Relax

Collecting Art, take a look Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg is a leading figure in body horror, a film genre that explores disturbing and often grotesque aspects of the human body. Films such as The Fly 1986, eXistenZ 1999 and Crimes of the Future 2022 depict scenes of physical mutilation, illness and technological invasion to represent deeper fears about identity, society and the human condition. Through intense bodily imagery, Cronenberg’s films raise powerful questions about human relationships with technology and nature. As our relationship with technology rapidly evolves alongside escalating environmental catastrophe, there is a timely significance in these ideas. His latest film, The Shrouds, evokes the writing of Stacy Alaimo, a scholar known for her work exploring the connections between the human body, the environment, and the social forces that shape both. Alaimo’s work combines feminist and materialist ideas and examines how our bodies are physically connected to the w...

Collecting Art, take a look Walking meditation is not about getting somewhere on foot. Instead, you are being with each step, fully here, where you actually are. There is no arriving, other than continually arriving in the present moment where you can savor the day. You are not trying to get anywhere, even to the next step. There is no arriving, other than continually arriving in the present moment. With walking, we have the opportunity to be in our bodies in a somewhat different way than when sitting or lying down. We can bring our attention to our feet and feel the contact of the foot with the floor or ground with every step. Walking is a controlled falling forward, a process it took us a long time to master, and one that we often take completely for granted, forgetting just how wondrous and wonderful it is. So when the mind goes off, as it will do in walking meditation just as with any other practice, we take note of where it has gone, of what is presently on our mind, and then g...

Collecting Art, take a look Navigating the complexities of ADHD can be a challenge—if you often feel overwhelmed and discouraged, you’re not alone. Dr. Mark Bertin and Dana Crews explore ADHD-friendly ways to begin or deepen a mindfulness practice that helps you thrive while managing this complex medical condition. Practicing mindfulness and compassion helps us see our lives more clearly. Instead of staying caught up in unskillful habits and reactivity, it encourages us to live with more awareness and intention. While mindfulness and compassion serve a uniquely supportive role in ADHD care, anyone can benefit from a similar approach. ADHD is not what most people think. Correctly diagnosed, it is a confirmed medical condition; the genetics of ADHD are nearly as strong as the genetics that predict height. ADHD undermines a wide-ranging skill set called executive function, which represents self-management abilities including attention, behavior, time, tasks, effort, and emotion. While ...

Collecting Art, take a look Sometimes the practice that comes most easily to you is the one you most need. Like trading my attempts at meditating in nature for just being in nature, for example. Meditation is an undeniably beneficial practice. Spending a few minutes breathing in stillness is proven to promote more restful sleep, ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, even improve your gut health. But it isn’t always easy—at least not for me. Last summer, I tried taking my meditation practice outside, which helped for a few weeks. Soon my usual reluctance cropped up. I blinked my eyes open a few minutes early. You get it. This is usually when I chastise myself for a lack of willpower. That’s exactly what I was doing when my therapist paused my rant to suggest an alternative to daily meditation: outdoor moments. As she explained it, all that’s required is to step outside, breathe deeply, and notice the world around you. Nature Meditation Made Simple At first, this felt like a cop o...

Collecting Art, take a look In this practice, teacher Shalini Bahl reminds us that in its simplest form, mindfulness is just about stopping—stopping to notice, to breathe, to gently interrupt our engrained habits of thought with our quiet presence. We often think of mindfulness and meditation as a drawn-out, sustained exercise—when in reality, they’re just a collection of micro-moments of stopping, breathing, really noticing our own bodies and our own lives, getting distracted, and then coming back again. Over and over. As this week’s teacher Shalini Bahl puts it, today’s guided practice is about the art of stopping: letting go of our regular habits of the mind—the pushing, pulling, running in circles— and instead just being for a moment. This is an extended practice, but as a bonus, we’re also sharing a micro-practice version below that you can take into busy days. And don’t miss Shalini’s article on Mindful.org that’s all about the power of micro-practices to affect our daily cho...

Collecting Art, take a look While incredibly helpful as a guide, misunderstanding or over-applying the Nine Attitudes of Mindfulness can create real problems. Mo Edjlali, Founder of Mindful Leader, explores how we can hold a balanced, healthy view of these nine core principles. Mindfulness teachers and programs often point to what Jon Kabat-Zinn called the Nine Attitudes of Mindfulness: qualities like non-judging, patience, beginner’s mind, trust, non-striving, acceptance, letting go, gratitude, and generosity. While incredibly useful, these attitudes were never meant as commandments. They were meant as reminders, helpful reference points to support mindful awareness and compassionate living. But as mindfulness has been repackaged for the workplace, apps, and secular programs, something has gotten lost in translation. Instead of flexible guidance, the Nine Attitudes of Mindfulness have, for many, become rigid ideals. What starts as an invitation to live more mindfully can ultimately...

Collecting Art, take a look Its creator is Rob Dart, 43, a dad-of-three from Ramsbottom, whose unique audio story trail at Close Park, Radcliffe, weaves together local landmarks, history, and thoughtful reflection. “The stories carry deep truths and inspiration to help children – and adults – open to the world around and within them,” Rob said. “There are lots of mindfulness and contemplation involved in it. These stories are for everybody – everyone likes a good story.” Visitors to the park can explore five locations, each marked with a QR code. When scanned, the code leads to an online audio experience featuring a short chat, a folk tale or fable, a related activity, and a space to reflect. The trail uses Rob’s book Folk Tales and Fables, which combines storytelling with interactive activities. Each park station invites visitors to participate in different tasks, from physical challenges and nature-inspired art to mindfulness prompts and even haiku writing. Story trail creator...