How Meditation Changes the Brain
Did you know that simply sitting and breathing mindfully can significantly change the brain? It’s true! Meditation Nurtures the Brain We’ve all heard that meditation leads to greater mental clarity, lower levels of stress and [...]
Meditation Benefits for the Mind and Body
Our minds and our bodies are connected. If we’re unhappy for an extended time, our bodies become weaker and more susceptible to illness. In the same way, when we’re physically run down, it adversely [...]
How to Do Meditation at Home
Meditation is an effective technique that has been around for centuries. People who meditate consistently find that there are short-term and long-term benefits. For instance, soon after they start sitting, meditators begin to enjoy [...]
What Happens to Your Mind, Brain and Body During Meditation?
Your brain is an unimaginably complex electrochemical organ. There’s always a certain level of electric activity going on there regardless of whether you are sleeping or mentally alert, engaged in activities or engrossed in [...]
The Art of Letting Go
Meditation and letting go: the antidotes to suffering Is it possible that many of the difficulties in our lives come from our reluctance—or our inability—to let go? Whether we’re aware of it or not, [...]
Long Term Benefits of Meditation
It often feels like there are just not enough hours in a day and not enough days in a week to get things done. The forty-hour work week is a distant memory. We barely [...]
Opening the Heart to Love
4 Heart Practices Meditation I think when I first came to practice, probably for the first couple years, I sat there and I thought about meditation. I thought that was what I was supposed [...]
Meditation for Sleep
Meditation before going to bed If you’ve been struggling to catch some shuteye lately, meditating before bed might help. Statistics show that more than 70 million people deal with sleep disorders - in America [...]
What Is Mantra Meditation?
A mantra is a syllable, word, or phrase that is repeated during meditation. Mantras can be spoken, chanted, whispered, or repeated in the mind. Most mantra meditation techniques have two essential components: mindfulness meditation and [...]
What is Spiritual Meditation?
At its core, spiritual meditation is the mindful practice of connection to something that is greater, vaster, and deeper than the individual self. It may seem paradoxical, but the path to that connection passes [...]
Guided Meditation for Stress Relief
A mindful breathing meditation for relaxation Based on the guided meditations for stress reduction presented in Mindworks Working with Stress course, read on to learn how to switch from the usual mode of doing to [...]
Meditation Definition: What is Meditation? Take Charge of the Mind
Good question! Meditation is indeed learning to work with the mind. The Cambridge dictionary defines meditation as “the act of giving your attention to only one thing, either as a religions activity or as a [...]
Discovering Genuine Confidence through Meditation
Unconditional goodness and self-worth There’s a big difference between ordinary confidence and genuine confidence. You could say that ordinary confidence is based on some kind of reference point or relationship. Often, if you feel [...]
Does Meditation Make You Happy?
What do we all have in common? What motivates us? What is it that we’re all striving for? We’re all looking to avoid pain, difficulties and dissatisfaction. We all want to be comfortable and happy, and [...]
Why is Meditation Important? 6 Facts You Need to Know
When the topic of mindfulness comes up, there are people out there who still imagine that meditation is the domain of free spirits who enjoy zoning out on a woven grass mat somewhere. But [...]
What is This Thing We Call Self?
We Are Not What We Think (And The Idea of Selflessness) We know from our experience that everything is always changing. We wake up in the morning feeling one way, but what we think and [...]
What Does Meditation Feel Like? – Meditation Experiences
Many new (and not-so-new) meditators wonder: what kind of meditation experiences should I be having? What should I be feeling? Is my practice even working? It’s easy to forget that meditation requires patience. Why? [...]
How to Breathe Properly When Meditating
The point of mindfulness meditation practice is to cultivate awareness and peace, but beginners often get side-tracked by worrying about the breath. They wonder if there’s a “right way” to breathe during meditation. Common [...]
What are the Different Types of Meditation?
Some technique of meditation is practiced in virtually every community throughout the world. An ancient tradition, meditation is as relevant in today’s busy world as it ever was. It can lead us to discover a sense of [...]
What Is Buddhist Meditation?
There are many forms of meditation and many ideas about what meditation is. While different spiritual paths may associate meditation with contemplation, prayer or other practices, Buddhist meditation is generally associated with mindfulness and awareness. [...]
Physical health and the mind-body connection
What is the mind-body connection? The term “mind-body connection” refers to the understanding that our physical health involves more than just the body. Mind is what connects us and our physical body to the [...]
Mindfulness and Healing
The importance of mindfulness to self-regulate and build resilience As a physician who practices mind-body medicine, I truly believe that mindfulness is the most powerful tool that I have. I share it with my patients [...]
Understanding Empathy and Compassion
Compassion is a multidimensional process with four key components Compassion is the heartfelt wish to help others become free of their suffering. In Buddhist teachings on the Four Immeasurable qualities, compassion is the wish that [...]
How Meditation and Morality are Connected
In Buddhism and other ancient traditions, including yoga, training in morality is considered a precursor to meditation practice. At the same time, it’s understood that meditating can strengthen our capacity to act in an ethical [...]
Change Your Perception of Stress through Meditation
How can I change my perception of stress? Authentic meditation practice can help us change our perception of stress and our reaction to it. “Stress” is a catchall term that covers a variety of reactions [...]
The Contemplative Approach to Compassion
How to develop compassion in a contemplative way, free from suffering The best approach to compassion is probably through love. Love takes us out of ourselves and opens our hearts to others. And when we [...]
How Long Does Meditation Take to Work?
A good number of new meditators begin sitting with the hope that the holistic benefits of meditation will make themselves felt in a matter of days. They expect meditation to act as a quick fix [...]
Proven Solutions for Chronic Pain
Harnessing the power of the mindbody approach Understanding acute and chronic pain Acute, subacute, and chronic pain are different. With acute pain, for example an injury, you may hurt for up to six weeks while [...]
Meditation and Physical Pain
Physical Pain vs Suffering (optional!) - What are the key differences? By using physical pain as an object of meditation we can transform our relationship to pain and in doing so, free ourselves from the [...]
Meditation and the Autonomic Nervous System
About Your Nervous System: Calming Your Nerves & Heart with Meditation You might have heard meditation can heal your central nervous system, but what does that mean and how does it work? Meditation activates the [...]
Best Meditation Techniques for Beginners
Meditation is a transformational method that not only helps us relax but also improves our general well-being. If you’re just beginning to meditate or you’ve been wanting to learn, there are a variety of simple [...]
How Meditation Will Change Your Life
There’s an old meditation joke that says everyone should meditate for 30 minutes per day. But if you’re too busy to meditate, then you should do it for an hour. The humor points to a [...]
6 Simple Relaxation Techniques for Stress
6 Simple Stress Management Techniques When we experience stress, it triggers a sympathetic nervous system response. Heart rate, breathing and vigilance all speed up. Once activated, it’s not always easy to let go of this [...]
Simple Yogic Breathing Techniques for Stress Relief
Breathe Deeply: Why Deep Breathing Helps to Calm Your Stress When stressed, our breath gets short and shallow, a sign that fight or flight mode (the sympathetic nervous system) has kicked in. Deep, focused breathing [...]
How to Start Meditating: Five Meditation Techniques for Beginners
Mindworks 101: Learn How to Start Meditating Keep it Simple When the time comes to start meditating, it may all seem a bit perplexing. After all, there are many methods, teachers, and traditions out [...]
Contemplating Lovingkindness
The causes of happiness and the role of love in developing connections One of the main causes of happiness is in relationship and openness to others. So how do we get that? How do we [...]
Physical Pain, Emotions, and the Brain
The mind-body connection is a two-way street The concept of the psychosomatic, psychophysiologic, or mindbody process is often misunderstood. This is definitely not to say that the pain you’re experiencing or your problem is make-believe. [...]
How Breath and Health are Connected
Deep Breathing and Physical Health Benefits for Stress and Anxiety You know you depend on breath to live, but did you know you can live better by breathing more intentionally? Shallow, interrupted breathing is correlated [...]
Healing Trauma Through Meditation
What Qualifies as Trauma, and How Does It Affect our Brain Structure? Meditation can help you heal from trauma and PTSD, but it’s not always the cure-all we want it to be. For some, meditation [...]
What Are the Four Foundations of Mindfulness?
Shifting our full attention to the mind itself with direct experience Mindfulness meditation teaches us to be present with whatever arises, accept it without judgment, and allow it to pass. We typically practice mindfulness meditation [...]
How Meditation Works to Stop Bad Habits
Science points to how bad habits form, but mindfulness helps us break free Research shows almost half of what we do is habitual, and this makes sense. Habits save energy and resources. If we never [...]
Understanding Intelligent vs Blind Faith
Blind Faith is Discouraged (What We Can Learn from The Buddha?) Some people have difficulty with the word faith, and understandably so. It’s ok to be cautious of blind faith, which can leave us vulnerable [...]
Can Meditation Help Lower My Heart Rate or Blood Pressure?
Meditation can lower and regulate your heart rate and blood pressure The physiological effects of meditation include a reduction in stress hormones and adrenaline, improved breathing and blood flow to the brain, and improved melatonin [...]
Meditation for Uncertain Times
The Challenge of Finding Stability In Times Of Change & Uncertainty Change is hard, even when it’s expected. In times of great uncertainty, stress and anxiety increase as we attempt to ground ourselves to anything [...]
The Mindful Entrepreneur | Meditation, Ethics and Leadership
Meditation enhances ethics and leadership qualities This article is a continuation of our Mindful Entrepreneur series. We continue our interview of Bart Mendel, CMO—Chief Meditation Officer—of Mindworks. Bart is also the founder and president of [...]
Which Type of Meditation is Best?
The Best Types of Meditation for Beginners — Mindfulness & Awareness Once people understand there’s more than one type of meditation their next question is usually, which type is best? Meditation isn’t ranked on a [...]
Lifestyle Medicine and a Simple Formula for Wellness
Keys to Establishing a Lifestyle that Meets Your Goals What is lifestyle medicine? Lifestyle medicine is a form of mind-body medicine where we look to lifestyle changes not only for disease prevention but also for [...]
Unleashing the Goodness of Mind
Refine Your Mind's Qualities and Potential with Meditation Practice One beautiful thing about the mind is that it doesn’t have to be become anything else. You might think of it as a gold nugget that [...]
How Meditation Improves Physical Health
The Proven Health Benefits of Daily Meditation According to Science When considering its benefits, most people focus on how meditation can improve mental health. But because body and mind are connected, meditation has great influence [...]
What Does it Mean to Take Refuge?
Taking Refuge in the 3 Jewels Of Buddhism When we’re suffering, it’s natural to try and seek refuge, or shelter from our pain. Until we’ve found a spiritual path, we might seek refuge in medication, [...]
The Benefits of Exercise, Meditation and Brain Health
Upon first glance, exercise and meditation offer similar benefits. Both help improve mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and can lead to a calm, balanced state of mind. But exercise is not a replacement for meditation, [...]
Meditation for Coping with Climate Anxiety
Eco-Anxiety: What it is and How to Manage it with Meditation Our planet is experiencing a rapid increase in temperature and associated severe weather events. Research points to the burning of fossil fuels and resulting [...]
Does Meditation Release Trauma from the Body?
How Trauma Gets Stored In The Body (Somatic Memory & Nervous System) Nearly everyone experiences trauma at some point in their lives. Trauma is the result of an overwhelmingly stressful event which we don’t have [...]
Common Meditation Myths Debunked
Mistaken assumptions about meditation, how it works, and what the outcomes should be can prevent us from starting a practice or may interfere with our current practice by creating unreasonable expectations. By debunking the myths [...]
Spiritual Materialism and How to Avoid It
What is Spiritual Materialism? (and How To Move Beyond It) Spiritual materialism is a term coined by the Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche (1939-1987). He describes the term in his 1973 book, “Cutting [...]
How to Live in the Present & Overcome Fear
Overcoming the Fear of Now: A Journey from Addiction to Meditation Regardless of where we come from or who we are, we all have our own path to live. I was born into a [...]
What is A Bodhisattva?
What is the Meaning of Bodhisattva? Definition, Origins & Practices The bodhisattva seated in meditation is among the most iconic Buddhist images. If you’ve been learning about meditation, you may be wondering what does bodhisattva [...]
Why Breath Meditation is Not Only for Beginners
What are the Benefits of Advanced Breathing Meditation? Most people who are new to meditation are instructed to begin with mindfulness of breath. The breath is a convenient point of focus for meditation, because it’s [...]
How Meditation Helps Stop Overthinking
How Overthinking Harms Us (Meditating When You're an Overthinker) We all know what it’s like to lie awake at night ruminating on past decisions, or second-guessing our upcoming ones. Meditation can help stop overthinking, allowing [...]
The Benefits of Body Scan Meditation
Promoting our body awareness, stress awareness, and overall relaxation Body scan meditation is just one type of mindfulness meditation. In mindfulness meditation, we often use the breath as an anchor for our distracted, wandering mind. [...]
Is There a Role for Meditation in the Fight for Social Justice?
Meditation Can Make You Less Personally Biased Meditation is a deeply personal practice, and yet it has an important role to play in our interpersonal experience and the fight for social justice. Contrary to [...]
Spiritual Bypassing and How to Avoid It
What Is Spiritual Bypassing? Definition, Levels, and Examples Most people turn towards meditation and a more spiritual life because they want to feel better. They desire a life of less stress, discomfort and pain, [...]
The Best Guided Meditations For Beginners
Guided Meditation for Beginners: How to Meditate? (And Keep it Simple) Guided meditation can be a good way to start if you’re a beginner. But when searching through apps, videos and downloads, there’s so many [...]
How Long Should Beginners Meditate For?
The Best Meditation Length for Beginners (The Ideal Amount of Time) New to meditation? You might be wondering how long you should meditate for. But dive more deeply into what’s behind that question, and you’ll [...]
Meditation for Releasing Negative Emotions
Why Emotions Sometimes Hurt (How Emotional Pain Affects Your Mind) Meditation is a powerful tool for helping us work with negative emotions. Negative emotions are uncomfortable and can be overwhelming, a feeling that often gets [...]
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Meditation
How to Use Meditation to Overcome Imposter Syndrome Effectively The thoughts and emotions that tell us we’re not enough, incapable or unworthy are referred to collectively as imposter syndrome. Although not an official medical [...]
Calming Nighttime Anxiety for Better Sleep
What is Sleep Anxiety? (How to Calm Anxiety at Night) If your anxiety gets worse at night, preventing you from sleeping well, you’re not alone. More than half of adults in the US say their [...]
Stress Reduction And Meditation
How Meditation Helps Relieve Stress (Simple and Fast Improvements) When we’re faced with unexpected or challenging circumstances that we don’t have the resources to handle, stress arises. The stress response occurs on a physical, mental [...]
Learn by Doing Nothing: Emotions and Thoughts in Meditation
How do you practice being present in every moment of your life? Through meditation we learn that we can relate to our emotions with a more natural attitude. Once we’ve developed a meditative foundation of [...]
How to Listen to Your Breath, and What it’s Telling You
8 Breathing Patterns that Reveal the Health State of Body and Mind The quality of our breath has lots to tell us about what’s going on in our body and in our minds. By partnering [...]
Tonglen Meditation – How to Practice
Laying a foundation for active compassion in your meditation practice Tonglen is an ancient form of meditation that focuses on compassion: connecting with it, developing it, and learning how to apply it in everyday life. [...]
Lovingkindness and Compassion Meditation
How is lovingkindness different from love in meditation practice? In our culture, “love” is a loaded word. We usually think of love as a very positive emotion that should be cultivated, but most of the [...]
Meditation on the Job | Practicing Mindfulness at Work
Five ways to bring more meditation into your work life Meditation is an oasis of calm in our busy lives, a time to check in with ourselves and simply be instead of do. And the [...]
Buddhist Meditation Techniques & Practices
You probably know that the increasingly popular practices of mindfulness and meditation share Buddhist roots. But did you know that there are many different schools of Buddhism, each with its own meditation techniques and [...]
Mindful Listening
Is there a relationship between effective listening and mindfulness? What is mindful listening? Mindfulness, in all its many forms, boils down to being fully aware in the moment, without judgment or expectations, with or without [...]
The Four Qualities of a Wise and Open Heart
What are the Four Immeasurables in Buddhism? — An Introduction As meditators, we spend a lot of time practicing the art of presence. We develop the ability to observe our inner workings without getting caught up in [...]
Lovingkindness Meditation – A Daily Script
A simple and profound lovingkindness meditation to practice every day What is lovingkindness meditation? Often presented as a complement to mindfulness meditation, most formal, guided lovingkindness meditations are rooted in an ancient Buddhist practice called [...]
Beginners Guide to Meditation
How to Meditate for Beginners: let’s get you started! You’ve read about the many benefits of meditation, you’ve got friends or family members who swear by their 20 or 45 minutes a day, you’ve [...]
What is Zen Meditation? Benefits & Techniques
Zen meditation is an ancient Buddhist tradition that dates back to the Tang Dynasty in 7th century China. From its Chinese origins it spread to Korea, Japan and other Asian lands where it continues [...]
Benefits of Mindfulness & Awareness Meditation
The many benefits of meditation can be grouped into two categories. In the first, we find all of the improvements to our health and general well-being that mindfulness is known for, including stress reduction, improved focus and [...]
The Mindful Entrepreneur | How to Manage a Business and Meditate Effectively
Meditation for busy business executives Not so very long ago, meditation and entrepreneurship rarely occupied the same bandwidth. Nowadays though, meditation—especially mindfulness—is everywhere, from education to therapies to management and beyond. And busy professionals are [...]
When Is the Best Time of Day to Meditate?
Meditation helps us discover and cultivate our inner strength, resilience, and focus. But even if we recognize the value of meditation, it isn’t always easy to find time for it. And even if we [...]
Morning Meditation
Four mindful ways to wake up your body and energize your mind What are the benefits of morning meditation? As soon as the alarm goes off, we’re probably already thinking about work or study, the [...]
Teaching Kids to Meditate — Meditation Benefits for Kids
How to approach meditation for children (from people who teach it) Just as grown-ups who meditate are motivated by different considerations, grown-ups interested in teaching children meditation have different goals. Is this a classroom situation, [...]
Mindfulness of Sounds – Meditation Practice
What are meditation sounds? How to use sounds in mindfulness practice Meditation is about paying attention in and to the present moment. But you’ve probably noticed that the present moment gives us lots of choices [...]
How Long Should I Meditate?
For those new to meditation or thinking about starting, some common questions that crop up are How long should my meditation session last? How long is long enough? Do I have to do this [...]
What is Selflessness?
Developing a deeper awareness of selflessness through compassion When we think about our life, about our experience, who we are and how we interact, do we think that we are individuals? Or do we think [...]
The Great Message of Impermanence
Change and the law of impermanence — Life's great wake-up call One of the most powerful things about being alive is that we’re directly confronted with change. We’re confronted with the fact that we stand [...]
Mindfulness Q & A
Answering what is the meaning of mindfulness with Khaydroup Podvoll How would a seasoned meditation teacher define “mindfulness?” We wondered the same thing! We asked Khaydroup Podvoll, Mind Trainer extraordinaire, to give us concise answers [...]
What is merit . . . . . and how can I get some?
The wisdom of generosity Merit, as defined across cultures, is the result of good actions or deeds. If you’re familiar with scouting, you’ll know that there are dozens and dozens of merit badges that scouts [...]
Mindful Relationships with Teens
Taking a step back and appreciating parenting a teen As a parent, it’s easy to become impatient. I think it helps to remember how vivid a teenager’s world is, how their senses are in perfect [...]
Finding Your Mantra
Personal mantras explained: their use and benefits What is a mantra? A mantra is a word or phrase that is repeated to bring out its positive, transformative energy. Mantras can be as short as one [...]
Compassion Overcomes Fear
Freedom from fear comes from lovingkindness and compassion Compassion is the foundation of all goodness. It’s beyond culture, beyond language, beyond religion, beyond time, and beyond space. It’s also beyond humanity because other species demonstrate [...]
Self-Esteem and Meditation
Discovering Genuine Confidence and Self-Worth through Meditation Self-esteem or self-worth come from knowing, unwaveringly, that you are who you are and that you belong. There’s a contentment, a confidence, not in an arrogant sense but [...]
Meditation Classes for Beginners
Mindfulness-based meditation practice for beginners Wondering how to start meditating? For beginners, there are plenty of courses and classes that are designed to teach basic practices and theories. Many, but not all, of these will [...]
Overcoming the Grip of Social Media
How meditation on basic goodness can keep it from controlling you Mindworks spoke with Mind Trainer Tsony Francis Devroux about understanding the connections between social media and stress and potentially negative effects on self-esteem. His [...]
Better Parenting Decision Making (Thanks to Meditation Practice)
How can we make better parenting decisions? A person who is not grounded or stable will generally be making split second decisions; they’ll never feel they have the space and time to make wise decisions. [...]
Patience is Power
What can meditation teach me about the power of patience? Modern society doesn’t know quite what to make of patience. On the one hand, patience may not seem to be assertive or driven enough, while [...]
Change is the Great Leveler
Recognizing the law of impermanence: Come back to this present moment What meditation does, to put it very dramatically but, I think, correctly, is allow us to experience birth and death in every moment. Ordinarily, [...]
Meditation and Ethics
The morality of meditation: enhancing our ethical decision-making At first glance, it may seem that meditation practice has very little to do with morality or ethical behavior. Mindfulness meditation in particular is often presented as [...]
Meditation in Motion
6 Easy-To-Apply Methods to Practice Mindful Movements Every Day Even the Buddha, who is usually portrayed meditating in perfect stillness, had to move from time to time. He and his followers walked from town to [...]
Mindfulness, Business & Success — What’s the Science?
Learning more about the science of meditation in the workplace At first glance, mindfulness and business don’t seem to have much in common. So why are the nation’s most innovative business schools—including Wharton, Stanford, Harvard [...]
Can Anyone Meditate?
Sometimes when people have tried to meditate and then lost interest, they wonder “Is it really possible for anyone to meditate? Or is it just the chosen few?” According to meditation experts, just about anyone [...]
This Precious Human Life
We’re human—how fortunate and precious! Now what? Reflecting on the preciousness of being born human is an exercise in gratitude and in defining priorities. Here we are, human beings able to make life choices, to [...]
5 Simple Ways to be Mindful in Your Everyday Life
Each and every day, there are many opportunities to be mindful In today’s distraction-filled world, mindful moments can feel like a luxury. How can we be more mindful in a society that encourages multi-tasking and [...]
Power to Change the Future: Our Karmic Plate
Meditation can change the trajectory of our lives The idea of karma is that what we’ve got on our plate right now has been concocted out of the thousands of choices we’ve made all along [...]
Transforming the Mind Through the Three Practices
Benefits of integrating discipline, meditation and wisdom Many people are initially drawn to meditation because of its proven physical and mental health benefits. Once practice has become a regular part of your life, you may [...]
Meditation: Discovering the Gold Mine Within
All emotions are related to worries about the self. That’s ego: the fact that you are always concerned about your self. Take depression and fear, for example. These emotions arise due to a way of [...]
Top 10 Best Tips on How to Meditate
How Do You Meditate? A Meditation Toolkit Here are 10 tips on meditation that will enable you to experience its peaceful and joyful benefits. 1. Just do it Meditation is something that anyone can [...]
How Does Meditation Reduce Stress?
Mindfulness Meditation for Stress and Anxiety Stress and anxiety result when we feel we can’t handle the pressures and adverse situations of everyday life. It’s a simple question of supply and demand of [...]
Noting Meditation Practice
How to use labels to make a busy mind more manageable Oh, those pesky thoughts. When we’re in deep meditation, thoughts, sensations and emotions can feel like the distant drone of bumblebees. They’re familiar and [...]
What is Vipassana Meditation?
Vipassana meditation, also known as insight or awareness meditation, is best summarized by Socrates’s famous maxim “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” The goal of vipassana is to give us insight into [...]
News: Mindworks Announces New Online Meditation Courses
~ NEW, RELEVANT AND INSPIRING ~ Great news! Our sparkling new and improved Mindworks website is now host to some of the best online meditation courses you’ll find anywhere. Accessible on your computer or mobile [...]
The Best Meditation Posture for You
The best meditation posture for you is, first and foremost, the one you can settle into and sustain. Most people meditate while seated on a cushion, meditation bench, or chair. When this is not physically [...]
Mindful Education — The Future of Meditation in Schools
Mindfulness in Education: What's Behind the Trend? If you aren’t old enough to remember life before internet and smartphones, chances are your parents or grandparents are. Yes, Virginia, there was a time when young people [...]
Meditation on the Power of Gratitude
We all know that it’s important to appreciate the good things in our lives and to be thankful for the acts of kindness that come our way. Gratitude is part of being a good person; [...]
Helping Our Kids Deal with Technology through Meditation
Information Technology, Social Media and Meditation Today’s younger generations are growing up in a context that is significantly different from their parents’. For many parents and grandparents, information technology was in its formative years when [...]
Mindfulness Exercises
4 beneficial mindful techniques and activities you can try today Mindfulness is so popular these days that there’s no shortage of quick, creative mindfulness exercises available through websites, apps, and in print, not to mention [...]
Listen, Reflect, Meditate
The Power of Contemplative Practice If meditation in general and mindfulness in particular are so popular nowadays, it’s because the cat’s out of the bag: meditative practices are good for us. They improve mental and [...]
Being a genuine person: 5 things to consider
We all have the ability to be genuine: to be open, honest, present, available and kind. It may seem that being genuine requires a great effort, but in truth, being genuine and living an [...]
Mindfulness for Kids
5 enjoyable mindful moments for kids on the go Mindfulness exercises for kids provide a welcome breather in a day filled with activities and learning. Now that a number of studies have confirmed the benefits [...]
Meditation and Stress Prevention
Preventing stress with regular meditation practice Did you know that meditation doesn’t only relieve stress? Science has shown that meditation prevents stress as well! It’s a practice that we can include in our lives so [...]
Disrupting Habitual Patterns Through Meditation
Habitual Patterns Limit Our Options and Hold Us Hostage Due to the tendencies we create out of habit, our thoughts and emotions default to a habitual response. Without awareness, we dig ever-deeper grooves into our [...]
Forgiveness Meditation Practice
Healing relationships is key to addiction recovery Without relationship, there is no practice, there is no recovery. Finding a way to heal relationships and the pain that can get in their way is core [...]
Unconditional Well-Being
Our best qualities are revealed through meditation practice When we meditate, we’re training in being present to each moment without judging or allowing ourselves to be fascinated or repelled by what arises. We’re able [...]
Minding the Gap in Meditation
Discovering a Spacious Mind through Mindfulness and Awareness In this mindful journey that we’re on, we work with qualities such as resilience and tools such as disruption. In this context, disruption is about disrupting the [...]
Working with Emotions in Meditation
When we meditate, we need to understand how to work with thoughts and emotions. Emotions are part of life, but what are they? According to one definition of emotions, they are contents of the [...]
Mindfulness and Addiction Recovery
Meditation as a path to understand addictive behavior Mindfulness is a centuries-old contemplative practice that can help you develop awareness, clarity and focus in your daily life. Today, therapies based on mindfulness are used [...]
Mindfulness Meditation Improves Love & Relationships
Expectations and Relationships If we really think about it, most of our concerns and daily conflicts happen within the context of relationships. We are constantly connecting with people at different layers of intimacy, and [...]
How to Clear Our Minds and Create Space in Meditation
Disrupting Copy and Paste Mentality It is quite interesting that as human beings, our mental behavior often adopts a sort of copy and paste approach. If we’re not aware of our thought patterns, who [...]
Meditation for Children
We all want happy, healthy lives for our children. Teaching kids how to meditate can give them a jump start to accessing the many benefits of meditation. Even though today’s kids exhibit elevated levels [...]
A Brief History of Meditation
Meditators swear by the practice’s ability to bring enduring positive change into their lives. But where does meditation come from? What are its origins? Who thought it up? We don’t really know. The earliest [...]
Meditation for Students
Many students are searching for healthy practices that relieve stress, calm frazzled nerves and help them relax. Mindfulness is a natural, easy-to-follow meditation method that offers college kids who are feeling the grind important [...]
Alcohol and Meditation
Like other forms of addiction, addiction to alcohol causes great harm to those who are dependent and everyone connected to them. While there are many possible definitions of addiction and alcoholism, one that may [...]
Mindfulness and Awareness Meditation Brings Resilience
In meditation practice, we discover that our mind is fundamentally resilient and able to work with challenging situations. In order to meet these challenges, we have to go beyond our distractions and habitual patterns [...]
What Does It Mean to Have Visions During Meditation?
Some people report having visions during meditation. Having a “vision” is defined as experiencing something out of the ordinary that wouldn’t be real in the normal state of things, but that seems very real to [...]
Lovingkindness in Meditation
Meditation changes our relationship to pain What is lovingkindness meditation? While there are many different types of meditation, there are specific practices that we call lovingkindness where we actually train our hearts and minds to [...]
A Passion for Kids Meditation: Me and the Moon
Taes' journey of self-exploration and intimate study on meditation for kids This is a profoundly moving guest article by our friend Taes Leavitt, whose passion and creativity for meditation for kids knows no bounds. It's [...]
What is guided meditation?
In guided meditation, our practice is shaped by another person’s voice. Because the mind has a tendency to wander where it will, many of us find it easier to focus and relax when our minds [...]
Parenting as a Meditator—Is Meditation Important for Families?
Essential qualities to develop in meditation that help your child grow It’s not “Either I meditate or I have to be a mum or dad.” Often people think, “I have to be a parent and [...]
More Than Your Thoughts: How Meditation Can Expand Your World
An Interview with Mindworks Chief Meditation Officer Bart Mendel Having studied and taught meditation for over 35 years throughout the US, Canada and Europe, Bart Mendel founded Mindworks, an online meditation system, to help a [...]
Getting Started with Metta Meditation
Instruction on Loving Kindness Meditation Oh good, a new word! “Metta” comes to us from an ancient Indian language called Pali, and it translates as lovingkindness, benevolence, active good will—you get the idea. Normally, when [...]
How to Meditate: Tibetan Buddhism
As Buddhist meditation and philosophy spread throughout the East many hundreds of years ago, they acquired the flavors of the lands where they took root. Today, when you look at some of the Buddhist meditation [...]
What is compassion meditation?
All forms of meditation center on presence and focusing. When we practice compassion meditation, our focus is well-being: the well-being of others as well as of ourselves. Compassion is a quality that can be trained [...]
Confidence in Meditation: Fundamental Fearlessness
Fearlessness: the spaciousness of meditation flows into everyday life As we sit, we become aware of the space that reveals itself through meditation. And we realize that along with the space comes enormous power: the [...]
What is Meditation Used For?
(Drum roll…) Meditation is everywhere: schools, community centers, medical centers, in the military, in churches, temples, and ashrams, and the list goes on and on. Seeing as how mindfulness and meditation seem to permeate our [...]
Understanding Karma – Cause and Effect
Meditation on karma, motivation and result Karma is something that’s often totally misunderstood. When most people hear the word karma, they associate it with the idea of fate: “It’s your karma. There’s nothing you can [...]
A Mindful Education: Meditation & Social-Emotional Learning Case Study
Meditation in High Schools - A Case Study High school math and science teacher John Thomson has been practicing meditation for about fifteen years. When his school, Amy Biehl High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, [...]
Anger Management and Meditation
Mindfulness can teach us that anger doesn’t have to be a problem. Anger’s not the problem, greed is not the problem, delusion is not the problem. The problem is how we relate to these difficulties. [...]
What is Meditation? Everybody’s talking about it!
Okay, but what is the definition of meditation? According to the Cambridge Dictionary online, the meaning of meditation is either: • the act of giving your attention to only one thing, either as a religious [...]
The Psychology of Addiction
The intersection between modern trauma theory, addiction & mindfulness by Stephen Dansiger The problem of addiction is not just a problem for people struggling with addiction. It’s a problem of the ages, and at [...]
Mindfulness for Children
If you’re a parent or children’s caregiver, you well know that caring for small children can be challenging. Moments of intense joy, closeness and wonder might be peppered with bewilderment and concern if the [...]
Physical & Mental Benefits of Meditation
Meditation is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people discover its wide-ranging benefits. Although this practice has been around for centuries and mental benefits of meditation are well-known, modern science has only recently [...]
Generosity Creates Natural Wealth
Meditation teaches us to be generous in our everyday lives. In meditation watching the breath with mindfulness is a very generous way to spend quality time with ourselves. Through this we create lots of space [...]
Health Benefits of Meditation
For centuries, meditation has been used as an effective technique to work with the mind, and also to provide relaxation, well-being and better health. Long before the advent of modern science and medicine, dedicated meditators [...]
Meditation Research: What Does Science Tell Us About Meditation
People have been practicing meditation for millennia. This ancient practice is as pertinent nowadays as it was centuries ago. Meditation helps us quiet our minds, connect with our inner qualities and foster wisdom and [...]
Meditation for Seniors
We all dream of aging like good wine, getting better and better as the years progress. And we all know that this dream is rarely realized: growing old comes with its fair share of losses [...]
Guided Meditation for Kids
Today’s kids lead extremely hectic lifestyles. Their days are filled with school, family and social obligations, sensory overload, and internal and external pressures. This can lead to a surplus of hard-to-handle situations that culminate in [...]
What is Self Reflection Meditation?
“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” These pithy words were spoken by the French philosopher Blaise Pascal in the 17th century. We often become so swept [...]
What Is the Goal of Meditation?
Sometimes even the most seasoned meditators find it difficult to meditate on a daily basis. But isn’t it funny how we find time to watch TV, go shopping and do everything else? When we [...]
5 Best Places for Meditation
Where Would You Love to Meditate? Ready for a real journey to uncharted territories? It’s time to sit! And where are the best places to meditate? A quiet room definitely counts, but there are plenty [...]
The Challenges of Silent Meditation
For centuries, silent meditation was reserved for the privileged few who had renounced the world and sought communion – with the divine, the universe, or their own inner being - in remote cloisters and [...]
What Does Self Awareness Mean?
“Awareness” is a buzz word in meditation talks and mindfulness conversations. But what, actually is awareness? Is it being mentally alert? Discerning? Well-informed? Is there a difference between awareness and consciousness? Being self-conscious and self-aware [...]
What is Gong Meditation and How Is It Practiced?
Gong meditation is a unique type of sound practice that involves using therapeutic gong sounds and vibrations to bring about healing. This practice is also sometimes referred to as a “gong bath” because participants are [...]
History, Benefits and Uses of Meditation Balls
Meditation balls - also known as “Chinese medicine balls,” “Baoding balls,” “relaxation balls” and “Zen meditation balls” - are two little balls that can be held in one hand. As you roll them in the [...]
Top 5 Buddhist Meditation Postures
Meditation is a calming process that allows you to center yourself and joyfully experience the present moment. There are many meditation postures that you could try; most of them are easy to achieve. A good [...]
The Meaning and Function of the Meditation Bell
Since ancient times, Buddhist monks and nuns have used bells as part of their daily meditation practices. Among other things, bells are considered a meditation enhancer, as they help practitioners keep their attention focused on [...]
Guided Gratitude Meditation
We all aspire to leading happy, healthy lives. To fulfill this yearning for well-being, we generally find ourselves actively trying to obtain what we’ve decided we need and steer clear of anything that might thwart [...]
Top 10 Celebrities Who Meditate
Meditation is no longer the exclusive domain of yogis and seekers. Many ordinary folk are embracing the practice - and so are celebrities. Famous people get as much out of sitting as the rest of [...]
Best Meditation Gift Ideas for Him and Her
Is there a special person in your life who meditates? Wondering what meditation-related gifts might surprise and delight them? Even the smallest of gifts tells your partner that you care about them and are supportive [...]
The 5 Essential Points of Meditation
Ever wonder how Buddhist monks and nuns achieve that seemingly unflappable peace of mind? The truth is, they had to start from scratch - just like everybody else. As you work your way from distracted [...]
Can You Quit Smoking Through Meditation?
We all know someone who is addicted to smoking – a family member, a co-worker or friend, or maybe even you yourself. Once you start smoking and develop a habit out of it, quitting [...]
5 Ways to Improve Mindfulness
Awareness and appreciation of the present moment give life its fullness. Training in mindfulness fosters focus, clarity, and gratitude for the goodness of now. But distraction is such a strong habit that even while we [...]
How Does Meditation Improve Memory and Focus?
Memory and Focus Meditation Wouldn’t it be great if you could wave a magic wand and presto! Your memory and ability to focus have been magically enhanced! You would be more productive, your goals [...]
ASMR in Meditation
Autonomous Sensory Meridian Responses and Meditation Do you experience a pleasant tingling sensation (called ASMR) when someone whispers in your ear or gently massages your scalp? Does it send delicious shivers down your spine and [...]
What Are the Health Benefits of Meditation?
Many meditation health benefits have a common denominator Beyond serenity: the health benefits of meditation Many of us associate meditation with serenity and mental focus. But meditation comes with a number of very convincing [...]
Sitting Meditation Demystified
Is strong determination required for sitting meditation? If determination spells persistence, then the answer is yes. Most everyone agrees that you’ll get the most out of your meditation practice if it’s regular – when [...]
5 of the Best Books About Meditation
Meditation requires a great deal of patience and commitment – but we all know it’s worth the effort! Sometimes, though, it’s helpful to balance the “patience and commitment” part with “energy and relaxation.” That’s [...]
Can Meditation Help Deal with Tragedy and Death?
Losing a loved one is devastating. Everyone has their own, personal way to cope with the death of a beloved friend, relative, or even a pet. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. [...]
Everyone Has Different Meditation Experiences & Stories
Regular meditation practice often results in experiences that are different from those of everyday life. But what should we expect? Meditation tends to bring long-buried emotions, memories and qualities to the surface. You may have [...]
The Benefits of a Meditation Chair
For meditators looking to get comfortable with their practice, having the right meditation furniture and accessories is a big plus. A suitable meditation chair is especially helpful for people who need more back support, have physical [...]
Mindfulness Meditation Training Techniques for Beginners
According to the Eastern meditative traditions, lasting happiness is achieved by understanding and training the mind. Our usual pattern is to look to the outside world for the validation and comfort that define our [...]
Do You Need a Cushion to Meditate?
The short answer is… maybe. You could try meditating on a chair for starters, or simply sit on the floor if you want. Use pillows or cushions from your furnishings for a trial run. Eventually, [...]
Meditation for Healing
In recent years thousands of people have participated in studies that confirm the beneficial effects of meditation for stress, depression, managing chronic pain, insomnia and other conditions. Clearly, there are forms of meditation practice that [...]
The Meaning of Mindfulness and Awareness
Mindfulness and awareness are the foundations of meditation. But what’s the difference? If the term “mindfulness” is now part of the zeitgeist, “awareness” is somewhat harder to pin down. In the context of meditation, [...]
Meditation and ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (or simply ADHD) is a disorder characterized by hyperactivity, extreme distractibility and impulsivity. This condition commonly presents itself during childhood, but it may not be diagnosed in a timely manner. If [...]
Meditating Outside | Benefits & Joys of Meditating in Nature
Don’t you love being outside in fine weather? Enjoying the environment, a swim, a stroll, a romp with the dog… It’s a real gift to be able to spend time outdoors – so much so [...]
Daily Meditation
Many people rely on daily readings and meditation to help them maintain balance and a healthy spiritual life. Those who adhere to a religious tradition have sacred texts that can inspire and guide them [...]
Meditation Helps to Accept What We Can’t Change in Our Children
Creating space for acceptance of our kids improves parenting There are times in life where we don’t have a choice, which is an incredibly fertile moment for change, for growth, and even for transformation. Because [...]
Keeping a Meditation Journal
Sometimes when we meditate we have exceptional experiences that we wouldn’t trade for anything. Other times we end up feeling bewildered or frustrated by the whole process. This is a natural pendulum effect that most [...]
How to Meditate for Better Concentration
We lead extremely busy lives - more often than not we have to devote our attention to many different tasks simultaneously. Meditation is an antidote to this scatteredness: when we practice, we train the [...]
Does Meditation Improve Memory?
The benefits of meditation are far-reaching, and researchers have already identified a number of patently positive effects that meditation can have on the human brain. So naturally, many of us wonder if improved memory is [...]
What is Deep Meditation?
Beginners and seasoned meditators alike wonder what deep meditation should feel like. In their quest for deep meditation, some meditators who think they are not progressing fast enough may be tempted to switch techniques. [...]
What Are The Differences Between Meditation and Relaxation?
It’s the old “an apple is a fruit but a fruit isn’t necessarily an apple” equation. Meditation is relaxing, but relaxation isn’t meditation. For individuals suffering from physical, mental or emotional stress, meditation opens [...]
Falling Asleep During Guided Meditation
Is it okay to fall asleep while meditating? An ever-increasing number of people from all horizons are discovering that meditation gives them a deep sense of self-awareness and calm. Meditation is a natural practice that [...]
Meditation and Insomnia
Meditation and Insomnia: at the crossroads of sleep and mindfulness Have you ever struggled with sleeplessness? It is estimated that at least 10% of the population suffers from symptoms of insomnia. There are two main [...]
Best Meditation Positions While Lying Down
The Lying Down Meditation Posture Meditation is an effective practice that helps the body stay in tune with the heart and mind. During most forms of meditation, it’s important that the body remain as [...]
How to Meditate During Pregnancy
Pregnancy Meditation Pregnant women have to cope with a number of emotional and physical challenges. Hormonal changes can lead to mood swings, increased appetite and nausea, to name but a few. Meditation during pregnancy [...]
Different Types of Meditation Poses and Postures
Important Meditation Posture Pointers When you settle down for a meditation session, it’s important to find a comfortable seated position and maintain good posture. A variety of meditation poses are suitable and you’re sure [...]
How Does Meditation Help You Stay Calm?
How To Stay Calm - How Does Meditation Help? For many of those looking to “keep calm” and de-stress, meditation might just be the ideal solution. Meditation practices vary widely around the globe, and among [...]
Meditation Techniques to Reduce Pain
Have you ever had to cope with pain? There are two main kinds of physical pain: chronic and acute. Chronic pain is often defined as any kind of pain that persists for 12 weeks or [...]
Can Meditation Help With Anxiety?
If you constantly feel nervous, worried or uneasy due to past or future events, you may be suffering from anxiety. Everyone gets anxious at some point or another. Generally speaking, being anxious is not [...]
What Is Walking Meditation?
We don’t need a special set-up to meditate. We can practice mindfulness meditation while sitting at the desk, doing the dishes or taking a walk. Mindful walking meditation is a perfect complement to our seated [...]
What is Chakra Meditation?
What is a Chakra? “Chakra” is a Sanskrit word that literally means wheel or cycle. In the context of spiritual disciplines such as yoga, the chakras are considered to be wheel-like energy centers that are not [...]
Best Mindfulness Meditation Exercises
Mindfulness meditation is gaining popularity across the world, and for good reason. Studies have shown that mindfulness meditation exercises contribute to creativity, decrease anxiety and cultivate peace of mind. The basis for mindfulness is [...]
Meditation and Breathing Techniques
Meditation and the Breath In today’s hectic, distracted world, a calm and settled mind may feel like wishful thinking. Fortunately there are established techniques that make it possible for us to tame and train our [...]
Best Meditation Techniques for Seniors
Benefits and meditation tips for seniors Just because you’re no spring chicken, that doesn’t mean your goose is cooked as far as meditation is concerned. In some ways, older adults have an edge when it comes [...]
What Does “Mindful” Mean?
Mindful is just what you’d think, kind of Be mindful of the time, mindful of your language, mindful of how much those groceries cost, mindful of where you put your feet—being mindful was part of [...]
Can Meditation Help With Depression?
Abraham Lincoln, Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allen Poe, Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill, Vincent Van Gogh, J. K. Rowling, Adele and countless other artists, bereaved individuals, recent mothers, and John and Jane Does struggled or struggle [...]
Meditation for Childbirth and Pregnancy
A woman’s experience of pregnancy and childbirth very much depends on what’s going on in her life. For many women – those who have “the glow” - pregnancy is an exhilarating time of hope and [...]
What Is Swimming Meditation?
Doctors recommend swimming as one of the best exercises around, and for good reason. When we swim, the main muscle groups all go to work in a way that doesn’t put undue stress on the [...]
Tinnitus Meditation: Clear Your Mind With Guided Meditation
Those who are dealing with the medical condition called tinnitus perceive noises that others don’t. Common sounds include buzzing, hissing, and the (in)famous ringing in the ears. With most forms of tinnitus, the brain usually [...]
How Many People Meditate?
Do you wonder how many people in the world practice meditation? It’s a good question! Considering the immense popularity that meditation has garnered in the last few decades, we can estimate that there are presently [...]
Seeing White Light During Meditation
Meditation Experiences It’s not all that unusual for meditators to have an experience of light during their practice session. The experience may be along the lines of “I felt I was dissolving into an intensely [...]
What Is Channeling Meditation?
Meditation means different things to different people. The most mainstream form of meditation nowadays is mindfulness, but there are plenty of other forms, including awareness, mantra, contemplative, relaxing, gong, visualization and so on. The New [...]
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Welcome to Mindworks Meditation Blog
Meditation advice provided in Mindworks’ blog by our international team of experts (who we call Mind Trainers) will help you keep your practice dynamic and fresh, whether you’re just starting out or have been honing your skills for years. For practical guidance and inspiration, you’ll find the latest mindfulness and awareness meditation tips in these blog pages.
You may find our Top 10 Best Tips on How to Meditate a helpful way to begin. Commitment to your practice can help you access your own innate sense of well-being and enable you to be present and attentive to whatever is happening right now. Over time, you’ll find that meditation practice can lead to a more joyful and positive outlook on life.
Mindfulness is about being committed to the present moment and suspending judgment. If we think about it, we recognize that we’re actually never anywhere but the present. Yet our minds tend to struggle with this reality, jumping all over the place, recalling past events, anticipating future outcomes, and churning over tough personal situations. When we’re more aware of the present moment, we’re less likely to become mired in these unproductive emotional patterns.
The Mindworks blog and awesome meditation courses give us what we need to get started with meditation or enrich our existing practice. We discover the power of guiding our attention back to the breath and to the present moment. Our practice is nurtured with fresh new Mindworks content designed to keep us sitting and reflecting.
Through meditation and awareness, we come to realize that we don’t have to remain stuck in self-imposed limitations. We have the ability to change our circumstances for the better by working with our minds. Thanks to our meditation practice, we become healthier, endure less stress and anxiety, and develop an improved sense of focus and productivity. Through awareness practice, we become more flexible and understanding, and gradually discover an innate sense of well-being that gives us a more positive and joyful experience of life. The benefits of meditation are numerous and well documented—we only have to sit to open ourselves to all of the possibilities.
The mission of Mindworks is to foster greater happiness and well-being by making meditation relevant to today’s challenges and accessible to anyone—any time, any place. Mindworks gets you started and keeps you going!
Our Mindworks meditation experts have carefully designed our course to give you everything you need to develop a consistent and effective daily practice.
We hope you’ll enjoy the Mindworks Meditation Blog, our Meditation Courses and free App. Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome.