Podcasts about mclean meditation institute

I taught a 2-hour deep dive workshop for McLean Meditation Institute's meditation teachers on the topic of: "How to Build your Meditation Business in 2025". This goes into setting up your teaching schedule, taking your teachings on tour, leveraging the power of a signature workshop, licensing an audio library, leveraging relationships, marketing without social media and so much more. This is all the advice I wish somebody would have gave me back in 2009 - 2012 when I taught 500+ meditation workshops and was leading retreats around the world (with zero mentorship or foundational strategy. If you are in the business of facilitating transformations, then block off two hours and do this workshop (workbook below): And sign up for my "BUSINESS OF TRANSFORMATION" four month training, starting May 7th over at https://MajikMedia.com/Transformation Or access my Majik Mind Coaching Community & 1:1 coaching support at https://majikmedia.com/majik-mind Download the Session Workbook Here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h2vOUeLvhkqvdonyN5GfstFTheezWjtGAiTPKs4QgCc/edit?usp=sharing Sign up for the Craft & Tour your Signature Workshop Training at https://majikmedia.com/signature-workshop Play Chi Ball Anywhere at https://PlayChiBall.com Download the Majik Kids App at https://MajikKids.com/app

A former NIKE colleague, Laura Kriva, joins Kirsten on this week's podcast. Lauri's early life followed a predictable progression of academic and professional accomplishments: overseas study. College degree. HR Management certification. Fifteen years global HR experience with NIKE and Timberland. In 2006, her heart led her to life coaching, and a cascade of experiences that married her skills with a love of learning: voiceover, real estate, health/wellness, and authoring a children's book. She often says she lives life with her head in the clouds, her feet on the ground and her heart wide open. Her son, Axl's, experience learning how to play golf (and the limited number of kids books on the subject) inspired her to write Fore! The Love of Golf. Lauri took up golf at age 50 and taps into her own mental superpower frequently on the course. Lauri is a certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher through the McLean Meditation Institute and a certified Dr. Sears Health Coach. Lauri and her family live in Santa Barbara, California and can be reached at: www.swellheart.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsten-jones0/support

About Marcy Westcott: Marcy Westcott is a Certified Meditation & Mindfulness Instructor with advanced certification in MMI Mindfulness@Work through the McLean Meditation Institute of Sedona, Arizona and Santa Barbara, California.Several years ago, after experiencing the effects of long term stress and anxiety, Marcy began to practice meditation. She quickly began to realize significant benefits to her physical, emotional, and mental well-being. As her practice deepened, she observed family and friends struggle with life's challenges and pressures. She looked for accessible, secular meditation styles that might help them realize the same benefits she had in her own life. Marcy studied McLean Meditation Institute founder Sarah McLean's meditation teachings and through them experienced more benefits to her mental, emotional, and physical health. This led her to hear the call to teach. After completing a rigorous 200 hr course culminating with a 50 hr Intensive in Sedona, Arizona, she graduated from the renowned McLean Meditation Teacher Academy. Marcy is passionate about meditation and mindfulness and is dedicated and honored to help anyone discover the life changing benefits of establishing a meditation and mindfulness practice. In this episode, Adam and Marcy discuss:A different form of burnoutMeditation isn't a religion Mindfulness can be simple Key Takeaways:Burnout doesn't come in the same form for everybody. You might be performing at a high level, but have a disastrous personal life. If you've ever felt like your mind is numbed at everything you're doing, you could be going through burnout. Meditation is a training for your brain - it's a technique or a practice that settles your nervous system that trains your brain to become more focused, more engaged, more responsive and less reactive. It doesn't have to be a religious practice if you don't want it to be. Mindfulness is paying attention to what you're doing while you're doing it with a non-judgemental attention - without evaluating or analyzing. In short, it's about being present in our life in every moment.  "Meditation is one of the pillars of brain health. " —  Marcy Westcott Connect with Marcy Westcott:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Still-State-1192104074279867/Website: https://www.thestillstatemeditation.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy-westcott-the-mindful-culture-curator-28825a186/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestillstate Connect With Adam Weber:Website: https://meditationnotmedicine.com/about/Email: adam@meditationnotmedicine.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/easytomeditate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meditationnotmedicine/  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPnbji9rDrCfxhY0W8sHL9ABook: Meditation Not Medicine Show notes by Podcastologist: Justine Talla.Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Christopher “Chase” Carey spent 20 years in Corporate America's Health Insurance and Consulting industry, in significant positions. In 1998, as a VP of Underwriting for Aetna, Inc., he contacted the Chief Medical Officer telling him of the benefits of Meditation and other Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) techniques. He received a polite reply that he was simply "too far ahead of them." 17 years later Aetna started teaching its employees to Meditate. He hopes to God your company won't wait that long! In the 1990's his Meditation work began at The Monroe Institute in Virginia. He participated in 6 week-long programs consisting of 24/7 immersions into deep Meditative states and guided exploration within them. He is a Professional Member of the Monroe Institute, a certified Mindfulness & Meditation Teacher by the McLean Meditation Institute, a Whil Certified Mindful Leader, a candidate Teacher of Personal Self Integration (PSI), and a guest on many podcasts. MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING. In September 2012, after experiencing poor treatment during a surgical hospital stay, he entered the local Taekwondo School and signed up for Black Belt training. Four 4 years later as he was training to test for his 2nd Degree Black Belt, he began to ask himself how he could share with others what he had learned during his rigorous training in Martial Arts. Several months later “Chasing Your Mind Warrior! He is now a 3rd Degree Black Belt. AUTHOR. In 2014 he published his first book: "Chasin' Meditation: The Step By Step Guide to a Stress-Free Life Through Meditation." The book is directed specifically toward today's Stressed Professionals and is now in its 2nd Edition. In 2019 he published his second book: “Chasing Your Mind Warrior” where he teaches ever day professionals to think, act, and persevere like a Black Belt. In 2020 he published his third book: "The Meditation Sutras", where he shows you how to hold your subconscious mind in your hands and begin a loving exchange. Chase is also certified in healing modalities such as Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Healing Hands; Personal Self Integration; he is a certified Master Scuba Diver, tactical firearms enthusiast, and an Actor in TV, movies, and commercials. Contact Christopher "Chase" Carey: www.chasingmindfulness.com Do you want to live an incredible life? Get started now by reading my book: "Visualizing Happiness in Every Area of Your Life" https://amzn.to/2kvAuXU What is your biggest obstacle to creating an incredible life? You can book a free 15-minute mentoring session with Dr. Kimberley Linert. Click on this booking link: https://calendly.com/drkimberley/15min Please subscribe to the podcast and take a few minutes to review on iTunes, Thank you If you have an amazing story to tell about your life and how you are sharing your gifts and talents with the world, then I would love to have you as a guest on my podcast. Contact me via email: incrediblelifepodcast@gmail.com or private message me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/incrediblelifecreator www.DrKimberleyLinert.com

Colleen Wilson is the founder and Melissa Curtis is the COO of Pets on Q, a socially responsible Animal Media Company and Booking platform, specializing in influencer partnerships and humane set work with animals. They are also the stars of the reality tv Netflix series, “Pet Stars”, a show that follows Pets on Q as they work with the biggest animal influencers on social media! Pets on Q’s new and patented booking platform allows brands to be able to browse through their carefully selected animals, examine their detailed analytics, and make offers based on our proprietary algorithm. The Pets on Q mission statement is that we are committed to "revolutionizing the animal industry by making the world a better place, one animal at a time". Read more at: https://petsonq.com/ and at https://www.netflix.com/title/81002465Visit the Entrepreneur Presenters for August 8, 2021 at their Websites:Reyn Guyer is the inventor of the forever iconic game Twister and the famous NERF toy collection. His most recent venture, My Friend Wren, is quickly replacing the classic storybook concept. My Friend Wren is an online platform incorporating thoughtfully crafted collections of creative and gentle childrens’ stories and songs designed to provide insightful, educational material and adventure to both kids and parents alike, all sung and narrated by Reyn. The platform has a gentle approach and uses more tame graphics and fun-loving characters throughout each story. The illustrations resemble more of an authentic hard copy storybook versus computer-generated graphics, at: https://www.myfriendwren.com/Jennifer Shapiro-Lee is a psychotherapist with experience in multiple clinical settings, various mental health clinics and is the Founder & Director of a group therapy practice in Long Island, NY. She is also a certified Meditation and Mindfulness Instructor and Mindfulness in the Workplace Instructor from the Mclean Meditation Institute. She teaches individual and group meditation classes, lead therapeutic retreats, corporate wellness events, and am a motivational speaker, at: https://www.jennifershapirolee.com/Jennifer Flood is the Co-Founder of Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation, a registered non-profit, 501c(3). The organization matches people in need of kidney donors all across the United States. It has coordinated 11 transplants and now working on their 12th transplant. The foundation started after Jennifer and her two sisters from New York saved their father’s life from kidney disease by thinking outside the box and placing an ad on craigslist for a donor and found a match, at: http://www.floodsisterskidneyfnd.org/ Visit https://passagetoprofitshow.com/​​​​​​​​ for the latest updates and episodes.

Colleen Wilson is the founder and Melissa Curtis is the COO of Pets on Q, a socially responsible Animal Media Company and Booking platform, specializing in influencer partnerships and humane set work with animals. They are also the stars of the reality tv Netflix series, “Pet Stars”, a show that follows Pets on Q as they work with the biggest animal influencers on social media! Pets on Q’s new and patented booking platform allows brands to be able to browse through their carefully selected animals, examine their detailed analytics, and make offers based on our proprietary algorithm. The Pets on Q mission statement is that we are committed to "revolutionizing the animal industry by making the world a better place, one animal at a time". Read more at: https://petsonq.com/ and at https://www.netflix.com/title/81002465Visit the Entrepreneur Presenters for August 8, 2021 at their Websites:Reyn Guyer is the inventor of the forever iconic game Twister and the famous NERF toy collection. His most recent venture, My Friend Wren, is quickly replacing the classic storybook concept. My Friend Wren is an online platform incorporating thoughtfully crafted collections of creative and gentle childrens’ stories and songs designed to provide insightful, educational material and adventure to both kids and parents alike, all sung and narrated by Reyn. The platform has a gentle approach and uses more tame graphics and fun-loving characters throughout each story. The illustrations resemble more of an authentic hard copy storybook versus computer-generated graphics, at: https://www.myfriendwren.com/Jennifer Shapiro-Lee is a psychotherapist with experience in multiple clinical settings, various mental health clinics and is the Founder & Director of a group therapy practice in Long Island, NY. She is also a certified Meditation and Mindfulness Instructor and Mindfulness in the Workplace Instructor from the Mclean Meditation Institute. She teaches individual and group meditation classes, lead therapeutic retreats, corporate wellness events, and am a motivational speaker, at: https://www.jennifershapirolee.com/Jennifer Flood is the Co-Founder of Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation, a registered non-profit, 501c(3). The organization matches people in need of kidney donors all across the United States. It has coordinated 11 transplants and now working on their 12th transplant. The foundation started after Jennifer and her two sisters from New York saved their father’s life from kidney disease by thinking outside the box and placing an ad on craigslist for a donor and found a match, at: http://www.floodsisterskidneyfnd.org/ Visit https://passagetoprofitshow.com/​​​​​​​​ for the latest updates and episodes.

This week, Dr. Carly talks to Michele Mattix. Michele is the Founder of Sedona Meditation Experiences. She is a certified meditation and mindfulness instructor from the McLean Meditation Institute and has taught thousands of people how to meditate and deepen their practice. Her meditation journey began during her freshman year of high school when she attended a meditation workshop, and she has dedicated over 20 years to the practice of mindfulness and helping others unlock their internal superpower. Michele shares some of the common misconceptions about meditation, the benefits of meditation, and so much more in this week's episode!Join the Movement!Healinggroundmovement.comHealing Ground Movement on InstagramHealing Ground Movement on FacebookMentioned in This Episode:Sedonameditationexperiences.comClick here to take our listener survey!Learn about some of our favorite healthy tools on our resources page.Like what you learned? Buy me a coffee to show your appreciation!Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review!

In this HCI podcast episode, Dr. Westover talks with Marcy Westcott about the importance of mindfulness and implementing mindfulness in the workplace ( originally aired July 28, 2020). See the video here: https://youtu.be/F63oVsE6ozc. Founder of The Still State Meditation & Mindfulness Instruction, Marcy Westcott (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy-westcott-the-mindful-culture-curator-28825a186/) spent 20 years in sales and service management with American Honda Motor Company. There she experienced firsthand how stress and anxiety in the workplace affects both the well-being of people and a business's bottom line. Over the last 15 years as an entrepreneur, Marcy has served in leadership positions on boards of non-profits and civic organizations. She is certified as a Meditation & Mindfulness Instructor (CMMI) through the McLean Meditation Institute and has advanced certification in Mindfulness @Work, a program designed to train instructors to take mindfulness into the workplace. Marcy has been published on LinkedIn, Elephant Journal, and Thrive Global. She works with individuals, businesses, and other organizations and is dedicated to improving well-being and quality of life in the business environment. Her mission is to help businesses and organizations enhance perspective and improve culture in order to reduce workplace stress and bring awareness to the importance of employee well-being. Ranked in the Top 10 Performance Management Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/performance_management_podcasts/ ; Ranked in the Top 10 Workplace Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/workplace_podcasts/ ; Ranked in the Top 15 HR Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/hr_podcasts/ ; Ranked in the Top 15 Talent Management Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/talent_management_podcasts/ ;Ranked in the Top 15 Personal Development and Self-Improvement Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/personal_development_podcasts/ ; Ranked in the Top 30 Leadership Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/leadership_podcasts/

Marcy Westcott is a Certified Meditation & Mindfulness Instructor with advanced certification in MMI Mindfulness@Work through the McLean Meditation Institute of Sedona, Arizona and Santa Barbara, California. Her company is www.thestillstatemeditation.com

Marcy Westcott is a certified meditation instructor through the renowned McLean Meditation Institute. She holds an advanced certification in training mindfulness practices in the workplace. She is known as The Mindful Culture Curator and her mission is to end suffering in the workplace. She is passionate about meditation and mindfulness and is dedicated and honored to help anyone discover the life changing benefits of establishing a meditation and mindfulness practice. Find more about Marcy at the below links: http://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy-westcott-28825a186 www.TheStillStateMeditation.com Facebook - The Still State Meditation ...and as always, enjoy the listen. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/archdevops/support

In this HCI podcast episode, Dr. Westover talks with Marcy Westcott about the importance of mindfulness and implementing mindfulness in the workplace. See the video here: https://youtu.be/F63oVsE6ozc. Founder of The Still State Meditation & Mindfulness Instruction, Marcy Westcott (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy-westcott-the-mindful-culture-curator-28825a186/) spent 20 years in sales and service management with American Honda Motor Company. There she experienced firsthand how stress and anxiety in the workplace affects both the well-being of people and a business's bottom line. Over the last 15 years as an entrepreneur, Marcy has served in leadership positions on boards of non-profits and civic organizations. She is certified as a Meditation & Mindfulness Instructor (CMMI) through the McLean Meditation Institute and has advanced certification in Mindfulness @Work, a program designed to train instructors to take mindfulness into the workplace. Marcy has been published on LinkedIn, Elephant Journal, and Thrive Global. She works with individuals, businesses, and other organizations and is dedicated to improving well-being and quality of life in the business environment. Her mission is to help businesses and organizations enhance perspective and improve culture in order to reduce workplace stress and bring awareness to the importance of employee well-being.

We are living in unprecedented times right now, which might be causing you more stress than usual.  Meditation is a great stress reliever and Laurie Maloney joins me to share with you different types of mediation, one which you may never have heard about!  Laurie also leads us in a meditation you won't want to miss. Laurie Maloney is a certified meditation instructor, modern mystic and catalyst for healing.  She received her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the University of Texas in 1991. She has studied and practiced various energy healing modalities since 1998.  Her fascination with alternative and holistic healing methods led her to become a meditation and mindfulness instructor. She received her training from the McLean Meditation Institute in Sedona, Arizona. Laurie’s interest in vibrational and energy therapies have been the object of continuing exploration. She studied sound healing with John Beaulieu in 2013.  She trained in and received her certification in Biofield Tuning in 2019. She is a Stellar Waves Crystal Light Bed therapist and a certified Feng Shui consultant.  Laurie is passionate about the extraordinary effects and benefits of vibrational and energy therapy.  Biofield Tuning/Sound Therapy, Crystal Light therapy, and meditation have brought her the extraordinary benefits of vibrant health and vitality, and a profound sense of well-being and balance. Laurie inspires people to listen to their own inner wisdom. She combines this talent with energy and vibrational therapies, allowing her clients to experience lasting health, balance and well-being.  She believes that when one’s body, mind and spirit are in balance and alignment, one can live life at its highest potential.  Laurie’s personal journey enables her to share this knowledge and expertise, and to be a conduit for self-empowerment and healing for others.  Visit Laurie at her website at https://unwindmeditationstudio.com/. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts.  Go to https://www.nancyshowalter.com/for a FREE Copy of My Book, It's OK to Be Rich:  The Entrepreneur's Guide to Increased Wealth and Personal Mastery and FREE Mini-Course, "How to Speak Your Success:  The Shocking Truth of How Your Words Impact Achieving Your Goals."

Does the idea of meditating intimidate you? Have you tried to sit still but discouraged easily because of all the thoughts? Vasavi sits down with Sarah McLean, Founder of McLean Meditation Institute and gets the FIVE essential ingredients to start your meditation practice today. No matter how young or old you are, or if you've never meditated a day in your life, you can begin today. When you get quiet and get to know yourself, you'll start to remember just how powerful you have always been.Support the show (http://www.paypal.me/vasavi)

Alex Ure is a yoga and meditation teacher in Ottawa, Canada. With over 500 hours of training, she is passionate about teaching in ways that bridge gaps between ancient wisdom and modern-day. In 2018, she completed her 200-hour meditation teacher training in Sedona at Mclean Meditation Institute. She focuses on teaching meditation tools that can be used in your everyday life. Instagram: @_alexure

Summary In today’s episode, with the help of Sarah McLean, the owner of the McLean Meditation Institute, my personal teacher, and a woman with an unusual and exciting background, we will demystify meditation.  There are so many brands and types of meditation out there; it can be downright confusing. The important thing is to understand a bit, not make it too hard, and, most importantly, do not delay your practice! Without practice, you are missing all the amazing benefits of meditation.  Sarah’s joining us from Santa Barbara, California, and will tell you her journey to demystify meditation.  She will tell you tales of her time in the Army, in an ashram in India, and travels on a nine-month mountain bike trek through faraway lands. She will touch on many experiences from Transcendental Meditation, working with Deepak Chopra to ah-ha moments on a rooftop in Georgetown, DC. She did all the work, and we all benefit from her discoveries. On last week’s show, we talked about three things to make your meditation a slam dunk: desire, focus, and a nonjudgmental attitude (which I learned long ago from Sarah herself.) This episode is perfect timing because Sarah will take those three things and go deeper as she unravels the mysteries of meditation. My suggestion is to listen intently but listen gently, like the awareness of breath in meditation. You know you are breathing but get lost in the beauty of its simplicity. Do not control or change; just follow and enjoy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Podcast  Hey there, Alexa Z here! I am so excited and a little nervous because I have Sarah McLean, my meditation teacher, on the line. She is kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to help me, help you demystify meditation, specifically the different types/brands of meditation.   I found Sarah after many years of meditating. I started meditating when I was 17 years old because I had terrible panic attacks. Meditation was a pill for me. I wish I could go back and start again; I would because now I know all the opportunities meditation has provided me, and I would have had a more consistent practice from the start.  Alexa: I want to welcome Sarah! Again, I am a little nervous and excited. This will be a fun back and forth conversation. I am also a bit jealous because I know you are in Santa Barbara, California, and the weather is a lot nicer than the rain, drizzle, and cold here in Annapolis, Maryland.   Sarah: Well, it is a bit like heaven on earth, sorry to make you jealous. Maybe we can practice Mudita, which is sympathetic joy, I hope you can feel happy for me, that I get to live in Santa Barbara after trying to convince my husband to move here for 17 years. It's great to be here, and Maryland is not too shabby.  Alexa: No, it isn't, and knowing that I can visit and take more classes at your new meditation center with you in Santa Barbara, makes me super happy. So let's, get right into it. Let's demystify meditation. The reason why this came to mind is that my students, clients, and even strangers come to me and say they have been studying meditation but have not started their practice. Typically, they say they are waiting for a particular time in there life to begin meditating or that they need to continue to learn about meditation before starting a practice. Sarah, what do you think about all of this. Why is it so confusing? Sarah: There are so many different types, categories of meditation  Uses Formal and informal Religious, historical origin Different names in other languages Brand new/Brand names I'll share a little bit about my story and how I got into meditation. More importantly, how I realized I did not know anything about meditation.   Alexa: Oh, that's perfect! Sarah: When I was younger, I was in the military. I wanted to be a spy, but that didn't work out. I wanted to understand the mysteries of life. I did not become a spy; instead, I became a behavioral specialist; that's when I started to learn the mysteries of the mind. I worked with Soldiers who suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD). Back then, we used medication versus meditation. Luckily for me, I was introduced to a body awareness practice. I was sitting outside of a psychiatric hospital, where, unfortunately, that's where many Soldiers who were really suffering would end up. Our whole platoon was sitting out on the lawn when one of the male nurses introduced me to a body scan. He had us all laydown, and he guided us from our head to our toes, allowing us to relax. It was only about 10 minutes. In the end, I realized that I worked with very stressed Soldiers, and I didn't even realize the amount of stress I was carrying. That moment planted a seed in me. After I got out of the Army, I looked into contemplative practices. I spent a lot of time exploring world traditions, looking for the secrets of life. I was on my mountain bike for about nine months and bicycled half-way around the world. I kept looking for the answers. I found it when I was sitting in my room in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. I was on the top of a three-story of a brownstone, learning to meditate using a silent mantra practice, through Transcendental Meditation (TM). Again, there was a contrast on how I felt before I learned, and after I silently repeated a mantra that I had no idea what it meant. It was another "ah-ha" moment. A few months after that, I moved to a TM community. I answered the phones and discussed mind, body, health. I was working with Deepak Chopra, who, at the time, no one was familiar with. People were looking for alternative practices and alternative healing. Many people would seek our help because of health reasons such as chemotherapy didn't work, diagnosed with Parkinson's, or depressed. I would ask all who called, "do you meditate?" They would answer with, yes, while I am watching TV, driving to work, or in the shower. I would have to convince them all to learn to meditate because meditation was required to be in the TM community. In 1990, meditation was not a "buzz word." No one talked about mindfulness. People would come to the community, and I would teach them about meditation. Unfortunately, at the time, I thought there was only one way to meditate. Though I had that great experience with the body scan, I was still "drinking the kool-aid" on the brand name of TM. So even when someone told me they were Upasana, insight, or mindfulness, or a different type of meditation, I wouldn't give it much credit.   Alexa: I have known you for a long time, and I have heard all your stories, but it is so fun to listen to it in order; it's starting to make so much sense to me. I have a lot of military people in this town, and a lot of military people listen to my podcast. I want everyone to take note that Sarah started her journey with meditation in the Army. How long ago was that? Sarah: It was 1980/1981. It was only done by a rouge male nurse, who felt the need to take us aside and try the body awareness practice. Meditation was not mandated to be a part of our training.   Alexa: It still isn't mandated, but it is interesting that you initially thought you would become a spy, you ended up learning about body scans. A lot of meditators feel that we can't be a meditator unless I do what Sarah does, go all those places, learn all those things. You taught me through your experiences that I can learn, and I don't have to live in an ashram for years. I am really grateful for that! Sarah: You are welcome! Alexa: Thank you for doing all the learning for all of us.  Sarah: I wasn't the mainstream kind of gal, I didn't want just to get married and have kids, get a job, and retire. My motivation in life was, can I find out the mysteries of this existence? What is it that animates all of creation? I know I am a little weird, but that was what was right for me.   I have to fast-forward after working and being in the TM organization for years. I won't go into the whole story, as you can google it. Deepak Chopra and I got kicked out of TM. Getting kicked out of an organization tells me one thing, that is that it is exclusive, not inclusive. How can you get kicked out of a meditation organization?! Well, some ways are to change your guru, changing your job, or changes that some tell you not to, but you do it anyway. I am in good company, so is Deepak Chopra. There is also Ravi Shankar, who does the Art of Living program. Many have been "kicked out" of TM. That was a warning for me, how can TM be a great organization? TM practice is a great practice. After I left the TM organization, I went to California with Deepak in 1992/1993. We opened up a health center. He came up with his practice, which was also a silent practice that is not TM. Deepak's practice is called Primordial Sound Meditation. I started to learn that there are a variety of practices available and they all work. You can stare at the sky, a fire, etc. to use as your object of meditation.  There are so many types of meditation.  Zen Buddist Tradition paying attention to your breath counting your breath asking yourself questions that stopped the mind walking meditation imagination meditation Scientists are researching meditation. I have been a research subject in a few studies. Scientists have a hard time differentiating the different types of meditation. Here are a few ways that I categorize mediation: Focus awareness/concentration meditation Open awareness meditation- Advanced practices Guided meditation Imagery meditation When I was in India, I learned more about meditation.   Guru Eat, pray, love Chanting Devotion After India, I moved into a Zen Buddist Monastery. I wanted to give up the whole notion of devotion and move into emptiness.   I want to share the basics of meditation. You went into meditation because you wanted to get rid of your anxiety. I went into meditation because I had a very stressful childhood, and I also suffered from panic attacks. I wanted to feel that life mattered, I mattered, and a deep sense of love.   There are three basic ingredients to any type of meditation.  [Sarah discusses in detail the below] Your intention Attention What you are paying attention to: something you hear sound-based meditation something you see visual-based meditation something you sense feeling/emotion moving stillness Alexa: My listeners might still be a little unsure of where to start. When you talked about focused awareness and open awareness; I compare it to a camera, am I zooming in or am taking a wide-angled, panorama picture. I want to go back to the three things that you taught me, going back to desire, non-judgemental attitude, and focus. Sarah, I started feeling over-whelmed when I didn't have a focus. When I read your book, Soul-centered: Transform your life in 8 weeks with meditation, before knowing you, you helped me simplify meditation. Thank God, science now says we have a body, a mind, and an energy system, and neuroplasticity does exist. Sarah, I am sure you will agree with me, when science proved that neuroplasticity exists, that's when meditation became popular. Sarah, what are your thoughts? Sarah: Meditation is not difficult, but you do have to set yourself up to succeed. When I was writing that book, I tried to deconstruct meditation. First off, you have to recognize that many people will say that you have to clear your mind to meditate. The minute I close my eyes, my default neuro network comes in, I start a monologue with myself, and I can't clear my mind. Instead of clearing your mind, you should interrupt the constant activity of the mind by paying attention to a particular object. Yoga is about the union of subject, object.  Subject: You, your consciousness Object: could be: Breath Body movement Behavior Saint Quality of a Saint When I was writing that book, it was a ten-week program. Then this study came out about neuroplasticity, neuro meaning nervous system and the brain, and plasticity meaning plastic or flexibility. In 2012, neuroplasticity studies were showing that with meditation, the thickening of the cortex can happen. Meaning you develop new neuro-pathways, new connections that help you to navigate the world more skillfully. Meditation also changes other parts of your brain. Your amygdala, the reactivity center of the brain, lessens its dominance, so you become much more responsive as the executive function of the neocortex start to become more dominant. This all results in the amygdala, "fight or flight" response becomes less apparent. You gain space between stimulus and response. This shows up in meditation as a state, and overtime shows up as traits in the brain.   Meditation is a practice. Find the one you like. I used to be very militant due to my time in the military, and I used to think there is only one way to meditate. So, find a practice you like and get in a routine. The best thing to do is to start meditating as soon as you get up in the morning.   There are many studies on the different practices of meditation and their benefits.  mindfulness practice - keeps you more engaged Loving-kindness, gratitude practices - cultivate emotions transcending mental activity - direct experience of YOU Alexa: If I decided that all this information makes sense and I want to start meditation when I get up tomorrow morning, what should I do? Sarah:  Gather yourself, welcoming everything, and resisting nothing.  Start with 1-2 minutes of mindfulness. Sit down Close your eyes Set yourself up  Turn your phone off Turn music off  Sit up Close your eye or gaze towards your hands/floor Pay attention/observe environment and body Be in the being and not in the doing Then, Body Scan Choose a focus Start with breath awareness Relaxation Response Refocus It's the nature of your mind to think. Your job is to bring your mind back to your focus.  [Meditation Practice] It does not matter how many times you have to refocus, be kind to yourself, and let go of expectations.   Lastly, be sure to determine how long you are going to meditate.  Alexa: I would like to wrap up by saying, yes, there are many types of meditation, but don't worry about it and don't feel like you have to learn them all. What Sarah and I say, "just get up and start meditating." The best thing about research is that you are your own best individual subject. Pick a practice, stick with it, and enjoy it. I used the definition of meditation that comes straight from Sarah, "meditation is a practice, it's old, it's new, it's modern, it's ancient, it's all of those things, but it is a training." Links: Sarah McLean Bio Sarah McLean Books Alexa Z Meditates      

Anne Sussman is the founder of Mindfulness Meeting Place and the author of the Bliss Buddy Project-How Sharing Gratitude Increases Joy. Anne received her certification through the McLean Meditation Institute as a Meditation and Mindfulness instructor, and a Mindfulness at Work Trainer. She teaches individuals, small groups and reaches employees in the workforce thru her corporate coaching, Anne teaches the life-changing skills of meditation and mindfulness that have been scientifically proved to reduce stress, increase focus, attention, and creativity, improve communication skills and promote overall health and wellbeing. The simple 4 steps of the shared gratitude practice Anne created in the Bliss Buddy Project, are a powerful way to shift you into living joyfully even in the midst of the challenging times of life. Passionate about feeding hungry people, Anne donates 10% of her earnings to the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges. Today we’re chatting about: What Meditation Really Is How to Teach Yourself to Live in the Moment How to Have more Joy in your Life Connect with Anne: Website: www.MindfulnessMeetingPlace.com LinkedIn: @AnneSussman Get a copy of Jen’s book, “Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda: A Divorce Coach’s Guide to Staying Married” here.

As an entrepreneur, Paige was on the verge of burnout. She was desperate for peace in her life. Then, Paige was diagnosed with breast cancer. She practiced meditation, mindfulness and visualization. Paige saw her cancer journey as a love journey, e.g. saw it through a compassionate lens. She shares this wisdom: our connections to ourselves, our spirits and others is most important the importance of self care, which is nourishing our bodies, minds and spirits, so that we can be there for others in a more meaningful way explore meditation and mindfulness  let's be kind to ourselves Paige Davis is an entrepreneur, writer, cancer survivor, mindfulness facilitator, and meditation teacher. She leads and facilitates meditation and mindfulness programming for companies, teams, and individuals seeking more patience, productivity, and present-moment awareness. Paige is also co-founder of social impact brand, BlueAvocado. The company’s thoughtful designs and creative solutions invite people to live a greener, simpler, and more mindful life. Paige received a BA in Journalism and Environmental Science from the University of Indiana and holds certifications from the Mclean Meditation Institute, Western School of Feng Shui and Pilates Center of Austin. Her work has been featured in the Huffington Post and MindBodyGreen.  She is the author of "Here We Grow: Mindfulness Through Cancer and Beyond". https://hellopaigedavis.com/

Paige’s story is really interesting. She was the woman who was doing all the right wellness things, yet, of her own admission, was still spirituality starved and looking for something. Then she was hit with a seriously heavy cancer diagnosis. Today we’re talking about her journey through that, and some of the lessons she learned. She talks more about the spiritual and life lessons she learned in her book which is about to be released called Here We Grow. >> Kate's group program, Channel Your Chill goes live May 16th! To learn more, head here: www.channelyourchill.com

Sarah McLean has been teaching meditation for over 20 years. I first met Sarah in Sedona this past winter when I visited her at the McLean Meditation Institute.  There was an instant connection and I had even more respect for her after she guided my husband and I through a meditation.  I discovered that she is the author of 2 books, The Power of Attention, and xx.  Sarah has had an amazing and interesting life, dropping out of high school at the age of 17 and going homeless, to joining the army where she first learned about meditation. She also has traveled the world with her bike riding in places like Turkey, Pakistan, and Greece and her tremendous life experience has given her insight for her sense of purpose on the this earth. Sarah is incredibly approachable and has worked with everyone, from Fortune 500 companies, Olympic Athletes, to small families. She worked with Dr. Deepak Chopra in Lancaster, Massachusetts for 8 years at the Ayurveda Health Center, a Transcendental Meditation community. After Deepak moved to California, Sarah became the Program Director for the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. With a hunger for knowledge and personal truth, Sarah took a sabbatical to seek the origins of meditation. She lived in a traditional ashram in South India for six months, and was a two-year resident at a remote Zen Buddhist monastery for two years.  She founded the McLean Meditation Institute in 2001.  Her Institute offers meditation and mindfulness classes, weekend meditation retreats, and a 200-hour teacher training program so if you are curious about becoming a meditation instructor, you can work with her. Personally, I enjoyed this conversation because we discussed a lot of things I'm curious about.  We are familiar with the idea of meditation, but the truth is that here are many different ways to do it so if one way doesn't resonate with you, there are other methods to experiment with.  Sarah takes us through the 3 key ingredients to any meditation practice, different types of meditation and where to find resources to actually do it, tells us about the changes that are physically occurring in our brain, the difference between mindfulness and meditation, and even has a few short guided meditations interlaced into the podcast episode!  Listen Now   Topics Discussed in the Podcast  8 limbs of yoga 3 key ingredients to meditation different types of meditation how to use mantras and why they work how our brain responds to meditation the difference between meditation and mindfulness where to find free guided meditations how to apply meditation and mindfulness to your daily life Links McLean Meditation Institute Feast for the Soul - free guided meditations of all different flavors Sarah McLean's Meditation YouTube Channel Sarah's book: The Power of Attention Sarah's book: Soul-Centered: Transform Your Life in 8 Weeks with Meditation Book: Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson Friend of the Podcast: Küat Racks Join! Plant-Powered Tribe Facebook Group Shop My Store – Moxy & Grit Support the Show If you would like to support the growth my show, I'd love your contribution on.  Patreon.  The current production of this free show is primarily supported out of my own pocket and a small portion is covered through the donations on Patreon. With my Patreon page, you can donate directly to the show which will help me cover the costs and help it grow! Even 4 bucks a month- the cost of one coffee per month helps a LOT! Thanks, I really appreciate your support! Crowdfunding on Patreon – thank you! Shop my products!  Leave a review or share on social media Don't forget to subscribe! Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Thanks for listening!              

The Power of Attention with Sarah McLeanSarah McLean is an international speaker and teacher, and author of “Soul-Centered: Transform Your Life in 8 Weeks with Meditation” (Hay House, 2012), “Simple, Easy, Every Day Meditation” (Delhi International Press, 2013), and “The Power of Attention: Awaken to Love and its Unlimited Potential with Meditation” (Hay House, 2017). She is a go-getter, globetrotting contemporary meditation teacher as the founding director of the McLean Meditation Institute and the Meditation Teacher Academy in the spiritual mecca of Sedona, Arizona. www.McLeanMeditation.comConquering Teen Anxiety with Jon Patrick HatcherJon is the creator and co-author of 101 Ways to Conquer Teen Anxiety, and two nonfiction, humor works coming in spring of 2018. Jon pursued his alchemy of full-time nonfiction writing devoted to assisting people with life-altering adversities through humorous, cathartic, and insightful books that tackle various hardships in a unique approach not utilized elsewhere. He holds an M.A. from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and has spent years studying, utilizing, and sharing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) techniques, which he is able to convey in a witty, laymen style. www.StateOfAnxiety.com

Aired Tuesday, 1 November 2016, 2:00 PM ETMany women get to a time in their life when they ask, “who am I and what do I need”? They’ve been so focused on others that they don’t know who they are anymore. Mindful living coach Bev Janisch knows that feeling well. At 50, though she had it ‘all’ and was living the dream she found herself struggling internally and feeling as if something was missing.Bev’s defining moment came she, and her husband, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the highest mountains in the world. The ironic thing was that as she was standing literally on top of the world on the inside she was as low as she could ever remember being. That pivotal moment led her to begin the journey back to herself. Intuitively Bev knew that the answers were not out there somewhere but that they were inside of her and she began to learn about the power of meditation and mindfulness. As she did, a shift and transformation began to happen and today Bev helps other women get back their inner sparkle and live their best lives.About the Guest: Bev JanischBev Janisch is a mindful living coach who helps people answer the questions, “How can I feel more peaceful? Who am I now? What do I want? What’s missing at this stage in my life and how do I get my inner sparkle back?”She has a 30-year career in nursing and after undergoing her own transformation, began mentoring people so they wouldn’t need to go through the confusion and uncertainty of a transformation alone.Bev received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alberta and her Master’s degree in nursing from the University of Calgary, Alberta. She is a certified meditation and mindfulness teacher through the McLean Meditation Institute and is a Certified Life Coach with the Certified Coaches Federation.Bev is a life-long learner and is regularly taking courses on metaphysics, mindfulness, intuition and all things spiritual. Bev has applied all these teachings and tools into her coaching with great success.She is the founder of The Compassionate Mind – a website, blog and series of programs and services aimed at serving clients all over the world.WEBSITE: www.TheCompassionateMind.caFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCompassionateMind/

Are you ready to transform your life in eight weeks with meditation? Is it hard for you to stop your thoughts or quiet your mind? Did you know you can use mediation to become one with you body? Guest Sarah McLean, an inspiring contemporary meditation teacher, has spent much of her life exploring the world’s spiritual and mystic traditions, Working with some of today’s great teachers, including Deepak Chopra and Byron Katie, she has traveled, lived and taught Tibetan Buddhish Nuns throughtout India and the Far East. Sarah is the founding director of the Sedona Meditation Training Company and The McLean Meditation Institute. Both are educational companies offering meditation training, self-discovery retreats, and teacher training certification programs that have transformed thousands of lives, and have earned her the praise of her peers and students. Her latest book, Soul Centered: Transform your life in 8 weeks with meditation can be found at The McLean Meditation Institute, amazon and barnes and noble. CTHRadio unites healing specialist with childhood trauma survivors. Your host, Susan Jacobi, a thriver after childhood abuse, knows healing is in replacing the trauma mindset. Her book, How to Love Yourself: The Hope after Child Abuse is available at amazon. To pick up your FREE ebook, 11 Tools for Happiness CLICK here. You can reach Susan directly at susan@conversationsthatheal.com.

Coach Carla's guest is Sarah McLean, Hay House author and founder of the McLean Meditation Institute.  Sarah's intention is to have meditation be very user-friendly. Sarah does meditation retreats in Sedona, Arizona, at the Omega Institute, and at Unity Village called “Soul Radiance Retreat.” She also facilitates a very popular writing retreat.