Do you feel like meditation isn’t for you?
Too many thoughts, too little time, or the inability to sit still?
You’re not alone. In this solo episode, Marianne shares how she once felt the same way but managed to build a solid and consistent meditation practice over the past eight years.
She breaks down three simple steps to get into meditating in a way that is accessible to all, particularly those raised in the culture of producing more, rather than being.
- 03:48 Start with Mindful Movement – Practices like Pilates and Yoga, when done with intentional breath awareness and precision, can serve as an entry point into meditation. The key is in the deep presence cultivated throughout the breath-led moves and poses.
- 05:28 Continue with Short Guided Sessions – Short, breath-based mindfulness practices (even just three minutes) can help quiet the mind without the pressure of sitting in complete silence. Mindfulness apps are a great tool at this stage.
- 08:10 Lean into Stillness – When ready, mantra-based meditation (TM) can help develop a deeper sense of presence. Silence is no longer an enemy but an ally into the discovery and taming of the mind. Marianne shares how she turned to this practice while navigating lockdown during her second pregnancy, out of work, and caring for a toddler.
- 12:07 For all seasons of life when one really struggles to carve out the time, Marianne shares one last technique that has helped her as she launched the studio.This episode offers a practical and approachable way to ease into meditation without feeling overwhelmed, making it a lifelong habit rather than a frustrating and fleeting attempt.
------
🎧 Listen to the Core Connect episode Election Week for grounding practices:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000676014614
🧘♀️ Explore mindfulness apps: Calm | Headspace
https://www.calm.com
https://www.headspace.com
📚 Learn more about meditation with Emily Fletcher’s course: https://zivameditation.com/
🔬 Read about meditation research:
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/harvard-researchers-study-how-mindfulness-may-change-the-brain-in-depressed-patients/
