Struggling with meditation? You’re not alone. For many, reaching even a few minutes of focused practice can feel nearly impossible. But before you give up, let’s look at nine common obstacles that disrupt meditation and hinder progress. From physical illness to mental laziness and everything in between, these challenges often start as minor distractions but can become major blocks if left unaddressed. In this article, we’ll uncover each obstacle and its remedy, helping you overcome the barriers and make your meditation practice more fulfilling.
Read moreSupercharge Your Health with These 6 Meditation Benefits
Meditation may be one of the oldest wellness practices in history, yet its benefits for modern health are only just beginning to gain mainstream recognition. From easing anxiety and reducing depression to improving sleep and enhancing immunity, meditation offers profound effects on both mental and physical health. This article dives into six powerful ways meditation can support your wellbeing and improve everyday life.
Read moreYour Simple 5 Step Guide to Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is quite simple.
Initially, you’ll want to find a location where you can practice — ideally some place that is quiet and uplifting.
If you’re new to mindfulness meditation, start with 5 or 10 minutes at first.
Once you have learned the fundamentals, you can return to the practice and add more time.
Just follow along with these steps, and very soon you will become competent at the practice…
Read moreCherish These 3 “Treasures” To Find More energy in life
The idea that there exists three separate energies within the being is perhaps best articulated by traditional Chinese medicine.
Traditional Chinese medicine calls these three energies the "three treasures."
The following are the three treasures, and I want to use a candle as an analogy to describe each one of them:
Read moreTo Learn Qigong, Start Here
Discover the ancient practice of Qigong, a holistic approach to harmonizing body, breath, and mind that dates back over 4,000 years. Rooted in Chinese traditions, Qigong offers a simple, cost-free way to enhance physical and mental health by restoring the flow of vital energy, or "qi," within the body. Learn how this transformative practice works to alleviate symptoms, improve well-being, and unlock your body's natural healing potential.
Read moreSkip the Bad Stuff, Keep All the Good, With These Organic Foods
With U.S. healthcare spending soaring to $3.5 trillion in 2018, investing in your health has never been more important. One simple yet impactful step is eating organic. While organic food may cost a little more, the benefits far outweigh the price. From higher nutritional value to avoiding harmful chemicals and additives, eating organic is a game-changer for your health. Learn the top 5 reasons to make the switch and which foods to prioritize when you can’t go fully organic.
Read moreHow to Establish a Setting for Your Meditation Practice
Creating the perfect meditation space is an essential step in building a consistent practice. While meditation can happen anywhere, choosing a clean, quiet, and visually calming location can greatly enhance your focus and sense of peace. Minimalism plays a vital role—clear out clutter and embrace simplicity to cultivate a tranquil atmosphere. Engage all your senses with meaningful decorations, calming scents, gentle sounds, and comfortable seating. By designing a space that resonates with you, you set the foundation for a deeply rewarding meditation practice.
Read moreTo Learn Meditation and Mindfulness, Start Here
Meditation and mindfulness, ancient practices rooted in diverse traditions, offer profound tools for inner and outer focus. While meditation draws attention inward to a single object of focus, mindfulness expands awareness outward through the senses. Both practices empower you to navigate distractions and cultivate a calm, serene state of mind. Whether addressing anxiety, pain, or personal goals, these techniques can be tailored to your needs, delivering transformative benefits with consistent practice.
Read moreClimb These 8 Limbs of Yoga for Total Purity
Patanjali, the ancient sage, distilled the essence of yoga into the Yoga Sutras, a collection of concise aphorisms that form the foundation of the classical yoga system. These teachings, rooted in the eight limbs of Raja yoga, provide a roadmap to refine the body, mind, and spirit. From ethical practices (yamas and niyamas) to physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and deep meditative states (samadhi), the path of yoga is a timeless guide to inner peace and spiritual growth.
Read moreMantra is a tool. Here’s how to make it really sharp
Mantras are powerful tools for meditation, designed to focus and still the mind. Whether it’s the deliberate repetition of a japa mantra or the effortless awareness of an ajapa-japa mantra, each category offers unique paths to deeper meditation. By moving from intentional repetition to natural resonance, mantras can guide you from sound to silence, unlocking profound inner peace.
Read moreConcentration vs. Awareness Meditation: Understanding the Two Types
Meditation practices may vary widely, but they often fall into two main categories: concentration meditation (closed meditation) and awareness meditation (open meditation). Visualize a white wall with black dots—focusing on one dot mirrors the essence of concentration meditation, while noticing the entire wall reflects awareness meditation. Each style offers unique benefits, from heightened focus to expanded mindfulness, catering to diverse goals and experiences.
Read morePractice Mindfulness By Engaging These 5 Senses
Mindfulness transforms everyday activities into opportunities for connection and presence. By engaging your senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste—you can enrich your experience of the world and ground yourself in the beauty of the present moment. Whether noticing the colors of objects, savoring the flavor of a meal, or feeling the texture of a surface, mindful attention awakens you to a richer, fuller, and more meaningful life.
Read moreLearn to strike a pose with these 4 meditation postures
Posture is the foundation of effective meditation. A good posture balances comfort and alertness, allowing you to maintain focus for extended periods. Whether you prefer the traditional lotus pose, the simplicity of chair pose, or the relaxation of corpse pose, each option offers unique benefits. Discover the four basic meditation poses and find the one that suits your practice best.
Read more5 Types of Mind Chatter That Disrupt Meditation (And How to Manage Them)
Meditation often reveals the activity of the "monkey mind," a constant stream of thoughts and impressions known as modifications of the mind. These mental distractions—ranging from imagination and memory to correct or wrong knowledge—can disrupt the serenity of your natural state. By observing and not identifying with these mental modifications, you can quiet the mind and deepen your meditation practice. Learn about the five primary types of mind chatter and how to navigate them.
Read moreHone Your Focus with these 6 meditation objects
Meditation boils down to two core styles: awareness meditation and concentration meditation. While awareness meditation involves expanding attention to all sensory inputs, concentration meditation narrows focus to a single object. But a large part of what defines a meditation practice is the objects of focus. From the breath and mantras to sensations and chakras, exploring the six basic meditation objects helps create a personalized and effective practice suited to your needs.
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