For today’s post, I’ve compiled a list of free mindfulness and meditation resources. Many people have heard and learned about the benefits of mindfulness and meditation, but often don’t know how or where to start. This can be even more difficult or overwhelming after a brain injury.
My first recommendation is to remember that mindfulness and meditations are called practices because… they take practice! It likely won’t come easy right away. Second, don’t feel as though you have to drop everything, change into yoga clothes, sit cross-legged on a yoga mat, and/or dedicate a huge amount of time to these practices. Often even just closing your eyes and focusing on your breath or following a guided meditation for a few minutes can make a big difference! My hope is that these resources will make it easier for you to find and do a mindfulness or meditation practice that will help you feel calm and rejuvenated.
Websites
- LoveYourBrain: If you’re familiar with me and my practice, you already know I’m a big fan of LoveYourBrain (read this blog post to learn more). They offer wonderful yoga and mindfulness programs for the brain injury community. The sign-up process for their free meditation library is a little convoluted, but worth it to access over 100 free practices! Here are the steps: Go to the Meditation and Yoga Library and click “Sign Up”. This will bring you to a Check-out Page where you can scroll down and add their “Meditation & Yoga Library” for free (+1). Click “Register” and fill out your contact information. Click “Next”, then you can choose whether or not to donate (if not, click “SKIP DONATION”). Type your name and email once final time, then click “Reserve.” You’ll receive an email within the next 24 hours for how to log in. (I received mine early the next morning after signing up).
- Yoga with Adriene: I’m also a huge fan of Adriene Mischler’s yoga practices. For meditations, check out her “Meditate” playlist, a curated set of “seated and moving meditations.”
- Dr. Kristin Neff’s Self-Compassion Website: Dr. Kristin Neff offers a number of free guided meditations that you can access on her site HERE.
- Ann Swanson Wellness: She offers three free meditation videos on her website. Ann just released a new book called “Meditation for the Real World” that’s probably worth a read too!
Apps
Apps are always changing, updating, and being added. Here’s a few free apps for mindfulness and meditation that are available as of today:
Books
Borrow these books from your library, buy from your local bookstore, or order from my Bookshop.org storefront (*I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase):
- “The Mindful Day: Practical Ways to Find Focus, Calm, and Joy from Morning to Evening” by Laurie J. Cameron
- “Meditation for the Real World” by Ann Swanson
Podcasts
Podcasts are good to listen to whether you’re home or on the go:
- Peaceful Wellness with Deb Phelps (Deb was my meditation teacher during my yoga teacher training!)
- Mindful in Minutes (I like how the episodes aren’t super long if you’re short on time)
I’m sure this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to free mindfulness and meditation resources. Please let me know what you think of these resources, and share others I may have missed in the comments below. And of course, feel free to browse the rest of my website to learn about my speech therapy and wellness offerings!