This week, Susan Kaiser-Greenland guides us through a meditation practice focused on one of the oldest and simplest techniques: “Sit and Know You’re Sitting.”

In our busy lives, we often rush through moments without truly being present. This practice invites you to slow down and become aware of the simple act of sitting. By tuning into the sensations in your body and the rhythm of your breath, you can cultivate a deep sense of awareness. It’s not about doing anything special—just noticing what’s already here.

Stay curious, stay inspired. Join our community by signing up for our free newsletter, where we share compelling insights and actionable ideas to enrich your everyday life. Connect with us at mindful.org/signup.

Show Notes

Find more from Susan Kaiser-Greenland here:

Susan Kaiser Greenland on Mindful.org

Susan Kaiser Greenland Website

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Shamash Alidina guides us through a practice focused on the calming power of belly breathing. In our fast-paced world, stress can easily take hold, and this meditation offers a simple yet powerful way to find relaxation and ease.

Belly breathing, or deep diaphragmatic breathing, encourages a full breath that engages the diaphragm and helps activate the body’s relaxation response. By consciously slowing your breath and focusing on the expansion and contraction of your belly, you can send signals to your nervous system that it’s safe to relax, lowering stress levels and promoting a sense of calm.

Don’t miss out on our upcoming Community Connection Meditation Series from August 26th to 30th, 2024! This live virtual event brings us together in the spirit of mindfulness, connection, and growth. Over five days, enjoy 30 minutes of daily group meditations followed by a Q&A session, all guided by renowned meditation teachers Christopher Willard, Caverly Morgan, Shamash Alidina, Sue Hutton, and Tovi C. Scruggs-Hussein. Learn more and register at https://shop.mindful.org/products/community-connection-meditation-series.

Stay curious, stay inspired. Join our community by signing up for our free newsletter, where we share compelling insights and actionable ideas to enrich your everyday life. Connect with us at mindful.org/signup.

Show Notes

Find more from Shamash Alidina here:

Shamash Alidina on Mindful.org

Shamash Alidina's Website

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Kelly Boys leads us in a meditation to let go of stress. So, find a comfortable position and prepare to release tension in the body in order to achieve a deep state of relaxation. 

Kelly Boys is an author and mindfulness trainer who specializes in a non-sleep deep rest practice called Yoga Nidra–and we’re excited to share that we’ve partnered with Kelly and our friends and Mindfulness.com to bring you a course all about deep rest and relaxation. Learn all about it and enroll by checking out the link in the show notes or by visiting the shop on mindful.org.

Show Notes

Find more from Kelly Boys here:

Kelly Boys on Mindful.org

Yoga Nidra: Deep Rest and Renewal course 

Kelly’s website

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

We live in a world of constant change and this week, Aden Van Noppen invites us to find what roots us. Aden is the founder and executive director of Mobius, a collaboration between leading neuroscientists, meditation teachers, and technologists to work toward the creation of digital technology that enhances our individual and collective well-being. Aden is also one of the 10 powerful women of the mindfulness movement 2022, and here she guides a meditation on impermanence.

Show Notes:

Find more about Aden Van Noppen here:

“10 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement: 2022”

Mobius

Check out the August issue of Mindful Magazine here: 

Mindful - August 2022: The Self-Care Issue

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Learning to tune in to our own vulnerability is an act of courage that allows us to form deeper, more genuine relationships. In the August 2021 issue of Mindful magazine, Dr. Stacee Reicherzer wrote, “If you’re someone who grew up being told that tears are a sign of weakness, or that you should never show fear lest you be exploited, you understand how very difficult it is to communicate complex emotions like jealousy, resentment, or sorrow.” In this week’s episode, Dr. Reicherzer leads us in a guided meditation to explore vulnerability and what it might be like to open up to someone we trust.

Show Notes:

drstacee.com

The Healing Otherness Handbook

Healing Otherness with Compassion (and Sass)

A Guided Meditation to Reflect on the Colours of the Pride Flag

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Rose Felix Cratsley offers a meditation to honor equity by uplifting and celebrating the power of pausing together. In this mindfulness framework, each letter of the word BREATH serves to remind us of our responsibility to ourselves and to others to honor and promote equity. So she invites us to breathe, renew, exercise equity, activate and advocate, trust the power, and heal.

Rose Felix Cratsley is the founder and president of Ivy Child International, a nonprofit that develops global mental health initiatives for children, families, and communities. She is also featured in our annual list of powerful women in the mindfulness movement. You can find that feature in the August issue of Mindful Magazine later this month.

Show Notes:

Find more from Rose Felix Cratsley here:
Ivy Child International 

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Life doesn't always serve us exactly what we want. Sometimes it offers pain, confusion, and sorrow. There's no way to stop those circumstances, nor to stop the difficult emotions that might arise alongside them. This week, Frank Ostaseski offers a meditation to investigate all of the circumstances of our lives with curiosity, and that can help us welcome everything that comes, or at least allow it. When we allow what is to simply be, we relieve ourselves of the suffering that can get heaped on top of our moments of difficulty. That extra suffering is optional, even if the difficult causes and conditions are not.

Show Notes:

Find more from Frank Ostaseski here:
Frank Ostaseski, Author at Mindful 

Zen Hospice Project 

Metta Institute

Read Kate Bowler’s essay:

Coming Undone But Not Unmade

Read the June issue of Mindful Magazine here: 

Discover the June 2022 Issue

 And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Nurses help those who are sick or injured, they hold the hands of others as their life ends or offer solace to those pained by loss. To mark National Nurses Week, Cynda Hylton Rushton calls on nurses to pause for a moment to honor their hands—and to acknowledge the joys, sorrows, disappointments, fears, and triumphs in their professional lives.

Show Notes: 

More from Cynda Rushton on Mindful.org

How Integrity Can Heal Burnout

As Mark Coleman says, listening is a beautiful doorway to the present moment, a tuning in to what’s here. With listening practice, we develop the qualities of receptivity, relaxation, and a sense of naturalness. We don’t need to make much effort to hear anything. A sound arises and is known quite easily and naturally in awareness. So, with this particular meditation, we can cultivate a sense of ease, receptivity, and openness. We allow the sounds to be the locus for our attention, simply present to the ebb and flow in the soundscape.

Shownotes:

Find more from Mark Coleman here:

markcoleman.org 

Awake in the Wild: Mindfulness in Nature as a Path of Self-Discovery

Make Peace With Your Mind

From Suffering to Peace

And more from Mindful here:

Nature Meditations course

The June 2022 issue of Mindful magazine: The Resilience Issue

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

In this practice, Sharon Salzberg invites us to allow ourselves to feel our emotions, notice the sensations that arise in our body, and forgive ourselves for what we feel. And while your mind might wander during the meditation, Salzburg reminds us that it is always possible to let go and begin again. This practice is featured in the June issue of Mindful magazine, which you can find on Mindful.org or at a newsstand near you. 

Show Notes

Find more from Sharon Salzberg here:

Sharon Salzberg, Author at Mindful 

Read the June issue of Mindful magazine here: 

Discover the June 2022 Issue - Mindful Magazine

 And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

As this week’s meditation teacher Mark Coleman says, "We know being in nature is good for us, but how do we put this into practice in a way that will really serve and nurture us?" This is a question we address in the June issue of Mindful, and in our new course, Nature Meditations. And with Earth Day happening this week, it seems like the right time to get outside and appreciate what the natural world offers.

Show Notes:

Find more from Mark Coleman here:

markcoleman.org 

Awake in the Wild: Mindfulness in Nature as a Path of Self-Discovery

Make Peace With Your Mind

From Suffering to Peace

And more from Mindful here:

Nature Meditations course

The June 2022 issue of Mindful magazine: The Self-Compassion Issue

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week on 12 Minute Meditation, Jenée Johnson leads a practice to remind us that we are enough.​​ In this practice, Jenée offers five affirmations that are designed to help us be more compassionate toward ourselves, and in turn build a solid base to be more compassionate toward others.

Show Notes:

Find more from Jenée Johnson here:

Jenée Johnson, Author at Mindful 

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Mindful managing editor and your regular 12 Minute Meditation host Stephanie Domet leads a mindful writing practice for settling into your body, noticing your surroundings in a real or imagined setting, and using your experience as a writing prompt. This practice is drawn from Stephanie's new course, Mindful Writing. She shares tips, practices, and prompts to strengthen your existing writing practice, or discover a new creative outlet.

Show Notes: 

Find more from Stephanie Domet here:

Mindful Writing course

Stephanie on mindful.org

And more from Mindful here:

The April 2022 issue of Mindful magazine: The Resilience Issue

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Melli O'Brien leads us through a body scan meditation designed to help you experience greater self-compassion, self-acceptance, and presence. This meditation is a chance to reconnect with yourself, to nurture a sense of presence and compassion. It’s like giving yourself a gift of time and care, creating a sanctuary of peace within. As you immerse yourself in this practice, allow it to foster a deeper connection with your body and mind.

Alongside today's meditation, we're excited to announce the upcoming launch of Melli’s Mindful Eating Course on Mindful.org. This 7-session audio course will teach you how to use mindfulness-based skills to give you a more healthy, enjoyable, and empowered  relationship with both food and with your body in just 15 minutes a day.

Stay curious, stay inspired. Join our community by signing up for our free newsletter, where we share compelling insights and actionable ideas to enrich your everyday life. Connect with us at mindful.org/signup.

Show Notes

Find more from Melli O’Brien here:

Melli O'Brien on Mindfulness.com

Melli O'Brien's Website

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Shalini Bahl-Milne shares a practice to replenish our energy. If we draw from a pool of resources without replenishing them, we can begin to feel depleted—our brain gets sluggish, and we don’t make good decisions. By resting our attention on our senses, we are taking a moment to reconnect with ourselves and feel fully present.

This practice was featured in the April issue of Mindful magazine as part of a three-day at-home retreat designed by Shalini and other veteran mindfulness teachers Mark Bertin and Tovi Scruggs-Hussein. 

Show Notes: 

Find more from Shalini Bahl-Milne here:

Shalini Bahl-Milne, Author at Mindful

And more from Mindful here:

An At-Home Meditation Retreat You Can Share with Those You Love

The April 2022 issue of Mindful magazine: The Resilience Issue

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This engaging meditation uses the energy and imagery of the four elements to foster inner connection and emotional regulation. Follow the guided practice and join your child on a mindful adventure.

This week, Dr. Sará King offers a practice to explore, "don't know mind"— an idea that is sometimes used in meditation to evoke a sense of curiosity. So in this practice, we'll explore what it's like to approach the world with a don't know mind. How does that land in the body? What is it like to explore not knowing, not being quite certain?

Show Notes:

Find more from Dr. Sará King here:

Where Science, Mindfulness, and Social Justice Intersect 

And more from Mindful here:

The Only Constant is Change

The April 2022 issue of Mindful magazine: The Resilience Issue

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

When we're aware that events of war and injustice are unfolding wherever we are in the world, we often feel a powerful sense of connection with those who are at the center of the conflict.

This week, the invitation with this practice is to put aside ideas and concepts about differences, shame, fear, survival, and to simply see if you can begin to develop a felt sense of common humanity—that all of us wish for happiness and freedom from suffering.

Show Notes:

Find more from Steve Hickman here:

Steven Hickman, Author at Mindful

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, John Taylor shares a five-step practice for finding some peace and freedom after trauma. John’s work as a mindfulness teacher is focused on racial equity and reconciliation initiatives. He is a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher and serves as adjunct faculty for UCSD’s Center for Mindfulness. Here, he reminds us that we all have potential for healing and for positive change. All of this and more lies within each of us.

This practice is featured in the April issue of Mindful magazine alongside a piece written by longtime journalist Robert Huber exploring how mindfulness can help survivors of gun violence navigate their pain and support post-traumatic growth, one breath at a time. You can find it now on newsstands or at mindful.org. 

Show Notes:

Find more from John Taylor here:

UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness

And more from Mindful here:

Why Survivors of Gun Violence Are Turning to Mindfulness

The April 2022 issue of Mindful magazine: The Resilience Issue

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Kimberly Brown leads a practice to cultivate curiosity. We might not always think about curiosity as a part of mindfulness, but this powerful quality is what allows our everyday experiences, even the ones we really don't want to be having to get some breathing room and maybe even to shift in unexpected ways. Our curiosity practice can start with the simplest tools we have at hand: Our breath, our body, and our awareness. 

Show Notes

Find more from Kimberly Brown here:

Kimberly Brown, Author at Mindful 

Find Stephnie Domet’s article on mindfulness and curiosity here:

How Compassion and Curiosity Help Me to Be Present 

And more from Mindful here:

Discover the April 2022 Issue - Mindful Magazine 

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

And find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

In this practice from Mindful founding editor Barry Boyce, we investigate the relationship between our heart and mind. What our heart feels is influenced by what our mind perceives, which is sometimes one of the reasons developing kindness, a loving heart, and compassion can be so challenging. The quality of the warmth and openness in our heart emerges not just from generating warmer feelings, but from developing a clearer view of what we’re seeing and how we’re processing the world. Once we’re aware of our preconceptions, we can loosen our grip on what we think we know and explore what’s true. 

Show Notes:

Find more from Barry Boyce here:

Come As You Are: A 7-Day DIY Mindfulness Retreat 

“The Only Constant Is Change” 

“How COVID Reminded Me We’re All Connected”

Barry on mindful.org

And more from Mindful here:

The April 2022 issue of Mindful magazine: The Resilience Issue

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Cardiologist Jonathan Fisher leads a body scan to notice sensations in the body and bring awareness to the present moment.

This week, Mindful’s founding editor Barry Boyce leads a "touch and go" practice. In this practice, we're not trying to deal with the issues in our thoughts or with the difficult emotions that might be arising. There's nothing to solve. There's nothing to change. Instead, we're spending time with our mind in this way, and over time, our thoughts can become more transparent and have less power over us because we're fighting with them less. 

Show notes:

Find more from Barry Boyce here:

Barry Boyce, Author at Mindful 

Find Barry’s course, Come As You Are, here:

Come As You Are - Mindfulness Course 

And more from Mindful here:

Welcome Everything: The February 2022 issue of Mindful magazine.

More episodes of 12 Minute MeditationAnd find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Barry Boyce leads a practice for mindfulness of the body and our embodied experience because whatever is happening isn't happening in an abstract way—it's happening here in our bodies, so we have to return home to ourselves, to our body. This practice is drawn from a live, guided meditation session from Barry's new course called Come As You Are. Whether you're an experienced meditator or just beginning, it can be fun and refreshing to explore mindfulness with an experienced guide who knows that meditation doesn't have to fit any particular mold. Instead, it's a way of being that can bring a sense of presence and joy to your everyday moments.

Show Notes:

Find more from Barry Boyce here:

Barry Boyce, Author at Mindful 

Find Barry’s course, Come As You Are, here:

Come As You Are - Mindfulness Course 

And more from Mindful here:

Welcome Everything: The February 2022 issue of Mindful magazine.

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

This week, Stephanie Domet invites us to explore a mindful journaling practice. With the launch of our new Mindful Living Journal, this meditation serves as a perfect companion to deepen your reflective journey.

In this guided meditation, you’ll connect with your senses in a real or imagined setting. What do you hear? What do you smell? Feel the emotional content of the space. Mindful journaling empowers you to connect deeply with yourself and the present moment. In just a few minutes each day, it offers a sanctuary where you can slow down, center your thoughts, and nurture your inner calm. This practice is a compassionate space for self-exploration, helping you to process emotions, gain clarity, and cultivate gratitude.

To celebrate the launch, we're offering a special discount for our podcast listeners. Use the code 12MINUTEMEDITATION at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase. Visit mindful.org/journal  to get your Mindful Living Journal today.

Stay curious, stay inspired. Join our community by signing up for our free newsletter, where we share compelling insights and actionable ideas to enrich your everyday life. Connect with us at mindful.org/signup.

Show Notes

Find more from Stephanie Domet here:

Stephanie Domet on Mindful.org

AfterWords Literary Festival

Stephanie Domet's Website

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Judy Lief leads a meditation for grief and loss. Most of us have come up against the experience of grief and loss over the last several years. These feelings can be hard to hold, even as we see how widespread they are. Judy, who wrote the book Making Friends With Death, says that "There’s nothing really to be said about grieving that doesn’t sound trite. There’s no simple way through it. It is extremely difficult to put the gravity or the force of grief into words. And there’s no one way to grieve. Neither is there a cure for our fragility and vulnerability. We have only one option, which is somehow to figure out a way to love and embrace it."

Show notes:

Find more from Judy Lief here:

judylief.com

Making Friends with Death

And more from Mindful here:

Welcome Everything: The February 2022 issue of Mindful magazine.

The Real Mindful Podcast

When we're under pressure, our ability to care and to lead can feel compromised. Mindfulness can provide a path to cultivate the focus and determination of grit and the care and calm of grace, to learn from growth and change. In this practice to arrive, breathe, and connect, Dr. Lili Powell, a professor at UVA Darden School of Business, offers space to fully arrive in the present moment and make a commitment to focusing on being right here, right now. 

This week, Frank Ostaseski leads a practice to welcome everything. And we hear you—there’s a lot going on that you may not feel like welcoming right now. To welcome something doesn't mean we have to like it, and it doesn't mean we have to agree with it; it just means we have to be willing to meet it. In this practice which you can also find in the February 2022 issue of Mindful magazine, Frank Ostaseski offers six steps to open up to the present moment—whatever it may bring.

Show Notes:

Lean Into Love: An Interview with Frank Ostaseski

How to Bookend Your Day with Compassion

The Metta Institute

Check out the February 2022 issue of Mindful magazine 

And find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Dr. Cynda Hylton Rushton, the Anne and George L. Bunting Professor of Clinical Ethics and Professor of Nursing and Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University Berman Institute of Bioethics and Schools of Nursing & Medicine, invites us to welcome whatever feelings are present right now and to trust what we discover in body and mind without judgment.

Show notes: 

More from Cynda Rushton on Mindful.org

How Integrity Can Heal Burnout 

Sign up for free: Healing Healthcare: A Global Mindfulness Summit

This week, Cheryl Jones leads us in a practice to foster self-acceptance—another of our top guided meditations of 2021. Mindfulness meditation involves a willingness to be with ourselves as we are. It offers a way of learning to work with ourselves, and not on ourselves, especially if you are healing from perfectionism. We can start to notice whatever is happening within us and around us with curiosity and kindness. Cheryl Jones is a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction instructor and author who provides mindfulness training to businesses, organizations, retreat centers, and more. You can find the full list of top 10 guided meditations from 2021 at mindful.org.

Show notes:

The Top 10 Guided Meditations of 2021

More from Cheryl Jones on mindful.org

thrivingwithcheryljones.com

This week, Jenée Johnson leads us in a guided meditation to encourage deep relaxation at any point during the day. With a reminder to listen to our bodies and acknowledge when it’s time for us to rest, she shares an effective technique known as quiet sitting to inspire us to simply be. Jenée Johnson is the program innovation leader at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Mindfulness, Trauma and Racial Healing. Her goal is to improve her organization's ability to manage change, stay resilient, inspire growth and become a mindful culture that leads and serves with compassion.

Show notes:

Top 10 meditations of 2021: The Top 10 Guided Meditations of 2021

Find more from Jenée Johnson here: Jenée Johnson, Author at Mindful 

And find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, we bring you one of our top 10 guided meditations of 2021, a practice for allowing the storm of our emotions to pass. Scott Rogers guides us to take the role of observer to difficult emotions, so that we can more easily create the space we need to let them go. Rogers is founder and director of the University of Miami School of Law’s Mindfulness in Law Program where he integrates mindfulness into the law school curriculum, and he is cofounder of the UMindfulness, the University’s Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative.

Show notes:

scottrogers.com

UMindfulness

University of Miami School of Law’s Mindfulness in Law Program

The Top 10 Guided Meditations of 2021

More from Scott Rogers on mindful.org

And find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Taking a moment to pause can enable us to move in the direction of suffering, to work, and to alleviate it, with wisdom and compassion. This gentle practice from law professor and author Rhonda Magee can provide support to you in remaining grounded as you open up to information that might cause you pain. 

Show notes

Find our top 10 guided meditations of 2021 here: The Top 10 Guided Meditations of 2021

Find more from Rhonda Magee here: 

Rhonda Magee, Author at Mindful

Home - Rhonda V. Magee

Grab a copy of Rhonda Magee’s book, The Inner Work of Racial Justice, Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities through mindfulness here: Book - Rhonda V. Magee 

And find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org. 

When things don't go according to plan it becomes easier to focus on what’s wrong and minimize what’s right. This mindful gratitude practice is designed to change that; its aim is to amplify the experience of optimism and studies show that this simple shift leads to enhanced mood and better relationships. This exercise is adapted from Start Here: Master the Lifelong Habit of Wellbeing by Eric Langshur and Nate Klemp, and is led by mindfulness coach Priti Patel.

Show Notes:

Start Here: Master the Lifelong Habit of Wellbeing by Eric Langshur and Nate Klemp

Top 10 Meditations of 2021 (to come on Friday, December 3)

And find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This engaging meditation uses the energy and imagery of seeds to foster inner connection and emotional regulation. Follow the guided practice and join your child on a mindful adventure. 

Show Notes:

Meditation by Heather Hawk Feinberg. Heather Hawk Feinberg is a mother, counselor, writer, music-maker, educator, and spiritual guide. In 2016 she founded Mindful Kids, a nonprofit organization that creates pioneering resources for social emotional awakening.

This week, Mark Coleman guides us in a 12-minute meditation on abundance in nature, an invitation to immerse ourselves in the beauty and generosity of the natural world. As spring graces the northern hemisphere, the call to connect with nature becomes ever more inviting. Mark poses a question that resonates deeply: How can we translate our knowledge of nature's benefits into a practice that nurtures and sustains us?

Discover the essence of mindfulness with Mindful.org's "How to Meditate" page. Whether you're new to meditation or seeking a return to its roots, our resources cater to all levels of experience. Dive into techniques and insights to nurture your practice and cultivate presence, clarity, and inner peace. Best of all, these resources are completely free. Plus, by adding your email to the sign-up form on the page, you'll receive a complimentary email series covering the basics of meditation. Start your journey to mindfulness at mindful.org/howtomeditate/.

Stay curious, stay inspired. Join our community by signing up for our free newsletter, where we share compelling insights and actionable ideas to enrich your everyday life. Connect with us at mindful.org/signup.

Show Notes

Find more from Mark Coleman here:

Mark Coleman on Mindful.org

Mark Coleman on Mindfulness.com

Mark Coleman's Website

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

The holiday season can be a time full of commitments, planning, and (pleasant or unpleasant) anticipation. In this special episode of 12 Minute Mediation, Christiane Wolf offers a guided meditation to help navigate stress that may arise in the coming weeks. Christiane reminds us to check in with ourselves and acknowledge what we need to tap into ease. 
Show notes:
christianewolf.com
More from Christiane Wolf on mindful.org
And find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

One of the most important (free!) tools for strengthening our communities is gratitude. On this week’s episode of 12 Minute Meditation, Shalini Bahl-Milne shares a guided practice to help you notice, appreciate, and shift your mindset toward ways of being in community with others that benefit us all, while respecting our differences. Shalini Bahl-Milne, PhD., is an award-winning researcher, Certified MBSR and Search Inside Yourself teacher, TEDx speaker, and town councilor. With 15 years of research, Dr. Bahl develops mindfulness skills to help people disrupt harmful default habits to cope with stress and be more resilient. This practice is part of our month devoted to gratitude. Our first-ever Gratitude Journal will be on newsstands now, or available in our shop at mindful.org.

Show notes:

Find more of Shalini Bahl-Milne here: 

Shalini Bahl-Milne, Author at Mindful 

Shalini Bahl-Milne in the Mindful Directory 

Shalini Bahl-Milne, TEDx Talk

Order our brand new gratitude journal here: Shop Mindful   

And find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Rashid Hughes leads us in a practice to feel gratitude for our body, in all of its beauty and mystery. Taking a moment for intentional pause and appreciation can help us feel a sense of restoration that our hardworking bodies deserve. Rashid is a writer, meditation teacher, and cofounder of the Heart Refuge Mindfulness Community, a mindfulness community in Washington, DC that is dedicated to inspiring Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to live with love and courage. This practice is part of our month devoted to gratitude. Our first-ever Gratitude Journal will be on newsstands on November 23, or available in our shop at mindful.org.

On this week’s episode of 12 Minute Meditation, Shelly Tygielski shares a guided practice to infuse your body with a sense of gratitude. This is a practice that can help us gain a new found appreciation for the people we know and even those we don’t know. Shelly Tygielski is a trauma-informed mindfulness teacher and author of the book, Sit Down to Rise Up: How Radical Self-Care Can Change the World. She teaches formalized self-care and resilience practices at organizations around the world, and is widely regarded as a self-care activist. In 2019, she was named one of the “12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement” by Mindful magazine. 

Show Notes: 

Find more from Shelly Tygielski here: 

Shelly Tygielski, Author at Mindful

Shelly Tygielski – Mindfulness and Meditation For All

Order our brand new gratitude journal here: Shop Mindful   

And find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

What would it be like to let go of needing anything to be different in this moment, and to open up to what's actually here that may bring joy? In this week’s episode, psychologist and executive director of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, Steve Hickman, guides us to uncover the wisdom of gratitude by noticing small things to be grateful for, then opening our awareness to the truth that everything and everyone—no matter how small—is interconnected. Might it be possible, Hickman says, to follow the words of the poet Mark Nepo when he said, "One key to knowing joy is to be easily pleased."

Show Notes:

More from Steve Hickman on mindful.org.

UC San Diego Centre for Mindfulness

Self-Compassion for Dummies

The Mindful Self-Compassion Program

And find more from Mindful at mindful.org and on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Lynn Rossy shares a mindful eating meditation that you can bring to any meal, whether it’s lunch, dinner or snack time. This is a practice that can help you enjoy and savour each meal. Lynn is a longtime practitioner of mindfulness, meditation and yoga and is president of the Center for Mindful Eating. She is also a health psychologist who specializes in mindful eating and developed a 10 week, empirically-validated ‘Eat for Life’ class that teaches people to eat mindfully and intuitively, love their bodies, and find deeper meaning in their lives.

Show notes:

Find more of Lynn Rossy here:

Savor Every Bite: Mindful Ways to Eat, Love Your Body, and Live With Joy

www.lynnrossy.com

And more from Mindful on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful.

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

The elements have the ability to connect us, both internally and externally, with the world around us. Jeanne Corrigal brings her Métis heritage, and her training as an insight meditation teacher, to this guided practice to connect with the four elements within our own body. You can read more about Jeanne and her work at the intersections of mindfulness and Indigenous and tribal people in the December issue of Mindful magazine or at mindful.org.

Show notes:

Find more of Jeanne Corrigal here:

“All Our Relations: Four Indigenous Lessons on Mindfulness”

Jeannecorrigal.com

And more from Mindful on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

On this week’s episode of 12 Minute Meditation, Georgina Miranda shares a guided practice to help you feel more grounded and at ease. This is a practice that can help you reconnect with yourself, especially during stressful or fearful moments. Georgina is a global leader in change, transformation, mindfulness, conscious leadership development and the advancement of women. She is also a highly sought after international transformation coach, public speaker, and management consultant.

Find more of Georgina Miranda here: 

Author Page, Georgina Miranda

This Woman Used Mindfulness to Climb Mt. Everest 

GEORGINA MIRANDA   

Sign up for our Leading Mindfully Newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/b3bedcdfd930/leading-mindfully-newsletter-signups 

And more from Mindful on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful.

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

On this week’s episode of 12 Minute Meditation, Tara Brach leads us in a practice to consider a relationship where there’s tension or conflict. Then, with compassion for ourselves and for the other person, we can go beyond the difficulty and find healing. Tara Brach is one of the 10 powerful women of the mindfulness movement highlighted in the August 2021 issue of Mindful magazine. She’s an internationally renowned teacher of mindfulness, meditation, and emotional healing, as well as the author of several books, most recently Trusting The Gold: Uncovering Your Natural Goodness.

Find more of Tara Brach here:

“10 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement: 2021”

Trusting The Gold: Uncovering Your Natural Goodness

tarabrach.com 

And more from Mindful on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful.

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Shelly Tygielski offers a guided meditation to help you acknowledge what is causing you pain or stress, and hold it with more self-compassion and connection. Shelly is a self-care activist, trauma-informed mindfulness teacher, and the author of the new book Sit Down to Rise Up: How Radical Self-Care Can Change the World. She invites you to open your heart to community, forgiveness, and gratitude.

Find more of Shelly Tygielski here:

Radical Self-Care course and free book offer

Sit Down to Rise Up: How Radical Self-Care Can Change the World

Excerpts in the October issue of Mindful Magazine: “The Power of Sustainable Self-Care” and “Why You Need a Self-Care Plan”

Pandemic of Love

shellytygielski.com 

And more from Mindful on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful. Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Elaine Smookler invites us to explore A Meditation for Navigating Grief Anniversaries, a practice that gently supports us in honoring and processing our feelings during these tender times. Grief anniversaries often bring a resurgence of emotions and memories, some of which can be painful and difficult to manage. This meditation creates a compassionate space where you can acknowledge these feelings without judgment, fostering a sense of acceptance and self-compassion.

Alongside today's Navigating Grief  Meditation, we're thrilled to highlight the relaunch of Elaine Smookler's engaging video course, Get Started with Mindfulness. Perfect for beginners and those looking to deepen their practice, this lively course offers step-by-step guidance to help you love your life more, have more fun, and be more present in body and mind.

Stay curious, stay inspired. Join our community by signing up for our free newsletter, where we share compelling insights and actionable ideas to enrich your everyday life. Connect with us at mindful.org/signup.

Show Notes

Find more from Elaine Smookler here:

Elaine Smookler on Mindful.org

Elaine Smookler's Website

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

The Real Mindful Podcast

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

It’s important to remember that mindfulness is a practice; despite our best intentions, we might not always get it right the first time around, and that’s okay. This week, award-winning researcher and certified mindfulness-based stress reduction teacher, Shalini Bahl-Milne offers a practice to help you hit reset and refresh. This practice can help you align with your intention and let go of what is no longer serving you. It can also help you create space around your emotions, so you can act in a way that corresponds with what you wish to bring into the world. 

Find more of Shalini Bahl-Milne here:

Shalini Bahl-Milne, Author at Mindful 

Find more about Mindful30 here: Mindful30 Challenge 2021 

And more from Mindful on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful and on mindful.org.

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Find more about Mindful30 here: Mindful30 Challenge 2021 

And more from Mindful on our conversation podcast, Real Mindful and on mindful.org.

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Learning to tune in to our own vulnerability is an act of courage that allows us to form deeper, more genuine relationships. In the August 2021 issue of Mindful magazine, Dr. Stacee Reicherzer wrote, “If you’re someone who grew up being told that tears are a sign of weakness, or that you should never show fear lest you be exploited, you understand how very difficult it is to communicate complex emotions like jealousy, resentment, or sorrow.” In this week’s episode, Dr. Reicherzer, author of The Healing Otherness Handbook, leads us in a guided meditation to explore vulnerability and what it might be like to open up to someone we trust.

Find more of Dr. Stacee Reicherzer here:

Drstacee.com

The Healing Otherness Handbook

Healing Otherness with Compassion (and Sass)

Guided Practices for Remembering How to Trust

A 15-Minute Guided Meditation on the Pride Flag

And more from Mindful on our conversation podcast Real Mindful and on mindful.org. 

Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Andres Gonzales is the co-founder of the Holistic Life Foundation and for the past 16 years, he has taught yoga to diverse populations around the world ranging from Baltimore City public schools to mental health facilities. He has also partnered with John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health and the Penn State’s Prevention Research Center on a Stress and Relaxation Study. This week, Andres Gonzales shares a breathing meditation to help you activate your vagus nerve and enter a state of relaxation.