meditation


Related Content

Points of Contact

Episode Number
46
In this meditation we bring attention to the points of contact with the body. We explore sensations, such as the feet touching the floor, hands on the lap, and clothing on the skin. These simple bodily sensations can help us to stay grounded in the present moment.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/46. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Managing Stress with Body Scan Meditation

Peaceful lady sitting in meditation
Photo by Karolina Grabowska

Stress is a physical and emotional reaction that people experience as they encounter changes in life. Stress is a normal feeling. However, long-term stress may contribute to, or worsen, a range of health problems including digestive disorders, headaches, sleep disorders, and other symptoms. Stress may worsen asthma and has been linked to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses.

Center, Relax, and Let Go

Episode Number
45
This meditation includes a centering exercise, some simple breathing exercises (pranayama), and other practices to help promote relaxation.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/45. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Shine Your Light

Episode Number
44
Stanley Kubrick once said, "However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light." Given the current state of the world, it can feel like there is a lot of darkness. In this meditation you share your light with the world, visualizing the light emanating from your heart, shining out into the world.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/44. The background music is "Beautiful Relaxing Music for Stress Relief" by Relaxing Music and the theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes, both licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0.

Allow Thoughts to Settle

Episode Number
43
Thoughts are part of the human experience, whether we are working out a plan or sitting in meditation. Meditation is not a place to escape from thinking or push away thoughts. Rather, it's a place to allow thoughts to settle. In this meditation, we notice the thoughts and practice remaining unattached to them.

Cultivating Gratitude

Episode Number
42
The benefits of gratitude meditation include reduced stress, better sleep, and increased happiness. Gratitude is a skill that can be practiced like any other skill. Sometimes we just need some reminders for all of the reasons to feel grateful. In this meditation we reflect on some reasons to be grateful, including the gift of life, our senses, the people we know and do not know, nature, physical items, and more.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/42. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Is Group Meditation Right for You?

Diverse group of people meditating together
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Meditation offers a wide variety of benefits, whether you use an app, watch recorded videos, live streams, or practice alone. Meditation with a group can provide a useful support to your practice and amplify the benefits of meditating alone. When you practice in a group, you might feel accountable to other members of the group or less likely to drop your meditation practice when life starts to get chaotic.

May You Be Well

Episode Number
41
When we practice metta meditation, also known as Loving-kindness meditation, send positive emotions to others as well as to ourselves. In this brief practice, we will purposefully and mindfully offer loving-kindness to ourselves and others. There is nothing magical about this practice.

Yoga Nidra Body Scan

Episode Number
40
Yoga nidra is an ancient technique, as old as any yoga, in which the body relaxes completely. It's used by healthcare workers, yoga therapists, the military, and others to help people with a variety of conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder. In this practice, we scan and relax the entire body.

To leave a comment about this episode or watch the video version, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/40.

The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes and the background music is "Organic Meditations One" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), both under CC BY 3.0.
meditation