The Headspace Guide

If you are interested in meditation and mindfulness and are a beginner, I recommend the book; The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness by Andi Puddicombe.

Many of you may be familiar with his Meditation app called Headspace. Of the 2,000 plus meditation apps, it's one of the most popular. If you are using the app, Puddicombe's book is a valuable addition. Though it covers some of the same meditations, the book provides detailed descriptions.

The author's approachable techniques can be practiced anywhere and easily fit into a busy life. What I enjoyed most was reading about his path to meditation, which involved prolonged stays in monasteries. He is a engaging storyteller and some of his stories are laugh-out-loud level.

One of my favorite stories occurs in a monastery on day where they when the monks were treated to ice cream on a hot day. Bound to the monastery's rules, Andi was not allowed to touch the ice cream until he mindfully ate his regular meal of curry and rice - SLOWLY - WITH - MINDFULNESS. See my blog post Mind Full of Food to find out what happened.

As a mindfulness practitioner, I am always looking for simple, yet well-rounded routines to incorporate into my day. The daily 10 minute meditation, core to the Headspace program, includes both breathing practices and a body scan. This is his program's core practice. You can add the ten minute practice to the G.R.E.A.T. - Fullness practice on this site. As Andi Puddicombe advises, try his 10 minute meditation in the morning. Create your G.R.E.A.T. list at night.

Find Andi's book at your local library or independent bookstore! Enjoy!