Mindfulness

Some guidance on getting started with practising mindfulness might be helpful, so the following resources are my personal recommendation.

Yoga with Adriene is a wonderful channel offering high quality yoga for free. I came across it some years ago in a Guardian article and since then I am hooked, practising it almost on a daily basis. If you are seeking back pain relief, stress management, breathing exercises or even power yoga – there are different lessons for everyone. My favourite is Yoga for headaches.

Tara Brach is a psychologist, author and teacher of buddhist meditation. What I like about listening to her is her calm voice and her surprising sense of humour. There are many videos on youtube about a number of topics, for example “Learning to Respond – Not react“. “Trusting ourselves – trusting life“.

Pema Chödrön is a buddhist nun, spiritual teacher and author of several books. Her powerful message about practising peace in turbulent times speaks to the heart. You can learn more about her teachings on her foundation‘s page. Also check out the Publications’ overview.

Professor of medicine Jon Kabat-Zinn is best known for his mindfulness teachings and the stress-reduction program he created: MBSR – mindfulness based stress reduction. His book “Wherever you go, there you are” is a good guide for people who want to understand the concept of mindfulness, which is about being in the present moment.

Looking for retreats or other resources of practicing mindfulness? The Plum village site is a great place to start. Plum village is the the first monastic community founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) in the West – in France, close to Bordeaux.