Mindfulness Off the Cushion

10 Episodes
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By: Austin Mindfulness Center

Mindfulness is becoming more widely practiced around the world because it is scientifically proven to help reduce stress, anxiety, depression — and improve our resilience and overall wellness — and that’s exactly what the world needs right now. We explore what is perhaps the most challenging aspect of mindfulness: being more present in our daily lives and bringing more compassionate awareness to our relationships, ourselves, and beyond.This podcast is sponsored by the Austin Mindfulness Center.

The Art of Mindful Communication with Mudita Nisker and Dan Clurman
#61
01/05/2023

Our episode today is being published around the holiday season. I couldn’t imagine a better gift than this: the gift of mindful communication, or skillful communication.

We all know that communication is a fundamental part of human interaction and plays a crucial role in shaping our relationships and human experiences. I wish topics like effective communication and emotional regulation were taught in a more intentional way at home and school.

There is a wealth of power hidden in the simple-yet-challenging act of bringing awareness to the language we use in our lives. And by th...


Mindfulness Push-ups with Brother Dave Kenneally
#60
12/27/2022

Special guest Brother Dave Kenneally has been practicing mindfulness for over twenty years. A former Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps AND a former Buddhist Monk in the tradition of the Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, he seems to have a penchant for shaving his head and wearing a uniform. Or perhaps it’s his love of service. After spending six years living in Buddhist Monasteries and Practice Centers, he now resides in San Diego, CA and travels the world teaching mindfulness. 

Dave is a Certified Teacher of the Search Inside Yourself Program, a course in min...


Intentionally Sprinkling Mindfulness as Parents with Dr Caroline Buzanko
#59
12/08/2022

Special guest Dr. Caroline Buzanko - Her mission is to inspire and empower mental health professionals, educators, and families in promoting children and teens' resilience and long-term success.

Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/ 

Emotion Cards and Body Outline: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/emotioncardsbodyoutlines/

Anxiety Compass Parent masterclass: https://koru-learning-institute.thinkific.com/courses/anxiety-compass-for-parents


Facebook 

Dr. Buzanko Page: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/

Super parents of Kids with Anxiety Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/720299805212614


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Parents of the Year: ht...


The Healing Power of Present Moment Awareness with Neal Hughes
#58
12/01/2022

Today we’ll learn how a mindful mindset can be incredibly useful when trying to create a space for healing. And the most important ingredient when you’re creating a space for healing is your simple presence. Simple, and yet, not as easy to do as you might think.

We can do this for others as we lay the groundwork for healthy communication. And we also do this for ourselves. We’ll explore this human ability we can develop, with practice, to sit with unpleasant thoughts, ideas, or people. And to do so without letting them get under...


Emotional Intelligence at Work with Mindfulness Instructor Luis Gil
#57
11/17/2022

Today’s episode may not be for you, because today we’re going to approach the topic of corporate wellness. But, wait. Before you move on to another episode, I want to make you a promise. If you give our guest a few moments, he will likely teach you something that you can apply in your own life. I mean, look, here’s the thing. You can’t have corporate wellness without healthy people. And health is not just about your physical fitness. 

At the end of the day, you simply can’t be fully present at work or ful...


Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom with Mindful Teacher Katarina Gleisberg
#56
11/10/2022

If you’re thriving in your life and looking for a way to be 10% happier or 1% more productive, we may not be the podcast for you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed stressed or struggling and you’re looking for help in your daily dance with suffering, welcome home. This podcast was made for you.

We hope you’ll join us as we share ways that you can practice bringing awareness to your inner world throughout your daily moments. We hope to point you toward the process of learning how to be more self-aware and compassionate toward yourself moment b...


Reflecting on Our Mortality | Meditation with Geeta
#55
10/20/2022

Season 3 Bonus  -  This guided meditation is for anyone seeking to explore the nature of their mortality. It is a profound practice that under the normal circumstances of everyday life – we rarely examine with mindful awareness.

Whenever we contemplate our mortality, many big and strong emotions may arise in the process of this exploration. My encouragement is that if you decide to practice this guided meditation, please do so in a safe space where such emotions can be held, nurtured, and explored.  

As you will hear from the Geeta, we are asked to refle...


Sitting with Our Deepest Fears
#54
10/13/2022

For the final episode of season three with our special guest and mindfulness teacher Geeta Cowlagi, we look back on our brief time together and ask - have we developed the wisdom, courage, and compassion necessary to sit with ourselves and ‘have a cup of tea’? 

Sometimes, as we’ve discovered, sitting with ourselves can be very hard to do. 

Mindfulness presents us a challenge - when things get quiet and we get uncomfortable with ourselves, how do we turn towards, rather than away from, that moment of discomfort?


Kindness in Action | Meditation with Geeta
#54
10/09/2022

Season 3 Bonus  -  In this short, guided meditation, we explore kindness in action.

Our special guest, Geeta Cowlagi, helps us create the conditions to make contact with this body, mind, and heart from a place of safety and abundance. We explore how through the act of simply releasing and softening the body, we can begin to release and soften the heart against what Geeta refers to as the “ouches” of our lives.   

As she points out, we humans can carry these “ouches” in the form of physical pain through tension in the body - or emotion...


Four Flavors of the Heart
#53
10/07/2022

In this episode of Mindfulness Off the Cushion, we dive deep into what our special guest Geeta Cowlagi refers to as “the four flavors of the heart.” 

What are these tasty yet complex flavors Geeta speaks of? 

Kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. 

Each of these flavors exists as possibilities, skills, or experiences locked within our hearts. And the heart is just as vital as the mind when it comes to mindfulness practice. In fact, in many Eastern languages, heart and mind are often translated interchangeably.

As we’ll soon discover...