Maitri Musings

Cultivating meaningful holiday traditions and gratitude practices. Acknowledging native peoples, foods, and land. Focusing on connection, community, and meaningful gratitude rather than over-consumption. Plus! A meditation on inter-dependence. In this episode, I discuss: 00:40 Welcome and Intro 03:01 Grounding and Check-In 04:56 Thanksgiving Check-In 05:37 Acknowledging It's Complex History 07:52 Acknowledging and Supporting Indigenous People, Land, Foods, Businesses 09:44 Simplifying the Feast 11:03 Giving Back to Those in Need 12:29 Gratitude Rituals 14:50 Gratitude Meditation on Interdependence Resources: Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving Native Land Digital (tool for identifying local tribes) 8 Ways to Decolonize and Honor Native Peoples on Thanksgiving (LOTS of resources here!!) Supporting Native-Owned Business: Buy Native List from Beyond Buckskin⁠ Buy Native List from from the Partnership with Native Americans⁠ Native Owned Businesses Directory from the Native American Student Assembly⁠ Showcasing Local Foods and Native Dishes: Seven Native American Chefs Share Thanksgiving Recipes⁠ from the Smithsonian ⁠The Native American Side Of The Thanksgiving Menu⁠ from NPR Find Your Local Food Bank from Feeding America 20 Items Food Banks Need the Most (and 3 Things to Skip)

What is toxic positivity (TP)? What is spiritual bypassing (SB)? Are these harmful or helpful practices? How can we avoid the traps and tropes of TP and SB? Let's learn to acknowledge our real and raw emotions and experiences while still being able to allow meaningful gratitude in our lives! In this episode, I discuss: 00:38 Welcome & Intro 02:50 Brief Grounding & Mindfulness Practice 04:49 Feelings Check-In - Gratitude, Thanksgiving 07:13 Intro to Toxic Positivity 09:23 Is toxic positivity a problem? 11:08 What can we do instead? 13:38 What is spiritual bypassing? 15:49 Gratitude Practice: Acknowledging Resistance 23:35 Gratitude If-Ermations

Plus a gratitude meditation for those who've helped shape us! In this episode: 01:01 Grounding and Check-In 06:10 The Science of Gratitude 12:30 Gratitude Meditation Practice 20:05 Invitation: Gratitude Letter

Is a gratitude practice really all it's cracked up to be? Or is it just another instance of toxic positivity? 01:14 - Check-In & Grounding with Gratitude 05:25 - November: The Month of Gratitude 07:34 - Gratitude is Actually... Awesome! 08:09 - What's Coming this Month 11:19 - A Gratitude Challenge for You! 13:24 - Gratitude Meditation

What if we could give the mind just a little more to focus on in meditation? 01:13 Check-In and Grounding 03:57 Why Guided May be Easier for Some 05:51 Who Guided Meditation May NOT Work For 07:21 Guided Meditation Practice Resources: Yoga Nidra Practice

Is sitting still the end all, be all of meditation? What I don't like sitting still? What if I can't sit still?! Whether or not you're neurodivergent, today's episode offers some interesting inquiries for you! 01:08 - Check In and Grounding Practice 05:16 - Historical Practices 07:33 - Expanding Ideas of Meditation 10:47 - Invitation to Practice Resources: -⁠Embodied Movement Meditation⁠

It's ADHD Awareness Month! What if focusing on your body or breath don't work for you? Are there other options for what to focus on during Mindfulness Meditation? This episode has something for everyone, whether or not you're neurodivergent! In this episode, I discuss: 00:38 - Welcome 01:49 - Grounding and Check-In 06:49 - Body & Breath - NOT for Everyone! 10:59 - Alternative Focal Points Resources: Episode 14 - Wild Wellbeing: Hug a Tree... With Your Eyeballs! Humee Hum, Tumee Tum by Mirabai Ceiba

Curious about meditation? Tried meditation and it didn't work? This episode has something for everyone, whether or not you are neurodivergent! 01:14 Grounding and Check-In 02:34 It's ADHD Awareness Month! 03:24 My Personal Journey 06:32 Is Meditation Accessible? 07:47 What is ADHD? What are the Subtypes? 10:35 The Promises of Meditation... And the Problems! 11:15 Overcoming Barriers to Meditation 15:37 Questions to Ask Yourself to Get Started/Move Forward 18:50 Setting Yourself Up for Success 23:20 Practice: Mindful Engagement of the Senses Dr Neff's ADHD Subtypes Csikszentmihalyi's 8 Traits of Flow Sarahlynn's Drinking Tea Meditation

What is the difference between walking meditation and mindful walking? What about the difference between walking meditation and meditating while walking?! Let's take a closer look at various options for mindfulness while moving. Older video of Thich Nhat Hanh discussing Walking Meditation Beautiful Guided Walking Meditation | Guided by Brother Khiet Minh of Plum Village Introduction to Kinhin, Zen Buddhist walking Meditation, which punctuates periods of Zazen (seated meditation) 15 Minute Mindful Walking Meditation from Wildwood Mindfulness

Is seated posture the best? If so, how do we make it more comfortable? 01:18 Grounding & Check-In 03:30 Preparing for Today's Exercise 04:40 The Importance of Posture and Comfort 08:34 Playing with Props 14:43 Exploring Foot Positions 18:53 Meditating in a Chair 20:40 Body Scan Meditation 25:25 Walking Meditation ⁠Image of seated meditation postures.⁠

What do we do when meditation hurts? Explore alternatives to seated shapes. Then discover how to find neutral hips and spine in your body.

Slow down, engage your senses, and absorb the healing power of the nature with shinrin-yoku. Learn the art of opening yourself to the forest and explore the benefits of the beautiful practice. ⁠Download the guide⁠. YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

Mindfulness x nature therapy = bonus benefits for whole-being wellness! What are the benefits are practicing mindfulness in nature? Why is mindfulness outdoors more accessible for some people? Making the practice work for you. Plus, practice a partially guided mindfulness meditation outside! YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

What if simply connecting to the earth could boost your overall health and wellbeing? Explore the practice of grounding (or earthing), it's potential benefits, risks, and ideas for how to get started. A little more on grounding from ⁠Huberman Lab⁠. YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

Touch grass! But seriously, what if getting outdoors more could improve your overall health and wellness? Explore the benefits of time in nature and get some ideas for how to get started. Try adapting this Mindfulness Awareness of the Breath practice to do outdoors! You can sit in a natural area or walk slowly on a familiar path. Or try this 5-Senses Meditation outdoors... but please don't taste toxic stuff! YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

Breathing life - Stimulating the vagal nerve for full-being health! YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

What the heck is HRV and can it improve your life and health? Explore the connection between your heart rate and your nervous system, and learn how a breath practice can boost your health and resilience! YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

Could a simple breath practice change your life, or are breath practices overrated? Take a closer look at the interplay between technology and your nervous system, explore the relationship between breath and your nervous system, and practice a simple breathing technique. YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

Are you breathing as deeply as you could be? Harness the power of your breath to improve you respiratory, cardiovascular, and mental health, and much more! YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

What would it mean to cherish yourself unflinchingly? Meditation and if-ermations for Pride Month! YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

Can mindfulness make you a better ally? For Pride Month, let's take a look at the relationship between meditation and how we show up in the world as humans, as members of our communities, and as defenders of what we value. YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

How much does your body do for you?! For Pride month, let's cultivate an appreciation for your amazing body and all the things it allows you to experience! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/ Newsletter: https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter

How would it feel to love and accept yourself fully? For Pride month let's explore: Why is self-love important? What is the relationship between mindfulness and self-love? What practices can we use to boost our self-acceptance and thus our overall health? YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

Can this buzzy practice improve your life? Learn about somatics and how it relates to mindfulness, explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of somatic mindfulness, and learn some examples of what these embodiment exercises can look like. Then practice a short and sweet body scan meditation! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovementInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/ Newsletter: https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter

Is it really a panacea for all our ills? Explore the meaning, history, and potential benefits of mindfulness meditation, as well as its challenges and drawbacks. Then enjoy a short introductory mindfulness meditation practice! YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠

Can loving-kindness help humanity? Explore the origins of this beautiful practice, hear what it means to host Sarahlynn, and learn how to incorporate it into your life. YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/maitrimovement⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/maitri_movement/⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://www.maitrimovement.com/newsletter⁠