Why Doesn’t My Mantra Seem to Work? Do I Have to Change It?

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice. The mantra trains our mind in focus and concentration, putting us in a very relaxed state that de-stresses us and provides many health benefits. When we observe something real, we become more mindful of all our surroundings and our thoughts; we become highly sensitive to nuance and…

How Can I Meditate If I Can’t Sit Still?

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.A lot of people tell me they have a hard time sitting still and meditating. However, meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting still. The context of meditating isn’t about being still. It is about being present. It is not about having no thoughts. It is about being free…

Is Guided Meditation As Effective As Other Meditations?

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.Meditation is about developing the ability to let go. As we sit in meditation, we watch our thoughts come, and we let them go. Over and over.  We let go of the past and the future and stay rooted in the present. We let go of our ego…

How to Get Your Meditation Posture Right: 7 Simple Tips

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.You are about to begin the single greatest daily habit you could ever do. Meditation improves every single aspect of a person’s life in countless ways. This is the only reason meditation has been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years.I believe that everyone can…

How to Sit for Meditation Without Discomfort

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.When starting out, sit however is most comfortable for you without dozing off. That may be a chair, the floor, or even in bed with your head propped up by a few pillows or leaning back against the headboard.Keep your teeth slightly separated, and your jaw unclenched. You…

How to Prepare for Your First Meditation Session

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.1) Does the Place of Meditation Matter?The place can affect our meditation practice, but it cannot make the practice better or worse. While a quiet place is ideal, a noisy place can increase our ability to maintain focus and peacefulness during chaotic times. It is an extra challenge, no…

What Actually Changes When You Meditate Every Day?

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.Why Should I Meditate?Have you ever noticed how after significant moments in your life, you have almost no memory of them?Like how you can give a big speech and it feels like you missed the whole thing. You gave the speech, or you were at your wedding, but…

The Truth About Meditation: Myths, Fears, and Misconceptions

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.Is Meditation a Placebo?Meditation can often look like doing nothing, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Meditation is very active. It is the act of mastering being both highly alert and highly relaxed. Being in these two states simultaneously trains our mind and body to remain…

Are There Alternatives to Meditation?

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.For many people in the West, the mere idea of meditating is a significant source of stress. People will try almost anything before attempting "not doing," aka meditating. Many people will say walking or swimming or dancing is their meditation. So, is that really meditating? Is that equally…

Is Meditation for Everyone? And If Not, What Then?

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.Meditation makes us happier, healthier, and wiser. It gives us more energy, better focus, and greater awareness. You don’t need to be suffering from a midlife crisis to start a meditation practice. Meditation is the key to preventing a mental crisis in the first place. We all, kids…