How Meditation Became Medicine
Day 3 S.N. Goenka, the teacher of this technique, offers only the meditation technique of “the body scan.” A copper-skinned bullfrog of a man with a sonorous baritone voice, he instructs us to scan from our feet to “the top of de head” over and over. The amount of sensations that reveal themselves is staggering—numbness, […]
The Promise and Limits of Meditation Research
Day 5: My capacity to notice small details has increased exponentially, for better and for worse. I am acutely aware of my body in a way I’ve never experienced. I can track with minute precision the moment a thought arises, the way it causes a ripple of physiological impact, the way that shapes the subsequent […]
When Meditation Goes Very, Very Wrong
Day 6: I cycle through every meditation posture I can think of. I have amassed a pillow fort of props and cushions, desperate to help myself make it through each session. I fear I am doing permanent damage to my knees. The physical challenge heralded by my first practice was worse than I had feared. […]
Taming the Racing Mind: Practical Strategies for Anxiety Relief
Many people find themselves awake at night with thoughts spinning at a mile a minute, leaving them feeling drained and restless. Anxiety often takes hold when a racing mind hijacks your attention, making it tough to concentrate or drift off to sleep. In this guide, you’ll learn what fuels persistent worry and how to calm […]
