5 Things I Wish I Had Known When I Began Meditating
Before I began meditating I felt that I had two advantages: I came from India, and because of my medical background, I had looked into the health benefits of meditation....
Beginners
Before I began meditating I felt that I had two advantages: I came from India, and because of my medical background, I had looked into the health benefits of meditation. So when I think of five things that I wish I'd known 35 years ago, I would amend the topic to "things I wish everyone knew." Meditation is natural. It's...
Meditation is a skill like learning to ride a bike or drive a car. It takes time, discipline, and making mistakes before you feel you’ve mastered the skill. Sometimes, we fall into an it-looks-easy-so-it-should-be-easy mindset, which can cause a lot of frustration if you’re struggling to master a particular skill. Most skills require hours of practice.Meditating, and learning how to...
The Colombian-born singer is recognized globally for reviving reggaeton, a Spanish-language musical genre with roots in Puerto Rico, Panama, and Jamaica, to an international audience. But Balvin’s ascent to worldwide superstardom has not been without mission. He has bravely shared his personal challenges with mental health and advocated for well-being practices. Balvin’s commitment to serving others by sharing his story...
Meditation is one of today’s most effective tools for managing stress, getting into the zone, and entering into a peaceful state of balance. Practiced by celebrities, professional athletes, and high-powered executives, in addition to everyday people like you and me, meditation has climbed its way to the top tier of powerful techniques to change the way you navigate your busy...
If you feel restless or impatient during your meditation, you are not alone. Many meditators experiance restlessness. Here are tips on how to overcome restlessness.
Meditation can be a very rewarding practice, even if you have little experience with it. While guided training and a carefully cultivated practice is needed, there are ways in which novice meditators can overcome some of the common problems that prevent profound meditations for beginners.Here are several simple and practical hints you can use to kick-start your meditation practice and...
Whether you are starting a new meditation practice or want to deepen an existing practice, getting back to the basics and putting attention to your intention is a wonderful way to remind yourself of why you meditate. The alphabet is where many of us begin our journey as students on this planet, so here’s a little alphabetical reminder of the...
Beginning a meditation practice can be both exciting and intimidating. If you asked 10 different people what style of meditation they practice, you might get 10 different answers. It's common to feel overwhelmed and uncertain as to where or how to get started with meditating.The best way to begin is to familiarize yourself with some of the different types of...
Our results-driven society can make it difficult to slow down, let alone stop and sit in silence.At times, launching a successful business and raising a family can seem easier than sitting in quietude for 20 to 30 minutes a day. The idea alone is enough to make some people squirm.Meditation is a way of steeping ourselves in "beingness"—which is who...
The practice of meditation is becoming society's go-to antidote to stress. More people are incorporating mindfulness into their daily routines to create more peace, clarity, and balance in their lives. Even corporations such as Google, Apple, Nike, Yahoo, and HBO are promoting meditation in the workplace as a way to increase productivity, improve employee morale, and ultimately, enhance their bottom...
Meditation is on the rise—and for good reason. It’s one of the best practices we have to help us manage stress, unplug from the busyness of our lives, and re-center ourselves.The daily practice of meditation—just like regular exercise, nutrition, and getting enough sleep—requires a level of self-commitment. Unfortunately, our busy lives can make it difficult to stick with daily mediation....
There’s big buzz around meditation, and for good reason. Research points to this once fringe practice as a highly effective technique for improving your life overall. With benefits ranging from physiological to psychological to spiritual, and scientific research to back its validity, there’s really no reason anyone shouldn’t be meditating at this point. Corporations, professional sports teams, school systems, and...
When kids get too rowdy, they’re given time-outs. Regardless of why parents and teachers administer a time-out, it’s ultimately meant to help children slow down, reconnect with the present moment, and begin again. It’s a reset that helps kids re-enter the playground of life a little more slowly and with increased awareness of their actions.Adults too, can benefit from a...
Over the years of teaching meditation, I’ve become familiar with many of the fears that new meditators raise when considering a meditation practice. Meditation has become much more familiar in the public mind over the last couple of decades, and many of the stereotypical beliefs about meditation being a difficult practice that’s only for monks and recluses have now been...
You’ve heard about the benefits of meditation and decided to see what all the hype is about. Perhaps you’re starting a new morning meditation practice at home, or you signed up for a meditation class or event. Maybe you’re headed to a weekly group meditation in your community. No matter how or where you meditate, here are a few dos...
One of the classic images that come to mind when you think about meditation is that of a yogi sitting in lotus position on the floor, back almost impossibly straight. For people new to meditation, it’s a position that can be uncomfortable and hard to maintain for longer periods of time.While posture is important in meditation, you’re not expected to...
Before you reach for a boring glass of orange, apple, or grape juice. Try these 5 immune booster recipes that are healthy and great tasting.
Vegans don’t consume any products that come from an animal-based source or animal protein. All macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and fat are only consumed through plant-based sources—which can make it challenging to get enough protein. A common question many vegans are asked is, “How do you get enough protein?” Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to get adequate amounts...
The holidays are full of excitement with preparations and the anticipation of spending time with loved ones. It’s easy to get caught up in the “busyness” of it all and forget to stop and engage in some type of self-care activity. Next thing you know, stress takes a toll and you aren’t able to function at your best because your...
More people in the West are practicing yoga than ever before. Doctors are prescribing it, scientists are endorsing it, and some insurance plans are even covering it. Though the physical practice of yoga—the third limb of Patanjali's eight-fold path—has been around thousands of years, asana has recently grown in popularity and the various styles of yoga to choose from.But where...
Ready to try your first public yoga class? If you are at all intimidated by the thought of moving your practice out of your living room and into the yoga studio, here’s a guide for how to proceed and what to expect when you make it to the shala (studio) for the very first time. 1. Find Your StudioMaybe you’ve...
Despite yoga’s popularity, most practitioners aren’t expert yogis. Most students in yoga classes are new to the practice—and many have unanswered questions.It can be daunting to even think about asking a question when you see that fit 20-something folding herself perfectly into every pose. Here are answers to the questions that even she might ask.What Should I Wear to Class?There...
Articles
How to Deal with Distractions While Meditating
Meditation is a skill like learning to ride a bike or drive a car. It takes time, discipline, and making mistakes before you feel you’ve mastered the skill. Sometimes, we...
Meet J Balvin, the Latin Music Superstar and Wellness Advocate
The Colombian-born singer is recognized globally for reviving reggaeton, a Spanish-language musical genre with roots in Puerto Rico, Panama, and Jamaica, to an international audience. But Balvin’s ascent to worldwide...
5 Tips for the New or Struggling Meditator
Meditation is one of today’s most effective tools for managing stress, getting into the zone, and entering into a peaceful state of balance. Practiced by celebrities, professional athletes, and high-powered...
How to Manage Restlessness and Impatience During Meditation
If you feel restless or impatient during your meditation, you are not alone. Many meditators experiance restlessness. Here are tips on how to overcome restlessness.
3 Practical Tips for Beginner Meditators
Meditation can be a very rewarding practice, even if you have little experience with it. While guided training and a carefully cultivated practice is needed, there are ways in which...
The ABCs of Meditation
Whether you are starting a new meditation practice or want to deepen an existing practice, getting back to the basics and putting attention to your intention is a wonderful way...
Start Here! 5 Meditation Styles for Beginners
Beginning a meditation practice can be both exciting and intimidating. If you asked 10 different people what style of meditation they practice, you might get 10 different answers. It's common...
How to Beat the Boredom in Meditation
Our results-driven society can make it difficult to slow down, let alone stop and sit in silence.At times, launching a successful business and raising a family can seem easier than...
5 Qualities to Look for in a Meditation Teacher
The practice of meditation is becoming society's go-to antidote to stress. More people are incorporating mindfulness into their daily routines to create more peace, clarity, and balance in their lives....
On Again-Off Again Meditating: Does It Do Any Good?
Meditation is on the rise—and for good reason. It’s one of the best practices we have to help us manage stress, unplug from the busyness of our lives, and re-center...
99 Reasons to Start Meditating
There’s big buzz around meditation, and for good reason. Research points to this once fringe practice as a highly effective technique for improving your life overall. With benefits ranging from...
10-Minute Meditation Breaks
When kids get too rowdy, they’re given time-outs. Regardless of why parents and teachers administer a time-out, it’s ultimately meant to help children slow down, reconnect with the present moment,...
3 Common Fears of New Meditators
Over the years of teaching meditation, I’ve become familiar with many of the fears that new meditators raise when considering a meditation practice. Meditation has become much more familiar in...
Dos and Don’ts for Your First Meditation
You’ve heard about the benefits of meditation and decided to see what all the hype is about. Perhaps you’re starting a new morning meditation practice at home, or you signed...
What’s the Right Way to Sit for Meditation?
One of the classic images that come to mind when you think about meditation is that of a yogi sitting in lotus position on the floor, back almost impossibly straight....
5 Immune-Boosting Juice Recipes
Before you reach for a boring glass of orange, apple, or grape juice. Try these 5 immune booster recipes that are healthy and great tasting.
10 Plant-Based Protein Sources for Vegans
Vegans don’t consume any products that come from an animal-based source or animal protein. All macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and fat are only consumed through plant-based sources—which can make it...
5 Yoga Poses to Promote Calmness During the Holidays
The holidays are full of excitement with preparations and the anticipation of spending time with loved ones. It’s easy to get caught up in the “busyness” of it all and...
A Simple Guide to the Most Common Yoga Styles
More people in the West are practicing yoga than ever before. Doctors are prescribing it, scientists are endorsing it, and some insurance plans are even covering it. Though the physical...
Yoga Class 101: What to Expect from Your First Yoga Class
Ready to try your first public yoga class? If you are at all intimidated by the thought of moving your practice out of your living room and into the yoga...
8 Answers to Yoga Questions You’re Too Afraid to Ask
Despite yoga’s popularity, most practitioners aren’t expert yogis. Most students in yoga classes are new to the practice—and many have unanswered questions.It can be daunting to even think about asking...