#mindfulness

#mindfulness

Actress Drew Barrymore has opened up about her new-found love of home renovation and design, explaining that transforming a property has become like a form of "meditation" to her. Barrymore, 50, explained in a recent interview that the process of design helps her to feel present and mindful, while sharing insights into her personal style in a new Real Simple interview.

Over 300 million people have downloaded meditation apps, yet only 5 percent stick with them beyond the first month. This isn't simply a failure of willpower-many meditation apps offer guided sessions that quickly feel repetitive, provide little personalization, minimal real-time support, and rarely give feedback on your progress. With so many barriers, it's no wonder so many users instead scroll through TikTok or Instagram.

I felt an inner devastation that caused so much emotional distress I could no longer hide it or hide from it through my work. I did not feel like doing anything except cry and share my suffering with anyone willing to listen. After Karla left me for the third time, I went to a meditation retreat in Estes Park, Colorado, led by Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist monk who founded mindfulness and was nominated by Martin Luther King, Jr., for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Most of my adult life has revolved around music: clubs, bars, festivals, house parties anywhere I could dance to loud music. I loved how energising and cathartic it was to get immersed in it, to lose myself a little and move my body expressively without judgment. I'd get so absorbed that I would lose track of time; once, at Burning Man, I was awake for 36 hours exploring the festival, meeting new people and partying.

Hearing the words "slow down," whether from a yoga teacher or a self-help influencer on Instagram, no matter how well-intentioned, can feel like banging my head against a wall. As if slowing down will solve all my problems! Moving as fast as possible-whether it's my hands on the keyboard at work or my body in and out of Downward-Facing Dog on my yoga mat-is how I try to outrun my stress demons. You know, lest I move in an unhurried fashion and have to actually feel things.

"Time is a thief." I learned this phrase in elementary school. It was regularly uttered by an administrator who, on the first day of school, would wistfully greet the student body, marveling at how much each child had grown over the summer. As a 10-year-old kid, I didn't put much stock into the musings of a middle-aged vice principal. Decades later, however, I better understand and appreciate the sentiment of her words.

Yoga is a way of life. For most student, practice begins on the mat, but once you find your flow, you begin to realize that yoga touches everything you do. From exploring accompany philosophy to focusing on breath and mindfulness, the effects of entering your yoga era are a perspective-shifting experience. Once there, though, you may find yourself immersed in yoga to the point where it's impossible to separate your practice from everything else. And that's kind of the point.

Singita Grumeti is a private wildlife reserve in Tanzania with six different properties across its 350,000 acres. Whichever lodge you choose, their holistic philosophy of "wholeness" is woven into each aspect of your stay, from restorative treatments like a traditional massage to enriching community-based courses. Take nature walks, sit by the river, use the complimentary yoga mats and art sets in your room, or the meditation deck at their Sabora Tented Camp.

Your card for the week is the Four of Swords, which represents rest, peace, self-protection, and the feeling of rejuvenation. The message of this card is especially nice to see at the end of one season and the start of another. When the Four of Swords shows up in a tarot reading, you can take it as a sign to slow way down - if only for a second. If you've been going at full speed all summer long with getaways or a busy work schedule, it might mean you're a little more burnt out than you realize and in need of some R&R.

I've spent the past two decades investigating how mindfulness can transform the brain and promote healing from addiction, chronic pain, and emotional distress-the diseases of despair. Today, I'm proud to share findings that reveal how MORE can help foster recovery in the brain in powerful and measurable ways. In this study, published in the top journal Science Advances, we examined data from four experiments involving 135 adults who were taking opioids daily for chronic pain.

After I found out I was pregnant with our first, I had a different idea for what I wanted my babymoon to look like . I knew becoming a mother would require some lifestyle sacrifices, and that might include fewer solo trips, at least in the beginning. So, during my second trimester, I decided to take a solo babymoon to Grindelwald in the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland, which is known for its stunning natural beauty, scenic alpine hikes, and endless outdoor activities.

It is 2008, and I am sitting in my grandmother's room, at the Salt Lick Safari Lodge within the Taita Hills Wildlife sanctuary in Kenya. It is a gorgeous place to stay, the villas appear almost rocket-shaped, standing high off the ground to prevent any wildlife from getting inside the rooms. All around there is lush greenery. Outside her window, many animals, including elephants, deer, and giraffes pass by.

I mean, the amazing thing about our circumstances that each one of us is in a position that is in some sense, as free and as profound and as in touch with reality, as any other position in this universe, where you stand, the universe is illuminated as you, as your experience in this moment. And that we call this substratum of experience, consciousness, for lack of a better word.

Venting doesn't lead long-term to effective outcomes. Rather than making you feel better, venting can often leave you feeling worse or just as bad as before.

The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud Bali is a purposeful destination where mind, body, and spirit come together in quiet harmony, honoring the island's spiritual roots.

We must learn to distinguish between things that are within our control and those that are not. The only thing entirely within our own control is our mind.

"To feel safe and certain about life, you judge every moment and then take action based on your past."

Every year on August 15, the country collectively takes a deep breath and exhales in celebration of National Relaxation Day. Originally started in 1985 by Sean Moeller, this day is a reminder to pause, decompress, and take care of yourself.

One five-star review praised: "I've been practicing yoga and meditation for over 40 years, teaching both for 15 years, and I don't know of a more complete and practical guide to meditation than this one."

Suffering = pain x resistance. When we resist our resistance and beat ourselves up, we multiply our initial suffering, leading to even greater distress.

Just a few pounds may feel like the answer, but it often leads to more anxiety, obsession, and isolation.

"I have my dad's death to thank for my son's birth. After he died, I was really sad that I wouldn't have someone to share my joy with, but that sadness galvanized in me a desire to create a deeper legacy and cherish the moments that matter most."

"These practices are proof that self-care can be much simpler, more accessible, and definitely more fun than you might think."

The answer to stress is not necessarily adding in stress-reduction techniques; instead, there is value in reducing activities and considering what can be removed.

Always make sure you're installing updates directly from the source. Right now, there are lots of 'fake update' scams making their way around the web.

The reverse bucket list is just like it sounds-what have I done that is interesting or notable, whether to other people or not? I think it's helpful to just celebrate or even observe some of those things.