Mental Oasis

Fatigue is a natural response to the series of stresses and anxieties that we have experienced over the last months. Many of us may feel drained right now, and perhaps at a loss on how to recharge from this emotional burn out. Physical rest is an important element, when we can get it, but for those with multiple demands on time, getting extra physical rest isn't always possible. In this episode's...

With so much going on in the world there is a lot demanding our time, attention, our emotions. All of this can make it hard to focus on or feel like we have any energy left for the day to day things that need our attention: for our work, our families, taking care of our homes, taking care of ourselves. In this episode's meditation we bring our awareness to that in our lives which may need our focu...

Frustration can be understood to be a sense of distress or annoyance at being unable to change or achieve something. For many of us, this is the very definition of how our situation feels right now. In a time of stress, what might normally be defined as a small frustration may no longer feel small at all, but instead it can loom in our minds as a major source of aggravation that we keep returning...

In today’s episode I’d like to take a moment to reflect on cultivating presence: being fully where we are. Over the last months of crisis, many of us may have sought refuge and escape away from our present realities. Being distracted or disconnected from the present moment is a natural mental ability: and in fact one that can be protective from becoming too consumed by stress during difficult time...

Grounding is a reflective practice through which we connect ourselves energetically to the earth and to our bodies. It allows us to be more present, to feel more rooted in ourselves, to feel that we have a solid foundation beneath us. This can be important to restoring our energy during trying times or to deal with waves of emotion. It is from a place of being grounded that new ideas can blossom w...

This is a painful time in our society and communities, full of fear and anxiety and disconnection. As human beings we need each other, we need to feel connected, to support one another and to feel that we are supported. Part of our purpose as humans is to have this connection, to relate to one another, to ensure the survival of our communities and societies. Now is a moment to embrace this purpose...

Passing judgment on the choices of others is one of the extensions of our human critical thinking mind. But it can stand as a block in our relationships, make it difficult for us to be open and warm towards others, and also can create blocks within ourselves. When judgment is directed towards ourselves it can become even further painful as we struggle against ourselves instead of working towards l...

If we're really honest with ourselves, we all have many questions about our lives and about the future. What if, instead of demanding immediate answers, we could learn to love the questions, to have patience with them in order to give time and space for clarity to naturally unfold in our lives?

Anyone who’s ever had a dream or set a goal for themselves has likely also had the experience of being unsure how to move towards that goal, or at some point feeling that they were procrastinating taking what they thought were the necessary next steps. We may know what we want to have happen, to be able to see the future picture, and yet the path towards it feels unclear or we find that we are fee...

Comparing ourselves to others is a part of being human and in some situations be an important part of how we learn. But there can also be a point at which it creates stress and negative energy. In today's episode we reflect on how to let go of the distress and jealousy created by putting too much energy into making comparisons.

Staying in can have us longing to linger once again in nature. If we can't go there in reality, our imagination can be the vehicle to transport us. Join me in this episode for a guided meditation that will take us through a restorative walk in the forest.

We've all had the experience of feeling overwhelmed by too many things going on at once: whether its too much to do, or multiple demands on our attention at the same time. In today's episode we take a look at better understanding this feeling and together practice relaxing the sense of overwhelm in order to have clarity in the moment. Many thanks to DJ Charp for the background music and editing. s...

This episode of mental oasis explores our daydreams for the future. How can these help to keep us inspired and hopeful in the present where they feel out of reach? A guided meditation follows for developing your own ideas about this. Specials thanks to DJ charp for providing the music track https://soundcloud.com/charp

We live in a culture obsessed with productivity and doing. Even under quarantine, when we likely have more than enough to cope with emotionally, we may also find that we pressure ourselves to "be more productive." Certainly taking action is an important part of feeling empowered and satisfied in life, it is not what determines whether or not we are good enough. Join me in this episode for a reflec...

We are all struggling with re-adjusting our expectations during this time, with letting go of what we thought we would have or how we wanted things to be. Join me in this guided meditation for directing compassionate awareness towards this part of our lives. 

In this episode I give a brief introduction to how emotional and reason work, or sometimes don't work, together in the brain. If we aren't able to talk ourselves out of feeling afraid, how can we address this emotion?

This guided meditation provides the opportunity to take a brief mental break, to undercover where current stress resides in the body and release it through the breath. Special Thanks to DJ Charp for his contribution of the music!

This episode provides an introduction into progressive muscle relaxation, a practice we will often use in future sessions for accessing a deeply relaxed state. Special thanks to DJ Charp for the background tunes!

Welcome! This is an introduction to the topics and content of this podcast: I'm so grateful that you're joining me here.  For the background music in this episode, special thanks goes to DJ Charp!