Mindfulness Exercises, with Sean Fargo

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: 🔗 Website: ⁠https://alchemyofbreath.com/⁠ 📘 Book: ⁠https://alchemyofbreath.com/outer-chaos-inner-calm/⁠ 📦 Media Kit: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jcirdmjuj8neqxuuhn0tg/ANCqVbDwuO0wzVCPNFccnNA?rlkey=ogggp1j5px8t4r0vv05pyshxd&e=2&st=h8u5iif3&dl=0⁠ 📱 Instagram: @alchemyofbreath Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your personal or professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: ⁠⁠mindfulnessexercises.com⁠ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: ⁠⁠mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@Mindfulness.Exercises⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠Exercising Mindfulness⁠ 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at ⁠⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 🌿 Tune in for a refreshing take on presence, purpose, and play. Connect with Sophie: Website - sophiechiche.com Podcast - beplaylove.com ⁠LinkedIn - Sophie Chiche Instagram - @sophiechiche Media kit Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your personal or professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: ⁠⁠mindfulnessexercises.com⁠ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: ⁠⁠mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@Mindfulness.Exercises⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠Mindfulness Exercises 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at ⁠⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 🌿 Explore how the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta can serve as a living guide for your own journey—and your teaching path. Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your personal or professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: ⁠⁠mindfulnessexercises.com⁠ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: ⁠⁠mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@Mindfulness.Exercises⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠Exercising Mindfulness⁠ 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at ⁠⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 🌿 Stream The Kindness Within on Amazon Prime. 🌐 Learn more at: leonlogothetis.com Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your personal or professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: ⁠⁠mindfulnessexercises.com⁠ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: ⁠⁠mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@Mindfulness.Exercises⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠Exercising Mindfulness⁠ 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at ⁠⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 🌿 Tune in for an inspiring journey from stress and skepticism to clarity and change. Connect with Dr. Judson Brewer: 🔗 Website: drjud.com 📘 Books: Unwinding Anxiety, The Craving Mind, The Hunger Habit 🎥 TED Talk: A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit 📱 Instagram: @dr.jud Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your personal or professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: ⁠mindfulnessexercises.com Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: ⁠mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community Instagram: ⁠@Mindfulness.Exercises LinkedIn: ⁠Mindfulness Exercises Facebook: ⁠Exercising Mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at ⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: ⁠http://mindfulnessexercises.com/⁠ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: ⁠https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness⁠ 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at ⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 🌿 Let this be your space to pause, receive, and replenish. You deserve it. Enjoyed this meditation? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: ⁠mindfulnessexercises.com⁠ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: ⁠Connect Here⁠ Instagram: ⁠Mindfulness.Exercises⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠ Facebook: ⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠ 🎧 Explore more guided meditations, mindfulness teacher certification programs, and free resources at ⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 🌿 Let this be a moment to return to your center—where trust and purpose already live. Enjoyed this meditation? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals:⁠ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: ⁠Join Here⁠ Instagram: ⁠Mindfulness.Exercises⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠ Facebook: ⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠ 🎧 Explore more guided meditations, mindfulness teacher certifications, and free teaching resources at ⁠Mindfulness Exercises⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 🌿 Take this time to breathe fully, feel deeply, and connect gently with your whole being. Enjoyed this episode and meditation? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of our conversation with Vidyamala Burch, we dive into practical applications of mindfulness for pain and stress. She explains how habitual breath holding and tension reinforce pain, and introduces the concept of whole-body breathing as a way to unwind secondary suffering. Vidyamala teaches how to bring soft, embodied awareness to five key areas of the breath—the buttocks, belly, back, back of the mouth, and brain—which she refers to as the “5 Bays of the Breath.” This episode includes a guided body-based practice exploring these areas and encouraging fluid, receptive awareness to counteract pain and reactivity. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔ How to use mindful breathing to release tension and reduce reactivity ✔ The connection between resistance, breath holding, and pain ✔ An introduction to the 5 Bays of the Breath and how to apply them ✔ A guided body-based mindfulness practice for pain relief and grounding This episode is ideal for mindfulness teachers, health professionals, and anyone looking to deepen their understanding of how breath and awareness can transform pain into fluid, manageable experience. Connect with Vidyamala: Website Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grief can feel heavy, isolating, and unpredictable. Whether you’re navigating the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or a chapter of life, this guided meditation offers a soft, supportive space to be with your emotions, just as they are. In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, you’re invited into a safe, compassionate space to process grief mindfully, without pressure or judgment. Using gentle imagery, breath awareness, and compassionate presence, this meditation helps you honor your grief while staying grounded in your innate strength and capacity to heal. What You’ll Experience in This Meditation: ✔ A calming, safe space to acknowledge and feel your grief ✔ Breath as an anchor during emotional overwhelm ✔ Gentle visualization: grief as a passing cloud in the sky of awareness ✔ Reminders that you are not your grief—you are the space that can hold it ✔ A practice of non-attachment and emotional resilience ✔ Permission to move at your own pace, with tenderness and patience Whether you are personally grieving or supporting someone who is, this meditation is a reminder that you are not alone, and healing happens one breath at a time. 🌿 Let this be your space to grieve, breathe, and begin again—with compassion. Enjoyed this episode and meditation? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Vidyamala Burch, co-founder of Breathworks and a leading voice in mindfulness-based pain management, shares her personal story of living with chronic pain for nearly 50 years and how it led her to develop powerful mindfulness practices for pain and illness. She describes her early struggles, moments of insight, and the journey from resistance to resilience. Vidyamala outlines the key distinction between primary and secondary suffering, and how mindfulness helps reduce the emotional and cognitive layers of pain. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔ The difference between primary and secondary suffering ✔ Vidyamala’s personal story of chronic pain and transformation ✔ The parable of the two arrows and how it applies to pain ✔ Practical metaphors like the cushion exercise and resistance loop ✔ Strategies for noticing and softening reactivity around pain ✔ The importance of recognizing your own resistance patterns This episode offers deep insights for anyone working with chronic pain—personally or professionally—and provides mindfulness teachers with grounded, compassionate tools to support others through discomfort. Connect with Vidyamala: Website Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more and feel less, this guided meditation led by Sean Fargo invites us to do the opposite: to pause, sense, and simply be. With gentle presence and deep compassion, Sean guides us through a practice of awareness without judgment—noticing the sensations, emotions, and energies of the present moment as they are. This practice helps us return to the body, reconnect with the breath, and cultivate an inner steadiness that allows us to meet life with openness and care. It’s a space to slow down, let go of striving, and remember the quiet strength of being fully here. What You’ll Experience in This Meditation: ✔ Awareness of body sensations, breath, and emotional tone ✔ Guidance on noticing what’s here—without trying to fix or change it ✔ Permission to let go of judgment and just be ✔ Visualization of breathing with the whole body ✔ An invitation to meet this moment with gentle, embodied presence ✔ A soft closing that supports integrating presence into the rest of your day This meditation is especially supportive for mindfulness teachers, practitioners, and wellness professionals seeking to deepen their connection to presence—not as a technique, but as a way of being. 🌿 Let this practice be a reminder: presence is always available, and you are already enough. Enjoyed this meditation? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cravings can feel intense... like waves that rise and crash, demanding our attention. Whether it’s food, substances, technology, or habits, these urges can easily pull us out of alignment with our values. But mindfulness offers a powerful path toward greater awareness, resilience, and choice. In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, we offer a guided meditation to help you observe cravings without judgment and respond with clarity and compassion. Rather than pushing cravings away or giving in, this practice supports you in riding the wave of the urge—grounded in presence and empowered by choice. In This Guided Meditation, You Will Be Invited To: ✔ Recognize the physical and emotional sensations of cravings ✔ Cultivate a non-judgmental awareness of urges as they arise ✔ Visualize cravings as passing waves in the vast ocean of your awareness ✔ Anchor your attention in the breath and body to create space between urge and action ✔ Reaffirm that you are not your cravings—you are the awareness observing them Whether you’re a mindfulness teacher, therapist, or practitioner seeking support in your personal journey, this meditation offers a practical and compassionate way to manage cravings with mindfulness. 🌿 Return to this meditation anytime you feel pulled by craving—and remember the peace and strength that already lives within you. Enjoyed this episode and meditation? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are mindfulness and meditation the same thing? It’s a common question... even among seasoned practitioners. While the two are deeply connected, understanding their unique qualities and purposes can transform how you approach your personal practice or how you guide others. In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, we explore the key distinctions between mindfulness and meditation, drawing from their ancient roots, scientific research, and modern applications. You’ll gain clarity on how each practice works, when and how to use them, and which approaches may best support your mental well-being, emotional regulation, and spiritual growth. Whether you're a mindfulness teacher, therapist, coach, or curious practitioner, this episode will deepen your understanding and support more intentional choices in your practice. What You’ll Discover in This Episode: ✔ The historical and cultural roots of both mindfulness and meditation ✔ How mindfulness differs from meditation in structure, intention, and setting ✔ The role of formal and informal practice in mindfulness ✔ A breakdown of various meditation styles—including loving-kindness, TM, visualization, and body scan ✔ What the science says: unique benefits of different meditation practices ✔ Common myths and misconceptions that hold people back ✔ How to choose the right practice for your goals, lifestyle, and personality Mindfulness and meditation are not one-size-fits-all. When we understand their differences, we can choose the tools that best support us—and those we serve—with greater clarity, intention, and depth. 🌿 Tune in to gain clarity, deepen your practice, and better guide others in mindfulness and meditation. Enjoyed this episode and meditation? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Mindfulness Exercises founder Sean Fargo and sales expert & mindfulness teacher Danny Grieco go deeper into the practical sales strategies that help mindfulness teachers successfully offer their programs to organizations. Many teachers struggle with pricing, structuring their sales conversations, and overcoming objections when selling mindfulness services. Danny breaks down the most effective approaches for navigating these challenges with confidence and integrity. What You’ll Discover in This Episode: ✔ The biggest mistakes mindfulness teachers make when selling to organizations ✔ Why leading a sales conversation is key—and how to do it mindfully ✔ How to approach pricing and avoid undercharging for your services ✔ Overcoming common objections and resistance from potential clients ✔ How to guide organizations through a decision-making process with ease Danny shares real-world examples and insights from training hundreds of mindfulness professionals on how to ethically and effectively sell mindfulness programs. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this episode will help you confidently navigate sales conversations and land more opportunities. Listen to our first podcast with Danny Grieco here. Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grief is a deeply human experience—universal, yet profoundly personal. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a major life transition, or the quiet ache for how things used to be, grief touches us all. In this special episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, we explore the healing potential of mindful self-compassion for those navigating loss. Rather than pushing grief aside or rushing through it, this episode offers a gentle, compassionate approach that honors the pain while creating space for healing. You’ll learn how to meet your grief with awareness, kindness, and a sense of shared humanity—the three foundational components of mindful self-compassion. This episode includes a guided meditation to help you process grief with tenderness and courage, offering tools you can return to again and again. What You’ll Discover in This Episode: ✔ Why grief is not something to "get over," but something to honor and hold with care ✔ How mindfulness helps you be present with difficult emotions without becoming overwhelmed ✔ How self-compassion can soften inner criticism and support your healing process ✔ The importance of common humanity in breaking the isolation of grief ✔ Practical mindfulness techniques like grief breathing, naming, grounding, and titration ✔ A gentle, guided meditation to support your grief journey with kindness and presence This episode is for anyone—especially mindfulness teachers, therapists, and wellness professionals—looking to deepen their understanding of grief and how to integrate self-compassion into their personal and professional practice. 🌿 May this episode be a refuge and a reminder that grief, held with compassion, can become a doorway to deeper connection and healing. Enjoyed this episode and meditation? ⭐ Leave us a review and share how mindfulness enhances your professional practice! 🔗 Join our community to connect with other mindfulness professionals: Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness 🎧 Explore more guided meditations and mindfulness resources at Mindfulness Exercises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most critical responsibilities of a mindfulness teacher is ensuring students feel safe and supported in their practice. But how can teachers guide mindfulness in a way that is trauma-sensitive and accessible to all? In Part 4 of this four-part series, Mindfulness Exercises founder Sean Fargo explores the foundations of trauma-sensitive mindfulness, sharing key insights on how to create a safe, inclusive environment for all students. Sean also highlights the #1 success factor for long-term growth as a mindfulness teacher—community and teaching opportunities. What You’ll Discover in This Episode: ✔ The importance of trauma-sensitive mindfulness and how to apply it ✔ Why mindfulness teachers must be aware of trauma triggers ✔ How to create a safe and supportive mindfulness environment ✔ How successful mindfulness teachers build long-term careers ✔ The role of community, mentorship, and ongoing learning in mindfulness teaching Sean emphasizes that mindfulness teaching is not a solo journey—building a network of like-minded teachers and practitioners is key to growth, confidence, and lasting impact. 🌿 Thank you for joining this four-part series on teaching mindfulness! 🌱 Deepen Your Practice: Want to become a certified mindfulness teacher? Explore our Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification to learn how to guide others in mindfulness-based practices. → Click here to learn more 🔗 Join Our Growing Community: ✅ Website: Mindfulness Exercises ✅ Instagram: @Mindfulness.Exercises ✅ LinkedIn: Mindfulness Exercises ✅ Facebook: Mindfulness Exercises ✅ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: Connect Mindfulness Community 🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and share how mindfulness has helped you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices