Resources
Here are a number of resources about meditation and mindfulness. Feel free to download or view the presentations, guided meditations, and other resources below. As I get out there and do more, I'll post everything I can in this space. When I encounter a resource that I love, then I will share it. Audio coming soon for meditations.
Introduction to Meditation
A presentation for the University of California at Irvine Division of Continuing Education Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (https://ce.uci.edu/olli) in May of 2024. Presentation includes information on meditation for beginners, anchoring in the breath, and a few guided meditations.
Click on photo for slides.
Mindfulness of the Body
A presentation for the University of California at Irvine Division of Continuing Education Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (https://ce.uci.edu/olli) in May of 2024. Presentation includes information on mindfulness of the body, connecting to feelings (both physical and emotional), and a few guided meditations, including one on working with pain.
Mindfulness of Thoughts
A presentation for the University of California at Irvine Division of Continuing Education Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (https://ce.uci.edu/olli) in May of 2024. Presentation includes information on mindfulness of thoughts, typical cognitive distortions, and a few guided meditations.
The Four Divine Abodes
A presentation for the University of California at Irvine Division of Continuing Education Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (https://ce.uci.edu/olli) in May of 2024. Presentation includes an introduction to the four divine abodes and two longer guided meditations: RAIN practice and metta.
The Brahmaviharas
The Brahamaviharas, or the Four Divine Abodes, are loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. These are the power point presentations for the 4-part series did with the University of California at Irvine Division of Continuing Education Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (https://ce.uci.edu/olli) in September and October of 2024. Presentation includes information on my current understanding of the Brahmaviharas. Direct link to ppts here.
Resources
These are resources that I can vouch for personally. I have used them myself and love them. I also used them for the classes I taught, and the students gave me lots of positive feedback about them. They will help you get started with a practice, as well as deepen an existing practice.
Happify has created a perfect introductory video for meditation. It's about noticing your thoughts, not emptying your mind. Watch this for a quick tutorial.
Headspace is an app with all kinds of resources around mindfulness and meditation. They have a great YouTube Channel with lots of free resources. This is the best app to learn about meditation. They also have resources for kids!
"What if our world were a kinder, wiser, more compassionate place?" The Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin at Madison is doing amazing research to answer that question. They have a great FREE app that walks you through several lessons about meditation, and you can even help them with their research. The founder, Richard J. Davidson, has a great TED Talk on mindfulness and the brain.
The Calm App is another excellent app to help you with meditation. They have a lot free resources on YouTube, too, and even provide their app free for teachers! This one has bedtime stories, which really do help you sleep.
John Kabat-Zinn brought the study of mindfulness to the US back in the 1970s. His program at UMass, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction or MBSR, has mountains of evidence supporting its effectiveness in multiple settings, particularly healthcare and medicine. MBSR is a class you can take that teaches you specific strategies.
I try to refer people to resources that are supported by research and connected with universities. Click the mandala above for a list of such resources!