Mindfulness

Mindfulness helps you learn to stay with difficult feelings without analyzing, suppressing, or encouraging them. When you allow yourself to feel and acknowledge your worries, irritations, painful memories, and other difficult thoughts and emotions, this often helps them dissipate.

Mindfulness allows you to safely explore the underlying causes of your stress and worry. By going with what's happening rather than expending energy fighting or turning away from it, you create the opportunity to gain insight into what's driving your concerns.

Mindfulness helps you create space around your worries so they don't consume you. When you begin to understand the underlying causes of your apprehension, freedom and a sense of spaciousness naturally emerge.

Resources

Insight LA meditation
Free Mindful (& Meditation) Resources for Calm
Free Meditation Apps – Headspace, Calm, Insight Timer (see "Meditation Applications" below)
Positive Meditation Music
Talk Space Online Therapy
Mindful Movement to Improve Sleep
The STOP Mindfulness Practice
Email MyWellbeing@lmu.edu for:
- Live Guided Meditation
- Customized Wellness Workshops for Departments
- Zoom Wellness Workshops: How to Stay Positive During Difficult Times, Prioritizing Self Care, Increasing Life Satisfaction, Being Mom/Dad and Burnout, Beating Burnout, and More

Meditation Applications

	Buddhify This is a mindfulness and meditation app that is built around you. Buddhify is perfect for those who are ready to incorporate meditation and mindfulness into their entire day, with meditations that target every aspect of your life, from sleeping, to traveling, to being online. Even if you have never tried meditation before, Buddhify is a life-changer. Favorite thing: There are 80 different guided meditation tracks, ranging from five to 30 minutes.
	Calm If calm is what you need, Calm is the app for you. It starts you out with a seven-day program. This is a great way for beginners to start meditation. Choose between options for sound and length of time, as well as scenes from nature for you to visually focus on while you meditate. Other features include multiple guided as well as unguided sessions. When you decide you are ready for more than the seven-day program, you can pay for a subscription, which opens up a 21-day program. Favorite thing: The seven-day sleep program for people who have difficulty sleeping.
	Headspace Headspace makes it easy for people just learning the art of meditation. Their level one course features easy, 10-minute sessions for each day that will help you get into the habit of meditating regularly. There are reminders, and you can choose to focus on aspects like foundation, health, and performance. Once you have mastered level one, you can purchase a subscription that allows you to access even more features and options so you can expand your practice. Favorite thing: One great feature is the buddy system, which lets you and a friend encourage each other in your journey, as well as a personalized progress page.
	MINDBODY Connect MINDBODY gives you the ability to find the fitness and health services that are right for you. You can read reviews and book appointments right on the app. If you are looking for a new yoga studio, a massage therapist, or a deal on local classes, the MINDBODY app can help. It allows you to manage your schedule and goals in one convenient place. Favorite thing: It can also track information from your Fitbit so you can keep on track with your fitness and health goals.
	Meditation Timer Pro The Mindfulness App is a great tool for advanced meditation, but it's especially helpful for beginners. Jump into a mindfulness session any time you have a moment free to yourself. You can set your reminders for the times of day that you need to take a quick break and relax. Favorite thing: The app lets you set the length of each session, and choose whether you want silent or guided mindfulness sessions.
	Omvana Omvana gives you access to many meditation sounds, music, and guided sessions with meditation experts. Focus options include: mindfulness, stress, relaxation, sleep, and more. You can choose the length of each meditation session, from three minutes to an hour. Favorite thing: One unique feature this app has is the background music mixer, which allows you to mix your music and create the perfect sessions for your needs.
	Relax Melodies Relax Melodies is designed with a good night's sleep in mind. If you have difficulty getting to sleep or feeling rested in the morning, then this is the app to try. Beyond sleeping, the app is great for any situation that requires calming sounds or music, like yoga, massage sessions, or just simple relaxation. Favorite thing: There are lots of sound and music options, which you can mix to create a more personalized experience.
	Smiling Mind Smiling Mind is a nonprofit that was created to increase happiness and compassion in the world, and this app is one step toward that goal. With programs designed by age group, this app is great for kids, teens, and adults. Favorite thing: It makes meditation easy for all ages, and the simple design of the app adds to the ease of use.
	Take a Break! The Take a Break app allows you to do just that — take a break. You can choose between a short break or a longer meditation break. Both options allow you to choose with or without music and, if you are new, there are easy instructions for how to get started. The app was designed to give users a quick and uncomplicated break to help relieve stress whenever you need it. Favorite thing: It is simple and straightforward without being bogged down with additional features.
	Sattva Sattva is an advanced meditation timer that tracks your progress. This app features challenges and rewards to help encourage you, and features guided meditations and chants, as well as a heart rate monitor, mood tracker, and statistics feature. Favorite thing: You can connect with a community of others who are working on their mindfulness and meditation practices.