Real Life Meditation

Real Life Meditation Blending ancient insights and practices with modern neuroscience to find contentment and improve per

We all want to cope with life's ups and downs with more grace and ease. Research has shown that meditators don't experi...
01/10/2025

We all want to cope with life's ups and downs with more grace and ease. Research has shown that meditators don't experience as much anticipation of pain as non-meditators and while they seem to be more highly sensitive to pain sensations, once the pain is over, they quickly return to their normal state. So, meditation doesn't dull or numb your experience, but you suffer less before and after painful experiences.

As we age we lose neurons across the brain. Meditation can slow down this age-related atrophy, particularly in the fron...
30/09/2025

As we age we lose neurons across the brain. Meditation can slow down this age-related atrophy, particularly in the frontoparietal control network which, as I mentioned yesterday, is a highly evolved network in our brain that helps with our higher level cognition and attentional flexibility and stability. Reducing this atrophy can help us stay sharper for longer.

When the highly evolved frontoparietal control network is firing, we are able to switch seamlessly between present momen...
29/09/2025

When the highly evolved frontoparietal control network is firing, we are able to switch seamlessly between present moment sensory awareness and internal processing. This leads to more stable attention and attentional flexibility, which are essential for complex, goal-directed work.

The default mode network is the pattern we go into when we aren't actively doing something. It's where we mind wander a...
28/09/2025

The default mode network is the pattern we go into when we aren't actively doing something. It's where we mind wander and self-talk, often in a negative way, worrying about the future or ruminating on the past. Regular meditators spend less time there, even when they're not meditating. For more, see Friday's Real Life Happy Hour.

https://youtu.be/iNah3jyYppg

Neuroscience is giving us lots of new insights into just how ancient meditation practices change our brain, both how it ...
26/09/2025

Neuroscience is giving us lots of new insights into just how ancient meditation practices change our brain, both how it functions and the structure itself. This week I watch the online Art of Meditation Summit from Heart Mind Institute (they run a range of free online summits, highly recommend!) and really enjoyed the session with Dr David Vago PhD who researches how meditation changes the brain. So this week on the Real Life Happy Hour, I'm sharing 5 ways that meditation changes the brain, as shown in neuroscience research.

Check it out https://youtu.be/iNah3jyYppg

Did you know that there are four main categories of meditation that the thousands of techniques generally fit into? This...
19/09/2025

Did you know that there are four main categories of meditation that the thousands of techniques generally fit into? This week on the Real Life Happy Hour I'm talking styles/types of meditation.

These are
1. Present Moment Awareness/concentration
2. Calm Focus/contemplation
3. Engergised body & mind
4. Transcendence/self-discovery

Find out more about each style on the Real Life Happy Hour (11min)

https://youtu.be/nHbVTQ405eM?si=no-txM6c5s4BSe-g

Picked up these beauties at Hope Horizons Inc after teaching my regular class. Perfect for springtime in Toowoomba wit...
16/09/2025

Picked up these beauties at Hope Horizons Inc after teaching my regular class. Perfect for springtime in Toowoomba with all the carnival action. Hope has lots of gorgeous items available for purchase at the moment and you can also check out the Happy Place Art Exhibition with work from a number of local artists including the lovely Jen Marshall Art and Florals . All at the Jenny Black Centre on North St, pop in for a look, it's happening until the 5th October.

If you're in the spring mood, don't forget to check out last week's Real Life Happy Hour - I've got a spring intention-setting guided meditation for you.

https://youtu.be/EnDwOCMLh7E?si=pLC_-1j7QcQWLPS3

To celebrate the arrival of spring, this week on the Real Life Happy Hour, I've got a beautiful, guided meditation for y...
11/09/2025

To celebrate the arrival of spring, this week on the Real Life Happy Hour, I've got a beautiful, guided meditation for you. Spring is a time of renewal, of new growth and blossoming. It's also the perfect time to start moving towards the intentions that you've been cultivating, and planning, over the winter. You can listen to this meditation as many times as you like, whenever you want to connect back with your goals.

https://youtu.be/EnDwOCMLh7E

Tip 5 for better sleep: Healthy daytime routines = better sleep. Looking after your general health will have positive e...
11/09/2025

Tip 5 for better sleep: Healthy daytime routines = better sleep. Looking after your general health will have positive effects on your sleep. Ensuring you have a healthy diet, manage your stress and maintain a healthy lifestyle will benefit your sleep patterns. In particular, getting enough morning sunlight cues your circadian rhythm and exercise (not late at night) can help the body settle into a good nightly rhythm. Both caffeine and alcohol can disrupt sleep patterns so it's best to avoid them for 4-6 hours before bed if possible.

Today is RU OK Day. I hope you are OK, if not make sure you speak to a friend or give lifeline a call on 13 11 14. You...
10/09/2025

Today is RU OK Day. I hope you are OK, if not make sure you speak to a friend or give lifeline a call on 13 11 14. You are important and the world is a better place with you in it.

Any day is a good day to check in with those around you, sometimes all it takes is listening, sometimes some gentle encouragement to seek help. But we can all make a difference. Find out more at ruok.org.au

Tip 4 for better sleep: Set up your space. Make your bed a comfortable and relaxing place. It's best to have the room ...
10/09/2025

Tip 4 for better sleep: Set up your space. Make your bed a comfortable and relaxing place. It's best to have the room slightly cool with cosy blankets, soft, ambient lighting (preferably blue light free), dark curtains or an eye mask and ear plugs if it tends to be noisy. Also, only use your bed for sleep and s*x, so your body associates bed with sleep. If you use your bed to watch TV, work, pay bills etc it makes this much trickier.

Tip 3 for better sleep: Create a bedtime routine. Putting together your own personal bedtime routine not only helps you...
09/09/2025

Tip 3 for better sleep: Create a bedtime routine. Putting together your own personal bedtime routine not only helps you unwind after your day, but also gives your body and mind subtle cues that it's time for sleep, helping you to fall asleep more easily. You can add in anything here, as long as you find it relaxing. A warm bath or shower, some gentle stretching, herbal tea, journalling or meditation. One really lovely technique is Abhyanga (self-massage with warm oil) an Aurvedic technique that is super relaxing while also being good for the skin, circulation and lymphatic system. For more info check out https://www.healthline.com/health/abhyanga-massage

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