mindfulness


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Just One Breath: A Simple Practice for a Balanced Life

artwork by crafterall with the words just one breath
Artwork by Crafterall
In any moment, you have an opportunity to pause, reflect, and pay attention from the beginning to the end of one inhalation. Or one exhalation. You don't need to commit to any more. Yoga teaches us that there is nothing you need to grasp. This article explores the benefits of one-breath meditation and offers suggestions for how to practice (hint: it's very easy!) and how to remember to pause.

Exploring the Senses

Episode Number
55
Our bodies sense the world all day long, and yet it can be easy to ignore those signals as we move through daily life. In this meditation, pay attention to our senses, including sounds, smells, and touch and observe the effects. We notice if senses are pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral without trying to change them.

Learn more about me and subscribe to my newsletter at https://matthewtift.com. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Mental Noting

Episode Number
47
Mental noting is a meditation technique in which we label experiences as they arise, often just using a single word to describe the experience in the current moment, such as "fear," "excitement," "joy," "feeling," or "thinking." The process of mental noting can help keep us grounded in the present moment and allow us to accept whatever is happening.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/47. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Relaxing the Body

Episode Number
38
Breath control can help us fold our awareness inward. Scanning the body and can help us relax. In this meditation, we pay attention to our breath, physical sensations, and mind, relaxing into the present moment and the mystery of life.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/38. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Self Care Creates Space for You

Episode Number
37
While I'm not particularly fond of the phrase "self care," I have found that there are places and times when self-care practices can be helpful. Self care includes making sure you are eating enough food to nourish your body, sleeping enough to allow your body to repair itself, and related practices. It also means checking in with yourself, in a healthy way, to help determine if you are being cared for. In this meditation, we pay attention to the breath, body, and mind, as well as create space for you to tune into your physical and emotional needs to help you show up more fully in your life.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/37. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Breath by Breath

Episode Number
36
The breath is a common focus during meditation. Breath meditation can help cultivate mindfulness and the ability to stay present with life. In this meditation we practice paying attention to the breath, whether we feel it most at the tip of our nose, the chest, or the belly. We do these practices to train the mind to stay present and experience the natural rhythms of life.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/36. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.


Mindfulness of the Body

Buddha in Meditation Posture
The first foundation of mindfulness is contemplation of the body (kayanupassana). When you learn to listen to your bodies and stay with sensations, you can become more grounded and less reactive. Contemplation of the body helps you make friends with your body, and accept the fact that this body is not "your" body, but rather just a temporary form. A large body of scientific research suggests that simply paying attention to your body helps ward off disease, improves cognitive and emotional functioning, and much more. However, simply staying present with the sensations in your body is as simple as it is challenging.

Let Go of Control

Episode Number
35
Many of us think our way through the days. We check things off our TODO lists to feel like we are in control. But this is all an illusion. What happens next is absolutely unknown. In this meditation, we practice staying with whatever arises, both the blissful and the negative. We can use this kind of meditation as practice for the rest of lives and help identify areas where we can let go of the illusion of control.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/35. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.
mindfulness