For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with anxiety—especially in the past three years. Over the years, I’ve tried several things to help me cope with it: therapy, journaling, and, in moments of serious distress, Xanax. But one thing I’ve never tried is meditation. Of course, friends, family, and even therapists have suggested it to me … Read more
We already know that music can have a major impact on our mood. Fast beats pump us up and motivate us to work out, slow songs make us feel wistful and melancholic, and soothing music helps us drift off to sleep. And what is music, but a collection of sounds? Sounds have vibrations that affect us on a … Read more
Wake up early, meditate, conquer your day! It sounds like something out of a “rise-and-grind” playbook, we know. If you’ve never meditated before, it can have a sort of “woowoo” connotation with it. Sit still and try to do your best to think about nothing at all? What’s that supposed to do? Here’s the thing about meditation, though: … Read more
As a yoga enthusiast, I love trying different types of meditation. Although it sounds super simple, most of us know that sitting still and paying attention is a lot harder than it sounds. That being said, guided meditations can be easier and more interesting because they tell us what to focus on and help us maintain our concentration. … Read more
If you struggle with relaxing and calming your mind, meditation is a simple practice that can significantly help. No matter what your schedule looks like. If you take some time to meditate every day, you’ll find that you generally feel less stressed and more focused at work, school, or wherever. Across the globe, many people … Read more
Life can get pretty hectic as we scramble to meet our deadlines, do all our chores, juggle family responsibilities, and try to have some semblance of a social life. Whew! Meditation is the pause button in our chaotic lives. It gives us a moment of calm and connection with ourselves amidst all the frenzy. There are … Read more
Meditation has a myriad of benefits, and has become a very mainstream method of self-help and self-development. Research has shown that meditation can also help support the treatment of conditions like PTSD1 and can have significant benefits for reducing stress and anxiety.2 But how often to meditate is a common question for the uninitiated, and it’s a deceptively difficult one … Read more
When you think of meditation, you probably picture a person sitting still, eyes closed, tuning out the world around them. But meditation can take many forms, and it’s possible to meditate while in motion. In fact, meditation can be practiced while taking a walk outside. Enter the idea of walking meditation. “Walking meditation is the practice of … Read more
Qigong, pronounced “chee-gong,” is an ancient Chinese practice that consists of mindful, meditative movements.1 Developed thousands of years ago as part of traditional Chinese medicine, qigong uses exercises to improve the flow of energy within the body, mind, and spirit, says Michelle Loy, MD, an integrative health practitioner at New York-Presbyterian. It essentially consists of slow movements, … Read more
In the chaos of our daily lives, we’re constantly being pulled in a million different directions and stretched so thin, it feels like we might snap at any second. We often find ourselves craving some rest and relaxation, so that we can feel restored and rejuvenated. Enter: yoga nidra. “Yoga nidra is a guided meditation rooted in ancient … Read more