The welcome news of a COVID vaccine arriving soon is tempered by the warning to stay vigilant for some months to come. Cold winter days and social isolation don’t mix well. So what to do? How to abide in these unprecedented times? A phrase I recite daily as part of my spiritual practice is … “Like waves in the ocean, all things are […]
Compassionate Self Care for Collective Anxiety
Are you experiencing anxiety related to the political climate and the COVID pandemic? If so, you’re not alone. Stress levels in the US have significantly increased with so much uncertainty and potential threat around us. As we approach the election and the time thereafter, here are some suggestions that might help – Remain embodied rather […]
Mindfulness and Community
Have you ever tried to meditate? Maybe you’ve downloaded some apps, tuned in and benefited from taking this time for yourself. If so, congratulations on taking this important step! I started meditation (many years before apps) by reading about it in the one book I could find, and then trying to implement what I had […]
Mindfulness Changes Relationships
Why do so many people worldwide practice mindfulness meditation? Because of its proven physical and mental health benefits! Mindfulness helps relieve stress, treats heart disease, lowers blood pressures, reduces chronic pain and insomnia, alleviates gastrointestinal difficulties, is used in treatment of depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, couples’ conflicts, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Overall, it […]
The Starfish
You’ve probably heard something about mindfulness meditation. You may even have a few friends who are committed to the practice. Perhaps you know that mindfulness practice helps with stress, anxiety, depression and focus. But did you know that meditation can slow normal brain atrophy associated with aging? Or that a mindfulness intervention can support eye […]
Understanding Trauma and Chronic Stress
Renowned trauma experts including Bessel van der Kolk and Peter Levine know that “our issues are in our tissues.” Accessing the felt sense of the body through Somatic Experiencing®, mindfulness, trauma sensitive yoga, or other body centered modalities is an important piece of healing the aftereffects of physical and emotional trauma, post traumatic stress, overwhelming […]
I can’t meditate!
I can’t meditate! It makes me feel anxious. I’m too restless. I have too many thoughts! If you think, “I can’t meditate,” it might be interesting to try again while looking carefully at your actual experience. And then determine if it’s really true that you can’t meditate, or whether you were seeking a different experience […]