with gifts—from chocolate to diamonds to luxury vehicles. While I am not one to ever turn down a box of truffles or something sparkly, let us not forget the reason for the season: love. […]
Mindfulness For Children: Why Meditation Should Be On Your Back To School List
Mindfulness Helps Children Breathe Their Way To 15% Better Grades It feels like summer has just begun, and already you find yourself filling up a cart with backpacks, pencils, and notebooks, as you hope and pray that this will be the year your child turns those grades around. Just like in meditation practice, this new […]
Take Two Steps Back
You know the old adage “three steps forward, two steps back?” It implies defeat, at least temporarily. I don’t know about you, but when I speak these words I feel my head hang low, my energy drop, and a sense of “stuckness” begins to permeate the task at hand – whatever that may be. When […]
Virtual Meditation Bells
This week a meditation group member asked a good question: “Who is going to ring the bell when I practice alone?” After all worrying about the time is yet another distraction, and while we do learn to work with those in practice, it is nice to set the sit up for success! Fortunately technology is […]
The Practice of Loving-Kindness: Metta Leads to Compassion and Forgiveness
Metta, the meditative practice of loving-kindness, is not only a way to send well wishes to those you care about, but can support you in being compassionate to those in your life that you find difficult, or even downright hostile. Metta Prayer of Loving Kindness May you be happy, as I wish to be happy. […]
Join the “Relaxation Revolution”
Many decades ago Harvard scientist Dr. Herbert Benson began studying the effects of Transcendental Meditation on a number of human subjects. The result was the discovery of the “Relaxation Response,” the antidote to fight-or-flight. Dr. Benson boiled the technique down to a few simple steps, and recommends that they be practiced for 10 to 20 […]
Beat the Heat with Yoga & Meditation
The weather, much like many things in life, is something that none of us have control over, and yet many of us spend time complaining about it, or wishing it were other than it is. Yoga and meditation may help you work with the heat. Here are some ideas! If you are without AC, do […]
5 Reasons You Can’t Meditate
My mind won’t slow down. I have never done it before. My thoughts are disturbing/cause me anxiety. I don’t have the time. I tried it once, and I know I am bad at it. These are some of the many reasons people tell me they can’t meditate. And yet, they are great reasons why you […]
Tips for Travelling Yogi/nis
“An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.” (Mahatma Gandhi) Last week in meditation group we discussed just how easy it is to gradually let your meditation or yoga practice slip away, until one day there is nothing left! Next thing you know, you are feeling the effects of stress and an […]