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Meditation Practices

Explore meditation techniques for every level - from your first sitting practice to advanced methods like body scan, breathwork, and loving-kindness. Each practice includes step-by-step guidance to help you build a meditation habit that lasts.
frog in rainforest
Loving-Kindness & Compassion
Compassion in the Rainforest 

When Ira Rifkin traveled to the jungles of Ecuador years ago, he discovered that though he was far from home, he had come closer to experiencing an authentic human connection. Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • March 16, 2011
A swimmer in a dark swimsuit and goggles is seen underwater, performing a streamlined dive with arms extended forward. Bubbles can be seen around her as she moves through the clear blue water.
Focus & Attention
Mindful Swimming 

Jump into the pool with Tonya Nascimento. Experience the rhythm of your stroke, the comfort of the water holding you up, the rush of the water past your ears, the craziness of hundreds of people swimming in circles and spaced just so. Competitive swimmers, like all athletes, can benefit from practicing in the moment. Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • March 4, 2011
A few pink magnolia flowers bloom on thin, leafless branches extending from the right side of the image against a textured, gray concrete wall background, casting eerie shadows that evoke a subtle sense of horror.
Magazine
Horror. Beauty. 

Walk with Ronlyn Domingue as she takes in the sights one cool day in February, the natural surroundings offering insight and valuable opportunities for introspection.   Read More 

  • Mindful Staff
  • March 1, 2011
A person lying prone on a white wooden floor, with arms stretched out forward and head turned to the left, resting on the surface. The person has brown hair tied back. The imagery conveys a sense of relaxation or stretching.
Getting Started
What does it mean to just be? 

What does it mean, 'to just be?' Jonathan Rowson explores this topic with support from thinkers from the past. Read More 

  • Jonathan Rowson
  • February 23, 2011
A climber dressed in red and black gear is ascending a snowy mountain slope under a bright sun and clear blue sky. They have ski poles and skis attached to their backpack. Rocky outcrops are visible on the path ahead.
Expert Interviews
The Value of Adventure 

Outdoor adventure can essentially function like an extreme meditation cushion, teaching not only concentration, but also inquiry, compassion, and right action, says adventurer Renée Sharp. Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • February 16, 2011
A person dressed in black workout attire performs a yoga pose on a black mat. The pose involves one hand on the mat, the other arm extended overhead, and legs spread wide, demonstrating balance and flexibility. The background is plain white.
Books & Reviews
Yoga’s Twisted History 

No question, yoga has a large following in the West. But how has hatha yoga, specifically asana practice, taken centre stage? And what role has the West played in that preference? Andrea Miller reviews two books that address these questions: Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice, by Mark Singleton, and The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America, by Stefanie Syman.  Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • February 11, 2011
Black and white close-up photo of a person’s hands clasped together. The person is wearing a textured long-sleeve sweater. The image focuses on the fingers interlaced, conveying a sense of contemplation or calm.
Books & Reviews
Invite Kind Attention In 

In an excerpt from their new book, The Mindful Way Through Anxiety, Susan M. Orsillo, Ph.D, and Lizabeth Roemer, Ph.D discuss developing the skills of mindfulness in order to bring kind attention into your daily life.  Read More 

  • Mindful Staff
  • February 1, 2011
A smiling man with short dark hair is shown against a light green background. To the right of him is a white square containing the text
Getting Started
“Meditate in 2011” —Dr. Oz 

Celebrity doctor Dr. Mehmet Oz encouraged people to add "practice meditation" to their New Year's resolution list at a recent benefit gala for The David Lynch Foundation. Read More 

  • Mindful Staff
  • January 4, 2011
wild
Expert Interviews
Awake in the Wild 

Whether we’re in a pristine rainforest or our own backyard, nature is always available to deepen our mindfulness. Here are Mark Coleman’s wilderness tips. Read More 

  • Mark Coleman
  • December 23, 2010
A mother monkey with light brown fur sits on the ground, cradling a baby monkey in her lap. The baby monkey clings closely to its mother, looking ahead. Both monkeys appear calm and close together against a plain white background.
Expert Interviews
Mindfulness Darwin 

Psychologist Paul Ekman reveals Charles Darwin's real view of compassion—and it's not what you might think. Darwin's belief that altruism is a vital part of life is being confirmed by modern science. Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • December 23, 2010
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