Mindfulness Exercises

Clarity gets practical when you treat attention like a craft. We open the pages of Joseph Goldstein's The Experience of Insight and translate retreat-honed wisdom into tools you can actually use: breath you don't control, movement you feel from the inside, and the quiet power of seeing intention before action. No mystique, no shortcuts—just a clean method for meeting each moment without the usual tug of wanting and resisting.Joseph's book: https://a.co/d/bsVOXoUWe start with the mental frame that steadies practice: the three refuges as psychological anchors and ethical precepts as the simplest way to clear noise from the mind. From there we build the engine of bare attention—observation without judgment, comparison, or prediction—using two precise breath anchors (abdomen or nostrils), then carry mindfulness into walking and eating. Catching the urge before the move creates a tiny but decisive gap, where choice appears and the story of “me” loosens. Along the way we lean on the Noble Eightfold Path, balancing right effort like a guitar string, and unpack how impermanence reframes identity from a solid self into a flowing process.We also face the classic obstacles head on. The five hindrances—sense desire, aversion, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, doubt—arrive for everyone. The antidote is immediate mindfulness: notice the visitor, feel its texture, and refrain from feeding it. We explore ultimate realities—material qualities, consciousness, mental factors, and the unconditioned—and examine how concepts like time and ownership can be useful yet blinding. Finally, we talk integration: daily sitting that actually happens, a silent meal to restore sensitivity, returning to the breath in stress, and remembering death as an advisor that sharpens meaning. The monkey trap offers a closing image: the fist that won't let go keeps us stuck; the open hand walks free.If this lands, subscribe, share with a friend who loves clear practice, and leave a short review telling us where you first notice intention—breath, step, or spoon?Support the showPlease follow and leave a 5‑star review — this really helps others find us. For free mindfulness exercises, guided meditation scripts, and step-by-step mindfulness teacher trainings, visit: MindfulnessExercises.com Certify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence Help Others With Integrity & Authenticity Receive International Accreditation Boost Your Career Work with Sean Fargo https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanfargo/ Sean@MindfulnessExercises.com

A stressful morning, a deep tissue reset, and a simple lesson that changes how we teach: relevance beats routine. Sean shares how tuning into the body can open the door to smarter, kinder mindfulness instruction, especially when life is messy and attention is thin. We walk through a practical approach to choosing what to teach by asking short, respectful questions, listening for needs, and then adapting practices so they fit real people and real constraints.You'll hear why a trauma‑informed stance matters, how to phrase cues that feel human rather than clinical, and where short, concrete practices outperform long, abstract scripts. We unpack ways to tailor mindfulness for healthcare workers, corporate teams, caregivers, and teens, adjusting length, tone, and focus so the work actually helps. Along the way, Sean introduces a plug‑and‑teach curriculum: 900 minutes of modular lessons with hundreds of slides, teacher deep dives for nuance, guidebooks to scaffold delivery, and student handbooks to support learning beyond the session. It's flexible by design, so you can brand it, adapt it, and bring it to groups without starting from scratch.If you're a new or seasoned teacher who's ever wondered, “What should I teach this group, right now?” this conversation offers a clear path: assess, adapt, and keep it practical. Expect tangible prompts, language tweaks, and ideas you can use today to create safer, more relevant experiences. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review so more teachers can find these tools—and tell us: which audience are you tailoring for next?Support the showCoupon code and the link are down below, but that will expire shortlyFeel free to text me at 415-939-1126 Certify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. 20% BLACK FRIDAY COUPON CODE: PODCAST

Sean Fargo guides a grounded mindfulness meditation and explores how gentle awareness helps us return from rumination, meet difficult emotions, and carry presence into daily life. If your mind keeps sprinting ahead or replaying the past, this conversation offers a practical way home. We open with a gentle guided practice to help you feel the room, find your seat, and meet your breath without force, then expand into a clear map of how mindfulness works—and how it differs from concentration and visualization. The aim isn't to chase calm; it's to contact what's true right now with honesty, softness, and a touch of courage.We break down the core moves that make mindfulness usable in daily life: noticing when you've slipped into rumination, shifting attention to physical anchors like feet, hands, and breath, and using simple self-soothing gestures to remind the nervous system that it's safe to settle. You'll hear why numbing with food, alcohol, or screens feels tempting and how it quietly shrinks awareness. Instead, we practice naming unpleasantness without judgment and letting acceptance open the door to movement, choice, and care. Along the way, we talk posture, micro-movements, and the subtle cues that reveal where you're bracing and where you can soften.Join us, practice with us, and if this resonated, subscribe, share it with a friend who could use a mindful reset, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. What small anchor will you use to return to the present today?• intention to support presence, healing, and growth• brief guided body and breath practice• sensing the room, contact, and posture• differentiating mindfulness, concentration, visualization• returning from rumination to sensory anchors• self-soothing through touch and breath• meeting depression, fear, and sadness with acceptance• avoiding numbing and overconsumption• carrying mindfulness into daily activities• resilience and acceptance as forms of loveSupport the showCoupon code and the link are down below, but that will expire shortlyFeel free to text me at 415-939-1126 Certify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. 20% BLACK FRIDAY COUPON CODE: PODCAST

We break happiness into three sturdy pillars—connection, contribution, and meaning—and explore how each one shows up in daily life. Along the way, we unpack mental “time travel,” awe, and the small acts that make joy more likely.Austin Hill Shaw's website: https://austinhillshaw.com/• defining happiness through human needs• the many forms of connection including self, people, and nature• distraction, memory, and future thinking as barriers to presence• contribution as usefulness matched to talent and values• meaning as both a guiding framework and ineffable experience• awe, grief, and beauty as forces that reshape our maps• a simple weekly check to spot gaps across the three needsSupport the showCoupon code and the link are down below, but that will expire shortlyFeel free to text me at 415-939-1126 Certify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. 20% BLACK FRIDAY COUPON CODE: PODCAST

Ever feel like life is a full catastrophe—email pings, family needs, calendar jams—and your attention never gets to land? We slow everything down with a clear, zero-fluff mindfulness practice you can use anywhere: arrive in your body, breathe, and know it. No special gear, no perfect posture; just a reliable way to reset the nervous system and sharpen presence when it matters most.George Mumford's website: GeorgeMumford.comWe start with the simple ethos of teaching and practicing whether one person shows up or a hundred, then move into a guided arrival that anchors awareness in contact, posture, and breath. You'll hear how we apply the Satipatthana lens—be aware of the body to the extent that there is a body—to dissolve the pressure to achieve a mystical state and instead build continuity of mindfulness in real time. When distractions and images pull focus, we use gentle labels and a steady return to sensation, turning wandering into a training loop rather than a failure.From there, we explore resting as alert relaxation: not limp, not rigid, but a stable, kind attention that lets sounds and thoughts arise and fade. You'll learn practical cues for daily life—opening the sternum for easeful breathing, feeling contact points, and shifting posture mindfully—so practice fits into meetings, commutes, and caregiving gaps. The result is more choice before reaction and a calmer baseline without adding pressure to your day.If this landed for you, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs a reset, and leave a short review telling us what sensation anchored you best. Your feedback helps more people find a simple way to arrive.Support the showCoupon code and the link are down below, but that will expire shortlyFeel free to text me at 415-939-1126 Certify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. 20% BLACK FRIDAY COUPON CODE: PODCAST

A single breath can reset your whole day. We explore how to build steady attention by feeling one complete cycle of breathing—inhale, pause, exhale, pause—while softening the shoulders, easing the jaw, and letting judgment fall away. The practice is short, portable, and honest: no special gear, no perfect posture, just a relaxed yet alert stance and a willingness to notice what's already happening in your body.We start by setting up a supportive posture and tuning into contact points—feet on the floor, seat on the chair, hand on the belly—to make awareness tactile rather than abstract. From there, we shift into mindful breathing, tracking the visceral sensations that mark each phase of the breath. Instead of forcing a pace, we invite natural rhythm and curiosity, treating distractions and judgments as passing events. This small act of returning to the breath strengthens focus, regulates the nervous system, and builds emotional clarity without turning mindfulness into another performance.Practicality takes center stage. You can bring this one-cycle practice into real life: on a commute, while cooking dinner, waiting in line, or winding down for sleep. As you repeat it, continuity of attention grows, stress spikes resolve more quickly, and everyday decisions feel simpler because you're grounded in the present moment. We close by pointing to future tools that will layer onto this foundation—ways to broaden attention through the senses and make mindful awareness even more resilient throughout the week.Want more practices like this? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend who could use a reset, and leave a quick review so others can find these simple, effective tools. Your breath is always with you—let it bring you back.Support the showCoupon code and the link are down below, but that will expire shortlyFeel free to text me at 415-939-1126 Certify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. 20% BLACK FRIDAY COUPON CODE: PODCAST

What if narrowing your attention could make your daily life feel wider, calmer, and more vivid? We dive into the practical craft of concentration and show how a single, steady focus becomes the quiet engine behind reliable mindfulness. Rather than forcing the mind, we build a friendly runway—gladdening the mind with gratitude and warmth—so attention settles without strain and the nervous system knows it is safe to rest.We walk through concrete anchors that meet different temperaments: counting exhales in simple cycles, sensing breath at the belly or nostrils, receiving whatever sound arrives, or repeating short phrases of loving kindness. You'll hear why long stretches of silence matter during counting, how to restart at one without self-judgment, and what “relaxed steadiness” feels like when you're doing it right. Along the way, we unpack clear metaphors: the adjustable flashlight that moves from wide-open awareness to a narrow beam, the body scan as a midpoint on the spectrum, and breath mindfulness as a flexible practice that can widen for strong emotions before returning to the anchor.By the end, you'll understand when to choose pure concentration, when to lean into broader mindfulness, and how both interlock to create durable presence. Expect grounded tips on posture, effort, and self-talk, plus a compassionate take on distraction that turns each lapse into a cue to return. If you've struggled to keep attention from slipping, this conversation offers a simple blueprint you can use today to stabilize focus and carry that clarity into work, relationships, and rest.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who's building a practice, and leave a quick review—tell us which anchor worked best for you and why.Support the showCoupon code and the link are down below, but that will expire shortlyFeel free to text me at 415-939-1126 Certify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. 20% BLACK FRIDAY COUPON CODE: PODCAST

A quiet room, a slower week, and a simple question that matters: what truly makes someone ready to teach mindfulness? While recovering from COVID, I took time to reflect on the difference between healthy hesitation and unhelpful overconfidence—and why the best teachers often start from humility rather than hype.We walk through a practical rule of thumb shared by senior mindfulness teachers: when invited to teach, thoughtful caution can signal integrity, while quick certainty can reveal a mismatch in motivation. I dig into what that looks like in real life—respect for lineage and evidence-based methods, eagerness to keep learning, and the willingness to prioritize student welfare over personal status. We explore how ego can slip into the role through grand promises or a rush to scale, and how that energy often reduces connection, sensitivity, and care.From there, we center the motivation that sustains good teaching: compassion. If the driving force is to help people navigate stress, anxiety, and pain with presence and kindness, the teacher's stance becomes service rather than performance. That intention shapes everything—language, pacing, trauma-informed choices, and the quiet discipline of ongoing practice. I share simple readiness checks you can use before stepping onto the path: Are you open to mentorship? Are you patient with your development? Do you feel tenderness for the teachings themselves and for those you hope to serve?If you feel called to teach, let your caution be a doorway, not a barrier. Let compassion lead and let the integrity of the teachings guide your next steps. Listen now, share with a friend who's considering teacher training, and leave a review to tell me what keeps your motivation clear.Support the showCoupon code and the link are down below, but that will expire shortlyFeel free to text me at 415-939-1126 Certify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. 20% BLACK FRIDAY COUPON CODE: PODCAST

Pressure doesn't have to crush you; it can refine you. George Mumford—renowned mindfulness teacher to championship teams and communities far from the spotlight—joins us for a deeply practical journey through presence, performance, and the courage to be yourself. We open with a simple “arriving” practice that resets the nervous system, then build on the five superpowers that underpin lasting change: right effort, concentration, insight, trust, and mindfulness. George is clear-eyed about motivation—you can't force anyone to want it—and generous with strategies for planting seeds so readiness can take root.We push into the mechanics of flow without the hype. Flow isn't hunted; it's prepared for. George unpacks challenge–skill balance, why 4 percent beyond comfort is a sweet spot for growth, and how the cycle of struggle, release, flow, and rest creates a new normal. He shares stories from prisons and pro locker rooms where a single sound becomes a mindfulness bell and reactivity loosens. Emotions aren't obstacles but information; using awareness, acceptance, compassionate action, and assessment, we learn to channel energy without identification. The result is strong self-efficacy—confidence built from mastering difficulty—that makes persistence possible when feedback is thin.For teachers and leaders, George offers a map for finding your voice: emulate early, then listen for the path of heart and let daily life be your retreat. Create pockets of stillness, read widely, lean on suitable conversation, and keep integrity front and center—right view, right intention, right speech, right action. Do good, avoid harm, purify the heart-mind. Simple, not easy, but repeatable. If you're ready to trade “chilling” for willing, to stretch by 4 percent and let practice ripple into work, family, and team, this one will stay with you.If this conversation sparked something, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show. Want to go deeper with George? Explore the Mindful Athlete Course and join the next Q&A.Support the showCoupon code and the link are down below, but that will expire shortlyFeel free to text me at 415-939-1126 Certify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. 20% BLACK FRIDAY COUPON CODE: PODCAST

We share simple, grounded ways to feel anger, sadness, depression, and fear without judgment, then channel that energy into healing and meaningful action. We also invite you to a live online retreat with practices, Q&A, and resources to support resilience.• naming natural emotions after a public tragedy• why feeling is essential for healing• mindful steps for anger, sadness, depression, fear• opening within your window of tolerance• resources from Sharon Salzberg, Gabor Maté, Rick Hanson• live retreat schedule, format, and accessibility• discounts, bonuses, and certificates of completion• texting for personal guidance and links to trainingsCoupon code and the link are down below, but that will expire shortlyFeel free to text me at 415-949-1126Support the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠

Your mind drifts the moment you sit to breathe, and that's not a problem to fix—it's the raw material of practice. We unpack why a healthy brain loves to roam, how the default mode network fuels both distraction and creativity, and why chasing an empty mind sets you up for frustration. Instead of fighting thoughts, we show you how to work with them using a simple cycle: notice, note, and return.We walk through grounded metaphors that make mindfulness feel tangible: watching thoughts float past like leaves on a river, resting as the open sky while weather moves through, and standing on the platform as trains arrive and depart. These images help loosen the pull of story so you can see thoughts as passing events rather than orders you must obey. From there, we hone practical skills—finding a vivid breath anchor, starting with five consistent minutes, and sitting with an upright, relaxed posture that supports calm alertness.The heart of the message is kindness. Self‑criticism after a lapse is just another distraction; gentleness shortens the time it takes to return. Every return to the breath is a repetition that strengthens awareness, and the moment you realize you've wandered is the moment you succeed. Over time, this builds a quieter nervous system, less reactivity, and a clearer choice point in daily life. If you're ready to stop wrestling with your mind and start training it with patience, this conversation offers tools you can use today.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who's struggling to “quiet the mind,” and leave a quick review to help others find these practices. Your words make a real difference.Support the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠

Anne Cushman explores how mindfulness and creativity feed each other through guided practices, research insights, and lived stories. We trade perfection for presence, play with color and movement, and learn to follow the thread of aliveness into honest work.• opening space through breath and softening• honoring life as inherently creative• reconciling the teacher and the artist selves• lessons from Spirit Rock creativity retreats• research on focus, divergence and resilience• embodiment as the foundation for art• quick sensory writing to prime awareness• emotions as fuel and material for making• movement meditation to trust inner impulse• lowering standards to escape perfectionism• visiting scary edges with care and consent• mandala drawing practice within a circle• “I am” free writing to outrun the critic• process over product as a creative ethicFind her at AnneCushman.com. She oftens lead half day and day longs online, which combine meditation and creative writing and movementSupport the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠

We explore a nuanced look at mindfulness: its benefits, the ethics behind how it is taught, and the critiques around commercialization and depoliticisation. William Edelglass helps us test the line between personal practice and social change with clear questions, research, and examples.• Angela Davis's question about mindfulness and injustice• critiques of commodification and the mindfulness industrial complex• instrumental use versus ethically grounded practice• popularity of apps, corporate programs, and military adoption• research on well-being, emotion regulation, and limits• risks of individualising distress without systemic change• reconnecting practice to Buddhist ethics and social responsibility• trauma-informed design, consent, and community support• practical ways to teach with integrity and context• invitation to share perspectives and join deeper studyJoin our mindfulness teacher certification program at mindfulnessercises.com/certify to deepen your practice and discover your authentic voiceGive a five star review or share this with friends so that we can help othersSupport the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠

The ground keeps moving, but our old habits try to pretend nothing has changed. In this mini episode, James Baraz talks honestly about what this moment is saying to us: we're not separate, our choices echo, and we can learn to respond with more care than fear. James Baraz's website: https://www.awakeningjoy.info/Starting with a simple practice—paying attention—we trace how mindfulness exposes the threads that bind our lives together, from family routines to global supply chains. When you feel those threads, John Muir's idea that everything is hitched to everything else stops being a quote and becomes a compass.From there we explore a handful of principles that travel well across crises and calm alike. Actions have consequences—call it karma or cause and effect—and that truth invites more deliberate choices at work, at home, and in public life. Integrity is not a moral badge; it's the felt ease of living one story instead of juggling two. Stewardship shows up as everyday compassion, the kind that checks in on neighbors, protects shared resources, and invests in long horizons. And change, while hard, becomes probable when intention outweighs inertia. James talks about that tipping point and how a clear why turns into practical habits that actually stick.These stories help us see our agency: the power to align values with action and to widen our circle of concern without burning out. Mindfulness ties it all together as a gateway to clarity — creating just enough pause to interrupt reactivity, meet complexity, and choose the next right step.If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who's ready to lead with care. Subscribe for more grounded, practical insights, and leave a review to tell us which principle you're practicing this week.Support the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠

We explore mindful self-discipline as a blueprint for freedom, not a joyless grind. Through aspiration, awareness, and action, we show how to beat engineered distraction, strengthen willpower, and make steady progress without shame.https://mindfulnessexercises.com/podcast• self-discipline linked to higher happiness and smoother daily life• attention economy pressures and engineered distraction• definitions of self-discipline, willpower, habits, motivation• decision fatigue evidence and belief effects on willpower• three pillars framework aspiration, awareness, action• want-to goals versus have-to goals• PAW method pause, awareness, willpower• neutrality over shame to sustain energy• never zero commitment to protect identity and streaks• reframing choices to align with long-term values• building empathy with your future self• the real reward is who you becomeStart somewhere. Define one want-to goal, try one PAW pause, or commit to never zero today.Support the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulnessExercises.com/certify⁠⁠⁠⁠

Former Buddhist monk and Mindfulness Exercises founder Sean Fargo explores what full acceptance really means in mindfulness and meditation—meeting fear, anxiety, judgment, and resistance with embodied awareness and self-compassion. Drawing on years of teaching across prisons, hospitals, classrooms, and companies, Sean translates Buddhist psychology, trauma-sensitive mindfulness, and practical nervous system regulation into simple moves you can use today—without turning practice into performance. Expect a grounded look at acceptance vs. resignation, how to work inside your window of tolerance, and ways to steady attention with noting and breath awareness. You'll hear how body-based mindfulness (skin, flesh, blood, air, bone) restores safety, how to soften striving and “fixing,” and how fierce compassion supports wise action. Ideal for mindfulness teachers, therapists, coaches, and dedicated practitioners who want real tools for emotional regulation, resilience, and teaching with integrity. ✨ In This Episode, You'll Learn What “acceptance” means (and what it doesn't) in mindfulness practice How acceptance creates space before reaction or change Why gentle awareness and fierce compassion go hand in hand A guided meditation on sensing the layers of the body — skin, flesh, blood, air, bone How to bring mindfulness to worry, fear, and feelings of unsafety Practical tools like noting practice and embodied grounding Insights from Sean's live Q&A on anxiety, safety, and the breath How acceptance connects with teachings from Byron Katie and Nonviolent Communication ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Opening reflections on the word “acceptance” 02:00 – Why we resist acceptance and what it really means 04:00 – The practice of full acceptance 07:00 – Guided Meditation about Acceptance 56:11 – Working with worry, fear, and uncertainty (Leslie's question) 01:02:31 – Using noting and embodiment to balance thought-based worry 01:08:38 – Working with shortness of breath and striving (Jean's question) 01:10:10 – Creative ways to connect with the breath 01:15:51 – Byron Katie's “The Work” and fierce compassion 01:19:00 – Closing reflections

Former Buddhist monk and Mindfulness Exercises founder Sean Fargo lays out a clear, compassionate roadmap for teaching mindfulness and meditation — with confidence, credibility, and heart. Drawing from his journey (from cloistered practice to prisons, clinics, classrooms, and companies), Sean distills what actually works so you can help others be more present, resilient, and self‑compassionate—without overcomplicating the practice. In this episode, you'll learn: Why compassion is the foundation of every effective mindfulness teaching A simple way to meet fear, judgment, and imposter feelings—and keep going How to introduce mindfulness experientially (story → teach → tool) Three techniques to make it practical and relevant: prepare, listen, ask The templates & credentials that open doors (e.g., MBI‑TAC, Search Inside Yourself) How to find your voice for guiding meditations (and a non‑fussy recording setup) Essentials of trauma‑sensitive mindfulness and the window of tolerance The #1 long‑term success factor: community and consistent teaching practice Mentioned resources: A Clinician's Guide to Teaching Mindfulness; Learn to Teach Meditation and Mindfulness; MBI‑TAC; David Treleaven's Trauma‑Sensitive Mindfulness; Peter Levine's Waking the Tiger; Search Inside Yourself; Insight Timer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When I first started teaching mindfulness, I thought I had to sound wise, calm, and enlightened — like a “real” teacher. But one unexpected moment — in a tiny community room in Berkeley — changed everything I thought I knew about guiding others in mindfulness. In this episode, I share the hidden truth I discovered after years living as a Buddhist monk in Thailand and training more than 30,000 mindfulness teachers around the world: that teaching mindfulness is actually much simpler than most of us realize. You'll hear:

In this Mindfulness Exercises Podcast episode, Sean Fargo sits down with Mark Walsh, founder of Embodiment Unlimited, to explore the profound connection between mindfulness, embodiment, and trauma-informed coaching. Mark is a leading voice in embodied mindfulness, known for blending humor, honesty, and heart-centered awareness into the worlds of coaching, somatic psychology, and body-based transformation.Together, Sean and Mark dive into practical, embodied tools for: Reconnecting the body and mind through mindfulness and movement Cultivating self-awareness, resilience, and compassion through embodiment Creating healthy boundaries and overcoming people-pleasing tendencies Approaching trauma with sensitivity without fragility Bringing humor and authenticity back into mindfulness teaching Building a mindfulness or embodiment coaching business in the age of AI and disconnection They also explore Mark's 26-Pose Embodied Toolkit, discuss embodiment in war zones and leadership, and challenge the rise of politicized mindfulness with curiosity and courage.

In this episode of Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo, Sean explores how mindfulness can transform the way we set and communicate boundaries. Saying “no” doesn't have to come from guilt or fear—it can arise from awareness, care, and self-respect. Sean guides listeners through a 10-minute meditation to sense the body's inner “yes” and “no,” offering practical scripts for real-life situations and trauma-sensitive tips for mindfulness teachers, therapists, and coaches. Listeners will learn how to recognize their limits, express needs with compassion, and maintain relationships rooted in authenticity and presence. Tune in to experience how mindful boundaries can bring more balance, integrity, and peace into your daily life. https://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 – The moment between yes and no 00:25 – Welcome and introduction to today's theme 01:10 – Why mindful boundaries matter 02:25 – What compassionate boundaries really are 07:00 – Guided meditation: Feeling your body's “yes” and “no” 17:00 – Practical boundary scripts for real-world situations 21:45 – Mindfulness teaching tips for therapists, coaches, and helpers 25:30 – Weekly practice for integrating compassionate boundaries 27:15 – Closing reflections and invitation to deepen your mindfulness journey Keywords: mindful boundaries, compassionate boundaries, mindfulness podcast, mindfulness meditation, saying no with kindness, self-care mindfulness, mindful communication, emotional boundaries, Sean Fargo podcast, mindfulness teacher training, meditation for boundaries, mindfulness for therapists, mindful self-awareness, Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo talks with Dr. Stefanie Broes, founder and CEO of Moonbird, about how tactile, screen-free technology can help us reconnect with the body through mindful breathing. Moonbird is a handheld device that literally breathes with you—expanding and contracting in your hand to guide calm, slow breathing for stress relief, better sleep, and heart-rate-variability (HRV) coherence. https://www.moonbird.life/ Sean and Stefanie explore the science and simplicity behind breathwork, how therapists and counselors are using Moonbird in clinical settings, and why a tactile approach can make mindfulness more accessible for children and adults alike. Listen in to learn how mindful breathing transforms anxiety, improves emotional regulation, and strengthens our connection between mind and body—one conscious breath at a time.

In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo explores how to lead trauma-sensitive body scan meditations with compassion, choice, and safety. Designed for mindfulness teachers, coaches, therapists, and wellness professionals, this session offers practical tools for guiding clients who may carry trauma in their bodies. Discover how to balance awareness with grounding, introduce choice and agency, and cultivate safety in every meditation experience. Sean also walks you through a full trauma-sensitive body scan practice—helping you embody these teachings yourself before sharing them with others. If you're a mindfulness or meditation teacher, this episode will deepen your understanding of how trauma impacts the body and how to create inclusive, healing spaces for your clients. 00:01 — Introduction: Why trauma-sensitive practices matter for mindfulness professionals 01:30 — The Impact of Trauma on the Body: Understanding vigilance, numbness, and tension 02:40 — Gratitude & Self-Compassion: Gentle practices to shift from scarcity to abundance 03:54 — Mindful Movement: How physical awareness supports grounding and safety 05:35 — Preparing for the Body Scan: Setting up comfort, safety, and empowerment 06:25 — Guided Body Scan Begins: Step-by-step awareness from head to toe 11:08 — Grounding & Safety Techniques: Using breath and gravity as anchors 13:30 — Pendulation: Moving between comfort and discomfort with care 14:43 — Empowering Client Choice: Restoring agency and safety in the body 15:59 — Working with Emotions: Welcoming sensations with curiosity and compassion 19:02 — Titration & Pacing: Introducing small doses of attention safely 20:32 — Rupture & Repair: Reestablishing trust when difficulty arises 22:44 — Subtle Energy Awareness: Sensing life force within the body 23:22 — Integrating Practice into Daily Life: Micro meditations and mindful pauses 24:47 — Closing Reflections: Healing as integration, not erasure Trauma-sensitive mindfulness prioritizes safety, choice, and empowerment. Techniques like pendulation and titration help clients regulate and stay present. Your own embodied awareness is essential to guide others effectively. Healing is not about erasing the past—it's about integrating and transforming it with compassion. If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps others discover the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast and supports this growing community of mindful practitioners. Subscribe for more free teachings and meditations at MindfulnessExercises.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When pain shows up in practice, it can feel overwhelming but it can also be a doorway to deeper awareness. This is an excerpt from our Community Gathering wherein a student opens up about the challenge of neck pain becoming overwhelming during meditation. Rather than offering a quick fix, Sean Fargo invites a gentler approach: turning toward discomfort with curiosity and compassion instead of resistance or judgment. This conversation is a reminder that pain in meditation isn't a barrier to practice, but an opportunity to deepen presence, patience, and care. Chapters 00:00 – The Question 01:51 – Resources for Pain & Mindfulness 03:27 – Pain vs. Suffering 04:54 – Approaching with Gentleness 06:48 – Exploring the Geography of Pain 08:50 – Visualization & Self-Compassion 10:41 – Movement Practices 11:48 – The Mantra of Softening

In this powerful conversation from the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo speaks with Julie Lythcott-Haims — New York Times bestselling author, activist, politician, and former Stanford dean — about how mindfulness can help us face shame, rewrite old stories, and create space for authentic belonging. Julie shares how she first discovered mindfulness in her 30s, how body awareness helped her get out of her own way, and how storytelling became a tool for healing unprocessed pain. She reflects on writing Real American, her memoir on race and belonging, and the liberation that came from releasing stories she had carried for decades. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Intro 04:11 – mindfulness as a path to self-awareness 06:40 – Writing as emotional release 10:35 – Holding space with compassion 14:41 – The courage of vulnerability 21:16 – Helicopter Parenting: lesson in parenting and self-growth 30:25 – Post-It notes of connection 33:00 – Freeing others through your story 36:57 – Releasing fear and finding courage to be seen 38:25 – A moment of belonging with a taxi driver 41:03 – Building bridges across difference 46:25 – Living authentically with compassion

At some point in practice, many of us wonder: Why does it feel like I'm not growing anymore? In this excerpt from our Community Gathering Q&A, a student opens up about reaching a plateau after years of mindfulness and healing work. Sean Fargo offers a compassionate reframing that feeling stuck is not failure, but often a sign that something deeper is asking for attention. Along the way, he shares practical ways to soften this stuckness — from grounding in nature, to seeking help and support, to practicing forgiveness and self-compassion. This conversation reminds us that plateaus are not the end of the journey, but turning points that can open us into greater freedom, resilience, and wholeness. Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:32 – Updating the Blueprint 02:26 – Stuck Energy 03:30 – Asking for Support 04:40 – Grounding & Renewal Practices

In this episode of Mindfulness Exercises, Sean Fargo and Loch Kelly explore the essence of effortless mindfulness—a direct shift into awake, loving awareness that doesn't rely on heavy concentration. Loch shows how quick “glimpses” can reset us, how flow isn't the same as hyper-focus, and how using visual, auditory, or felt cues helps mindfulness land in everyday life and teaching. Whether you're a mindfulness teacher, therapist, coach, or a practitioner navigating stress or attention challenges, you'll get clear language, quick practices, and compassionate tools to bring mindfulness into daily life and share it with integrity. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 06:18 - Catching "glimpses" 16:14 - Effortless mindfulness 19:18 - Going back to your ego center 24:55 - Guided Glimpse Practice 32:22 - What's doing the glimpsing 41:01 - How to release your barriers? 49:58 - Shortcut to understanding the mind 1:09:08 - Imposter Syndrome as a facilitator

In this episode, Sean Fargo explores the deep relationship between mindfulness and concentration — two practices that are often taught separately but in reality support and sustain each other. Drawing inspiration from his teacher Ajahn Chah, Sean reflects on how concentration serves as the foundation that allows mindfulness to stay steady with the unfolding present moment. Through personal stories from his years as a Buddhist monk and practical concentration exercises, Sean highlights how simplicity, stillness, and focus can help us extend the duration of our presence. From visualizations in the belly to counting breaths, focusing on external objects, or repeating loving-kindness phrases, concentration practice becomes a refuge from the busyness of modern life and a gateway into joy, clarity, and perspective. Listeners are invited to experiment with lengthening their meditations, stringing together multiple sessions, or even holding mini at-home retreats. Sean Fargo also shares candid reflections on challenges like the five hindrances, the difference between grasping and genuine focus, and how deep concentration can lead to profound insights, stillness, and even some of life's happiest moments. What you'll learn in this episode: Why mindfulness and concentration are “two ends of the same stick” Practical techniques to stay present longer, from breath counting to visualization How concentration fuels mindfulness and supports choiceless awareness The role of concentration in overcoming the five hindrances Insights into stillness, joy, and clarity that arise with deeper practice Resources & Links: Watch the full session on YouTube: Staying Present Longer Learn more about Ajahn Chah's teachings: ajahnchah.org Explore free meditations, courses, and trainings at MindfulnessExercises.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest questions new mindfulness teachers face is simple but daunting: Where do I even begin? This episode comes straight from a live Zoom call with Sean Fargo and his students, Sean Fargo responds to a heartfelt question: “When you're just starting out, how do you know what to teach first?” Sean shares his own journey of finding direction as a new teacher, including moments of fear, uncertainty, and surprising inspiration — from teaching mindfulness in prisons, to healthcare, to corporate boardrooms. Rather than following a rigid curriculum, he emphasizes starting with who your heart feels called to help. Whether you're just starting to guide mindfulness or refining your teaching path, this conversation offers heartfelt encouragement: you don't need to have it all figured out before you begin. Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:37 – Sean's First Advice 03:05 – Teaching from Shared Struggles 04:17 – Early Teaching Story 05:59 – Following Opportunities 07:17 – Letting Your Practice Lead 09:14 – Finding Your Niche

In this guided meditation, Sean Fargo leads us into the heart of concentration practice by inviting a sense of safety, openness, and gentle presence. Drawing from his training as a Buddhist monk and his years of teaching mindfulness, Sean introduces simple yet profound ways to steady the mind and deepen focus — beginning with the breath, moving through sound and sight, and resting in the body, heart, and mind. This practice emphasizes the importance of feeling safe enough to let go of distractions and place attention on just one aspect of experience at a time. Along the way, Sean integrates reflections on goodness and gratitude, loving-kindness phrases, and visualization techniques to gladden the mind and open the heart. Whether you are new to meditation or seeking to strengthen your ability to stay present, this session offers practical tools for cultivating concentration and stillness in daily life. What you'll learn in this episode: Why a sense of safety is foundational for concentration How to use breath, sound, and sight as anchors for awareness Ways to gladden the mind and open the heart through gratitude A step-by-step practice to gently return attention when the mind wanders Tune in to experience a calming, heart-opening journey into concentration meditation. Want to deepen your mindfulness or mindfulness teaching journey? Schedule a free Zoom call with Sean here: https://calendly.com/sean-108/certification Please leave us a 5-star review. It will help others find the podcast. Thank you!!! Resources & Links: Watch the original session on YouTube: Rick Hanson's Wednesday Meditation Series Learn more about Rick Hanson's weekly meditations: rickhanson.com/wednesday-meditations-with-dr-rick-hanson Explore teacher trainings, guided practices, and more at MindfulnessExercises.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this gentle bedtime practice, Sean Fargo guides us through a soothing meditation to unwind the nervous system and soften into rest. Rather than trying to fix or change anything, this meditation invites you to allow what's here and let it be held in a space of kindness. Whether you're lying down for the night or simply seeking a few quiet moments to reset, this practice supports a natural shift into stillness and safety. There's nothing to solve or get right—only an invitation to breathe, relax, and be.

In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo sits down with Dr. Steve Haberlin—educator, mindfulness teacher, and researcher dedicated to helping aspiring teachers share mindfulness with authenticity and confidence. Sean and Dr. Haberlin explore the unique challenges facing today's college students — from stress and distraction to the mental health crisis on campuses. Steve shares how he began weaving mindfulness into the classroom, what the data says about its benefits, and why practices like breathwork, box breathing, and loving-kindness can help students regulate stress and unlock their potential. His research and teaching reveal both the opportunities and barriers to bringing mindfulness into academic settings, offering insights for educators, parents, and students alike. Whether you're a mindfulness teacher, a college educator, or simply someone navigating stress, this episode offers practical strategies and inspiration to bring mindfulness into everyday life. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro 02:42 – Discovering meditation at age 12 06:34 – How practice evolved into daily life 10:02 – Bringing mindfulness into classrooms 15:54 – Research findings: stress, anxiety & student well-being 18:54 – Barriers students face with mindfulness 21:31 – What practices work best (MBSR, loving-kindness, box breathing) 23:40 – Risks of pushing practices too far, too fast 32:25 – Mindfulness tech: apps, neurofeedback, and AI

In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo speaks with Dr. Dan Siegel—Harvard-trained physician, psychiatrist, bestselling author, and pioneer in the field of interpersonal neurobiology. Dan shares how his journey from medicine to psychiatry led him to redefine what we mean by “mind.” Together, Sean and Dan explore how mindfulness, relationships, and brain science intersect—and how integration is the foundation of well-being. They also dive into Dan's groundbreaking work, including the Wheel of Awareness meditation, and his newest book Personality and Wholeness in Therapy, which bridges neurobiology with the Enneagram to reveal how personality patterns shape our growth. This conversation blends science, story, and heart—reminding us that true integration is made visible through kindness and compassion. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ How Dan Siegel went from skeptic to leader in mindfulness research ✔ Why the mind is more than just what the brain does ✔ The four facets of the mind: subjective experience, consciousness, information processing, and self-organization ✔ Growth edges: how to move from personality patterns toward wholeness Episode Chapters: 00:00 — Intro02:18 — From Medicine to Mindfulness Research07:05 — What Is the Mind, Really?12:40 — Integration as the Basis of Well-Being18:15 — The Wheel of Awareness Practice 32:08 — Personality, the Enneagram & Wholeness

In this mindfulness talk and guided meditation, Sean Fargo invites us to examine and shift the “mental models” that shape how we see ourself and the world. We all carry inner narratives—beliefs, assumptions, and self-talk—that can either support our well-being or keep us stuck in patterns of stress, scarcity, and self-criticism. In this episode, Sean helps you recognize unhelpful mental models with gentle awareness and then guides you through a three-part practice to reset your state through your body, focus, and language, inspired by Tony Robbins. By the end of this talk and meditation, you'll feel more grounded, open, and empowered to meet challenges with clarity and compassion. What You'll Experience in This Episode: ✔ How to identify and name unhelpful mental models without judgment ✔ A guided body-awareness practice to shift your state ✔ How to redirect your focus toward what's working in your life ✔ Practical ways to soften your self-talk and choose empowering language ✔ The “body, focus, language” triad for reframing your challenges ✔ A closing visualization to anchor your new state into action

In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo speaks with Inna Segal—internationally bestselling author of The Secret Language of Your Body and pioneer in the field of intuitive healing. Inna shares her personal journey from chronic pain and illness to full recovery, guided by a deep reconnection with her body's wisdom. She explains how physical symptoms can be messages from the body, pointing us toward unresolved emotions, stress, or lifestyle imbalances. This inspiring conversation explores how mindfulness, intuition, and self-awareness can work together to support both physical and emotional healing. With practical tools and real-life examples, Inna offers a roadmap for listening to your body and creating lasting wellness. What You'll Learn in This Episode:✔ How Inna went from chronic illness to complete healing✔ The ways the body communicates through symptoms✔ How unprocessed emotions can manifest as physical pain✔ The role of mindfulness and intuition in self-healing✔ Simple tools to reconnect with your body's wisdom✔ How awareness and self-empowerment accelerate recovery Episode Chapters 00:00 — Intro & Inna Segal's Healing Story03:12 — When the Body Speaks Through Symptoms07:40 — Listening to Intuition for Wellness12:05 — Emotions That Manifest as Physical Pain17:48 — Simple Tools for Self-Healing23:10 — Empowering Yourself Through Awareness

In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo speaks with Ariel Garten—neuroscientist, innovator, and co-founder of Muse, the brain-sensing meditation device. Blending neuroscience, mindfulness, and entrepreneurship, Ariel offers a unique perspective on how we can train the mind to become more aware, focused, and resilient. She shares the science behind brainwave activity in meditation, the difference between concentration and mindfulness, and how real-time feedback can deepen self-awareness. Together, Ariel and Sean explore the intersection of technology and mindfulness and how tools like Muse can support practitioners and teachers in cultivating consistency and insight. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Intro01:52 — What Muse Measures in the Brain05:20 — Concentration vs. Mindfulness09:45 — How Biofeedback Deepens Practice13:18 — Brainwave States in Meditation16:40 — Why Real-Time Feedback Matters20:33 — The Role of Self-Compassion24:09 — Using Muse Without Judgment28:01 — Tech + Mindfulness for Behavior Change32:16 — Insights from Data-Driven Practice36:44 — Ariel's Vision for the Future of Muse40:00 — Closing Reflections & Where to Learn More

In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, we explore how self-love is not a luxury or cliché — it's a foundational practice of mindful living and teaching. Through reflections, real-life examples, and guided insights, you'll learn how cultivating compassion toward yourself isn't about indulgence — it's about resilience, truth, and belonging. Whether you're a mindfulness teacher, seeker, or someone in the process of healing, this episode reminds us that self-love isn't the end of the path — it is the path. The difference between self-love and self-judgment disguised as motivation How mindfulness helps us witness ourselves without shame Why self-love is essential for those who teach or care for others Breath- and body-based practices to soften resistance and open the heart How to shift from "fixing" ourselves to befriending who we already are “You don't need to become someone else to be worthy of love. You just need to come home to yourself.” Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your personal or professional practice!

In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo speaks with Francesca Maxime—Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, certified mindfulness teacher, and founder of ReRooted Healing. Drawing from her lived experience as a Haitian-Dominican Italian-American and her years as a journalist, Francesca brings a deeply embodied and trauma-informed lens to mindfulness, healing, and racial justice. Together, she and Sean explore how mindfulness intersects with somatics, decolonization, and collective care. This conversation touches on everything from intergenerational trauma to the nervous system's role in social change. With warmth and clarity, Francesca invites us to move beyond disembodied practice and toward a felt sense of liberation—for ourselves and our communities. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ How somatic awareness supports healing from trauma and oppression ✔ Why decolonizing mindfulness means reconnecting with the body ✔ How racialized trauma shows up in the nervous system and how to tend to it ✔ The difference between coping and true healing ✔ Why “just observing” isn't enough in trauma-sensitive mindfulness ✔ How to bring mindfulness into movements for justice, equity, and belonging ✔ What it means to create safety not just for individuals, but for entire communities

Spiritual bypassing can quietly undermine our best intentions as mindfulness teachers — especially when trauma is involved. In this powerful episode, we unpack what it means to teach mindfulness without bypassing trauma, and why it's so essential to adapt practices for the nervous system needs of trauma survivors. You'll learn how to recognize subtle signs of trauma activation, adjust language and posture cues for safety, and create mindfulness environments where students feel seen, empowered, and respected. This is an essential listen for any teacher who wants to serve with integrity and avoid causing harm — while also deepening their own self-awareness along the way.

This episode is sponsored by our Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification. Register today for 80% off at ⁠⁠⁠https://mindfulnessexercises.com/certify/ In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo guides a heartfelt exploration of loving-kindness—one of the most transformative mindfulness practices for connecting with ourselves and others. Sean shares reflections on what it really means to open the heart, even when we feel resistance, numbness, or emotional pain. This episode includes a guided meditation that weaves together four powerful styles of loving-kindness practice, offering listeners multiple ways to cultivate genuine care, empathy, and connection. Whether you've practiced Metta before or are new to it, this episode helps you meet yourself and others with more gentleness, compassion, and curiosity. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ Why loving-kindness can feel uncomfortable or even triggering at timesand how to work skillfully with that✔ How to meet resistance, grief, or doubt with gentle awareness✔ 4 unique ways to guide or practice loving-kindness meditation✔ Why Metta is more than just repeating phrases, it's about emotional attunement✔ How to offer love to friends, difficult people, and yourself without bypassing pain✔ A complete, guided loving-kindness meditation you can return to anytime

This episode is sponsored by our Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification. Register today for 80% off at ⁠⁠https://mindfulnessexercises.com/certify/ In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo speaks with Michelle Maldonado—founder of Lucenscia, leadership coach, Virginia state legislator, and author of The Conscious Mind. Michelle's path from the corporate world to public service was shaped by a deep desire to bring compassion, clarity, and trauma-awareness into systems that often overlook them. Learning breath awareness as a child to help manage fear and anxiety, she would bring those same tools to her son, helping him navigate stress and emotional overwhelm with presence and compassion and into a political system often driven by reactivity and disconnection. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ How Michelle first learned mindfulness as a child—and how it shaped her early emotional awareness✔ Practical ways she's taught mindfulness to her son (and how to help children regulate stress with breath)✔ Why she entered politics—and how mindfulness helps her stay grounded while legislating✔ How to spot signs of reactivity in your own body and choose how to respond✔ Why trauma-informed mindfulness is essential for leadership, parenting, and teaching✔ The difference between bypassing discomfort vs. holding it with care✔ How to create psychologically safe spaces at home, at work, and in communities✔ What it looks like to lead from wholeness in real-world, high-stress environments Connect with Michelle:

This episode is sponsored by our Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification. Register today for 80% off at ⁠https://mindfulnessexercises.com/certify/ In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo sits down with Anthony Abbagnano—visionary breathwork pioneer, founder of Alchemy of Breath, and author of the upcoming book Outer Chaos, Inner Calm. Together, they explore the profound potential of conscious, connected breathwork to support healing, trauma integration, self-awareness, and spiritual growth. Anthony shares his remarkable journey—from a painful childhood experience in a British boarding school to becoming a global leader in trauma-informed breathwork. Through moving stories, practical insights, and embodied wisdom, Anthony offers a compelling case for why the breath may be the most accessible and transformative tool we have. This is an inspiring conversation for anyone curious about how breath can be used not just to calm the nervous system, but to catalyze deep emotional and spiritual shifts. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ What conscious, connected breath really means and why it's different from other breathwork✔ How early trauma shaped Anthony's path to healing through breath✔ The role of breath in navigating grief, anxiety, disconnection, and spiritual reconnection ✔ How breath becomes a mirror and a bridge for the parts of us we forget ✔ Why breathwork can sometimes accelerate healing faster than talk therapy✔ How Anthony trains facilitators through Alchemy of Breath to hold space with depth and integrity Connect with Anthony Abbagnano:

This episode is sponsored by our Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification. Register today for 80% off at https://mindfulnessexercises.com/certify/ In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo sits down with Dr. Judson Brewer—New York Times bestselling author, neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and Director of Research at Brown University's Mindfulness Center. Widely known as “Dr. Jud,” he's one of the most influential voices in the science of mindfulness-based habit change and anxiety relief. Together, they explore the personal and clinical applications of mindfulness, from Dr. Judd's early struggles with stress and his first meditation retreat, to groundbreaking research on how informal mindfulness practices can help break cycles of addiction and anxiety. With warmth and insight, Dr. Judd shares real stories from his patients and how practices like breath awareness, RAIN, and noting can rewire the brain toward greater ease and self-regulation. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ The role of informal vs. formal meditation in healing addiction and anxiety ✔ Why “short moments, many times” is more effective than long, infrequent practice ✔ How noting practice interrupts cravings and fosters non-identification ✔ The neuroscience behind habit loops and mindfulness-based behavior change ✔ Ways to bring mindfulness into clinical, secular, and real-life settings Dr. Judd brings both scientific rigor and compassionate wisdom to this conversation, making it a must-listen for mindfulness teachers, healthcare professionals, and anyone who wants to understand how mindfulness rewires the brain for freedom.

This episode is sponsored by our Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification. Register today for 80% off at https://mindfulnessexercises.com/certify/ In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo sits down with Sophie Chiche—life strategist, therapist, author, TEDx speaker, and founder of several impactful ventures dedicated to helping people live with more purpose and play. Sophie shares her path from trading pencils in the sandbox as a child to building multi-million dollar businesses and facilitating sessions alongside global icons like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. With humor and raw honesty, she dives into what it really means to do “more of what matters” in a world filled with distraction and pressure. Sean and Sophie explore how mindfulness intersects with accountability, creativity, and emotional awareness and why giving yourself permission to rest is more than just a luxury. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ Why doing “more of what matters” requires inner alignment, not just better productivity ✔ How mindfulness supports radical personal accountability ✔ The difference between “mental health” and true inner freedom ✔ What it means to show up in the world as your whole self ✔ How play and joy can be integrated into meaningful work Sophie brings fierce intelligence and lighthearted wisdom to this conversation, reminding us that the deepest healing often begins with being radically honest with ourselves, and each other.

A deep dive into one of the most essential Buddhist texts on mindfulness—The Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, often referred to as The Direct Path to Realization. This episode's guest hosts explore its foundational teachings as presented in Venerable Anālayo's book, offering a clear, contemporary lens through which mindfulness teachers and practitioners can engage with this timeless wisdom. You will be guided through the Four Foundations of Mindfulness—contemplation of the body, feelings, mind, and dharmas—with a strong emphasis on direct experience over intellectual understanding. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ A clear breakdown of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness ✔ How to contemplate the body through breath, posture, and impermanence ✔ What it means to observe feeling tone, mental states, and dharmas with non-reactivity ✔ The role of diligence, clear knowing (sampajañña), and mindfulness (sati) ✔ How these teachings support inner stability and confidence in guiding others ✔ Why direct experience, not theory, is the foundation of authentic mindfulness teaching This episode is especially helpful for mindfulness and meditation teachers, as well as committed practitioners looking to root their practice in traditional teachings while maintaining relevance in today's world.

In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo sits down with global adventurer, bestselling author, and filmmaker Leon Logothetis—widely known as The Kindness Guy. You may know Leon from his hit shows The Kindness Diaries (on Discovery+ and Roku) or his new documentary The Kindness Within: A Journey to Freedom (now on Amazon Prime). But before inspiring millions, Leon was a finance professional living with deep depression and disconnection. He shares the raw and powerful story of how a movie, a motorcycle, and a radical choice to live from the heart led him on an around-the-world journey—relying solely on the kindness of strangers. This is more than an interview. It's a personal update and spiritual reflection on what it means to be seen, to keep walking through pain, and to live in service to love. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ Why Leon walked away from a high-paying career to pursue kindness ✔ How deep pain led to a life-changing global journey ✔ What it means to “burn your ships” and surrender to the unknown ✔ The spiritual awakening that came from a sunset in Nepal ✔ How vulnerability, therapy, and tiny moments can shift your life ✔ The emotional power behind The Kindness Within documentary ✔ Simple daily practices Leon uses to reconnect with self and spirit ✔ Why your scars are not your shame—they are your story Leon's story is an inspiring reminder that we all have a choice: to live from fear, or to live from love. His path through darkness, and the strangers who helped him along the way, show us that there is always another way to live—one that begins within.

In this deeply personal solo episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo, founder of Mindfulness Exercises and former Buddhist monk, shares a vulnerable update on his own mindfulness journey. Set against the quiet backdrop of a rainy day in Berkeley, Sean opens up about his recent conversations with Sophie McLean and Anthony Abbagnano—two teachers whose work has helped him reconnect to the power of self-love, purpose, and conscious connected breathing.  What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ How self-love and purpose are intertwined in the mindfulness path ✔ The role of conscious, connected breathing in healing and transformation ✔ Why even experienced teachers still wrestle with imposter syndrome ✔ A gentle practice to work with your past and envision your future This episode is an invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the deeper “why” behind your practice. Whether you're a seasoned mindfulness teacher or simply finding your footing, Sean's reflections offer a spacious reminder that self-love is not a luxury—it's the foundation. Liked this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice!

As wellness professionals, we give so much of ourselves to others—holding space, offering care, and tending to others' needs. But in the process, we can forget to care for the one who gives. This guided meditation offers a much-needed pause to reconnect with your own inner well-being through the lens of mindful self-compassion. In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, you'll be gently guided through a calming self-compassion meditation designed especially for therapists, coaches, healthcare providers, mindfulness teachers, and helping professionals. Through body awareness, emotional presence, loving-kindness, and mindful breathing, this practice invites you to release tension, set compassionate boundaries, and reconnect with your inner strength and humanity. What You'll Experience in This Meditation: ✔ A gentle body scan to ground your awareness and soften tension ✔ Mindful acknowledgment of difficult emotions with kindness and care ✔ Loving-kindness phrases to foster inner support and compassion ✔ Breathwork to release judgment, guilt, and the pressure to be perfect ✔ Reflections on professional boundaries to support sustainable service ✔ A gratitude practice to honor your efforts and impact Whether you're navigating emotional labor, compassion fatigue, or simply feeling stretched thin, this meditation reminds you that your well-being matters just as much as those you serve.

In this episode, Rhonda V. Magee, law professor emerita, mindfulness teacher, and author of The Inner Work of Racial Justice, shares her journey of integrating mindfulness into higher education, law, and social justice initiatives. Rhonda reflects on her early influences, including the centering practices of her grandmother and her own discovery of meditation through Eastern philosophy and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). She explores how mindfulness supports not just personal stress reduction, but also community healing, resilience, and systemic change. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ How mindfulness practices can heal personal and collective suffering✔ The integration of mindfulness into legal education and social justice work✔ The importance of contemplative spaces for emotional healing and community resilience✔ Rhonda's vision for soulful mindfulness and her community project, Mount Iris✔ Practical insights on introducing mindfulness into professional and academic spaces This episode offers heartfelt guidance for anyone passionate about mindfulness, emotional resilience, community-building, and social transformation. It's especially valuable for mindfulness teachers seeking to expand the depth and inclusivity of their practice. Connect with Rhonda: ⁠Website - RhondaVMcGee.com LinkedIn⁠Instagram Facebook ⁠ Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your teaching, leadership, or social impact!

Every mindfulness teacher, no matter how experienced, faces moments of doubt. But self-trust is not about being perfect; it's about believing in your capacity to show up with authenticity, care, and presence. In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, you'll be guided through a soothing affirmation-based meditation designed specifically to help mindfulness teachers, coaches, and professionals strengthen their confidence and connection to their inner wisdom. With each phrase, you'll be invited to gently reconnect with your purpose, deepen your trust in your voice, and reaffirm the impact of your work. What You'll Experience in This Meditation: ✔ Affirmations to build confidence in your skills and wisdom as a mindfulness teacher ✔ Encouragement to trust your intuition and presence when guiding others ✔ Reminders that growth includes imperfection, doubt, and learning ✔ Phrases to ground you in self-compassion, patience, and positive impact ✔ A calming, empowering space to realign with your purpose as a teacher This meditation is perfect for mindfulness professionals, educators, and guides who want to anchor their teaching in confidence, care, and clarity.

In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo sits down with Emily Fletcher, founder of Ziva Meditation and bestselling author of Stress Less, Accomplish More. Emily, a Broadway star turned meditation teacher, shares her remarkable journey from high-stress performance anxiety to embodying mindfulness, meditation, and manifesting practices that have transformed over 120,000 lives. Together, they explore: ✔ How meditation cured Emily's insomnia and anxiety within days ✔ Why the Ziva Technique blends mindfulness, meditation, and manifesting for real-world success ✔ How meditation helps release stored stress and unlocks new levels of vitality ✔ The relationship between embodiment, sacred sexuality, and spiritual growth ✔ Insights into balancing the divine masculine and feminine within ourselves This episode offers inspiring lessons for anyone seeking real-world mindfulness practices, deeper emotional healing, and a fuller, more joyful human experience. It's a valuable listen for mindfulness teachers and meditators who want to integrate mindfulness not just on the cushion, but throughout every aspect of life. Connect with Emily: ⁠Website - Ziva Meditation⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Podcast - Why Isn't Everyone Doing This? Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness and meditation are enhancing your life and teaching!

When we pause and breathe with intention, we tap into the quiet power that lives within us—a nurturing, healing energy that moves through every cell of our body. This guided meditation from Mindfulness Exercises invites you to reconnect with your breath as a source of care, vitality, and inner balance. Designed for both mindfulness practitioners and professionals, this practice offers a gentle journey into whole-body breathing. Through visualization, breath awareness, and calming affirmations, you'll explore how each inhale and exhale can bring not only stillness—but also renewed strength, warmth, and presence. What You'll Experience in This Meditation: ✔ Breath as a bridge between your body, mind, and the universe ✔ Visualization of healing light moving through the body ✔ Gentle guidance to breathe with awareness, from chest to fingertips to feet ✔ Whole-body breathing to cultivate inner harmony and connection ✔ An invitation to ground, center, and nurture yourself with each breath Whether you're offering care to others or simply in need of a mindful reset, this meditation is a reminder that your breath can nourish and support you—just as you are.