Sometimes it is difficult to know where to start when investigating a new area. So here are a few of my own and personal favourites that you might also find helpful.

My youtube channel has a few guided meditations. The audio is currently “clunky” as I put them up for students on my courses as a quick thing they could go to. The content is sound though and will sound better in the next round of recording and editing!

There is also a podcast of mine called: Mindfulness – Why Bother? Give it a listen on YouTube here or on Spotify here.

Or you could even check out my Facebook page 🙂

Other teachers

My teachers on the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training I am on are Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Their respective websites with great talks and meditations are at: https://jackkornfield.com/ and https://www.tarabrach.com/

[If browsing their sites you feel the Buddhist angle feels too strong please do not switch off. I have always felt this to simply be good psychology and a way to sound mental health. Never have I heard either one ask me to chant or bow to a statue!]

This is a great guided meditation (20 mins) from Mark Williams (he does other time frames as well). It’s a simple reminder of the key elements. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az1e-1df1fE

The first time I did a body scan it was being led by Andy Puddicombe online. I was amazed at how powerful an exercise it was. This is Andy’s TED talk on why it is good to consider calming our minds: https://www.ted.com/talks/andy_puddicombe_all_it_takes_is_10_mindful_minutes

If you use Spotify you’ll find some wonderful meditations and talk by the likes of Jack Kornfield (one of my teachers), Tara Brach (another of my teachers) and Joseph Goldstein.

You’ll find those teachers mentioned above and many more such as Ram Dass and Sharon Salzberg in this gift to us all: https://beherenownetwork.com/

Apps

The Insight timer app is free and one I use for simply timing my meditation. There are teachers and courses available some of which you can pay for. Another well known one is from headspace which online is at headspace.org which you do pay for but has lots of courses you might benefit from.

If you’re feeling adventurous just dive into the online resources. Keep going until something chimes with you. The only right way is the one that works for you – feeling calmer, more aware, more awake and more human.

Books

I’d always recommend Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach and Thich Nhat Hanh to start with. Just those will keep you busy for a fair while!

Browse around your local (real) book shop or online so you can read some words, reviews and see which book appeals the most. Once you’re looking these will come up for you organically.

If you re in Australia then head to Booktopia as they are independent and usually the cheapest. Links to the teachers just mentioned: Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Thich Nhat Hanh and Sharon Salzberg. Beware! There are a lot of Thich Nhat Hanh books so maybe take your time looking…with a cup of tea perhaps? 🙂

Research

This is an interesting summary of experiments proving benefits of Lovingkindness meditation.

Addiction recovery

Mindfulness and meditation can be an important part of dealing with addictions. The Orlando Recovery Centre is based in the US but this page gives a nice summary of how meditation might help if you are investigating options: https://www.orlandorecovery.com/resources/exploring-role-meditation-florida-addiction-recovery/