In mindfulness meditation, we work hard. We work hard to refocus our attention. We work hard to sit in what can be an uncomfortable position for longer than our knees would like. Cultivating mindfulness isn’t easy!
[Read more…]How to Meditate for College Students Stuck at Home
Meditation: A great habit to start during the coronavirus lockdown
College students nationwide are feeling the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re stuck at home and feeling stressed, meditation can help. Learn how.
Much has been written about how to take care of yourself during the current coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdowns. Get exercise, stay in touch with friends, maintain a routine… these are all good ideas. But students can benefit from one self-care habit that has been getting less attention than it deserves: mindfulness meditation.
[Read more…]Practicing Mindfulness: 9 Suggestions for Living Mindfully
Mindfulness can help us in so many ways. It helps us feel more calm and centered. So why is it so hard to make it happen?
Practicing mindfulness can feel complicated and can leave you feeling discouraged or thinking you’re “doing it wrong.” Who would have thought that something associated with serenity and emotional health. could be so frustrating?
It’s only more frustrating when we realize that feeling frustration might be the opposite of what mindfulness is supposed to create.
[Read more…]Negative Meditation Experiences: Is It Safe to Meditate?
Background: Meditation’s health benefits
Meditation and mindfulness practices have become more accepted in Western cultures since the late 1990’s. There are several reasons for this. A primary one is the research and writing of Jon Kabat-Zinn, a scientist who adapted a Southeast Asian Buddhist meditation practice for a Western audience.
His work focuses on a practice called mindfulness meditation. Kabat-Zinn initially, in the late 1970s, focused on patients suffering from chronic pain. His research showed promising results for these patients. His work led to an expansion in research on what other conditions improve with mindfulness meditation. In the following years, studies showed that mindfulness and meditation produce benefit for those suffering from other conditions as well. These include hypertension, insomnia, as well as various anxiety and mood disorders.
[Read more…]Mindfulness of Emotions: How Can It Help You?
More and more people are seeing benefits from learning and practicing mindfulness. It helps them decrease stress and stress-related illnesses, and to improve their mental health by learning how to let go of painful thoughts or feelings. In my work, patients often ask how to be mindful around their emotions. This question usually arises after realizing that one has great difficulty controlling intense emotions (i.e. going from “0 to 100”) that may be triggered in uncomfortable or distressing situations.
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