The Mindful Practice Podcast: Body Scan Meditation

As part of our end-of-year campaign, we're offering 5 free podcasts to thank you for your continued support. Take 2-10 minutes to try this body scan meditation.

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With all this energy buzzing, Mindful is ending 2015 on a high note, and with an expanding and highly engaged community of readers. We’ve accomplished most of our goals from the start of the year, bringing you our iPad digital edition, more videos, as well as more conferences and collaborations. You can learn more about our goals for 2016 on our end-of-year campaign page.

And what’s the best way to come down from a high-energy buzz like the one we’re feeling right now? Get in touch with the body. When was the last time you noticed how your body was feeling? Not just when you have a headache or you’re tired or you have heartburn after that spicy taco you ate for lunch. But just noticing how your body is feeling right now, while you’re sitting or standing or lying down. How about noticing how your body feels while you’re sitting in an important meeting or walking down the street or playing with your children?

In our busy, high-tech, low-touch lives, it’s easy to operate detached from our own bodies. They too easily become vessels we feed, water, and rest so they can continue to cart around our brains. We don’t pay attention to the information our bodies are sending us or the effect that forces such as stress are having—until real health problems set in.

Above is an easy body-scan practice to try. It will tune you in to your body and anchor you to where you are right now. It will heighten your senses and help you achieve greater levels of relaxation. You can do it sitting in a chair or on the floor, lying down, or standing.