Giovanni Dienstmann: Meditation during difficult times

Matters of the mind may be more important to us now, than ever before. The number of new coronavirus cases is continuing to rise in many countries.  The United States - as well as dealing with political uncertainty - is reporting over 100,000 infections every day and England has just gone back into lockdown.  There are encouraging exceptions, like Australia, which, earlier this week, recorded its first day without local cases in almost five months. But our lives have been upended like never before, and as we continue to battle the virus, the pandemic brings into focus our overall health and wellbeing. “When there’s a huge event like Covid, it’s a forced pause for all of us,” says Giovanni Dienstmann, a Sydney-based meditation teacher and creator of the blog, Live and Dare.Is it time to re-think the way we live our lives and contemplate the future?"Perhaps start a different life, perhaps start to focus more on family, on personal growth, on health and longevity and on service."In this episode, we explore the power of meditation to get us through these difficult days.  Giovanni also discusses his personal journey, from troubled child to a place of contentment - and his regimented lifestyle, encompassing meditation, work, exercise, one daily meal, stoicism and family. Published: November 5, 2020 | Recorded: August 27, 2020Visit the LLAMA podcast website for complete show notes, including a transcript of the conversation.This episode is brought to you by AgeUp, a new product that helps fill in the financial gaps that are often created once you’ve mastered aging and achieved an exceptionally long life. Small monthly payments to AgeUp stack over time to create a secure income stream for your 90s and beyond. Contributions to AgeUp are shielded from market swings, and once payouts begin at age 91 or above, they’re guaranteed to last for life. AgeUp is backed by MassMutual and sold by Haven Life Insurance Agency. You can find out more at Age-Up.comIn this interview we cover:Nurturing the mind as well as the bodyMastering the aspects of our lives that we can controlThe impact of Covid 19 on the demand for meditationGiovanni’s story: from troubled child to a place of restfulness. Almost becoming a monk at 19Is spirituality religious?Classifying meditation into different disciplines: Concentration, awareness, relaxation and standby modeDeveloping the muscle of conceFit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Diet culture, you've met your scientific match.Debunking wellness trends, fitness fads, and diet culture with science. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showThe Live Long and Master Aging (LLAMA) podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.