Meditation on Campus

238 Thompson, Room 475
With Yael Shy, Jason Hollander, and The Mindfulness Project at NYU
Meditation is basic breathing and awareness practices (some guidance as needed) for two periods of 20 minutes, with a 10-15 minute discussion on various mindfulness-related topics.

1. Make sure to eliminate any distractions you may have brought with you to the meditation suite before entering the room by turning off any electronic devices you have.
2. Choose a spot in the room where you feel comfortable and are not too crowded by fellow meditators, and select a cushion if you wish.
3. Relax your body into a position that feels comfortable to you. This can be sitting cross-legged, but it does not have to be. Make sure that you have a straight back so that you can take deep breaths, and adjust your position as you strive to eliminate any tension in your body.
4. Begin to focus on your breathing, the feeling of inhaling a sustaining breath of air, holding that air in your lungs for a few seconds, and then slowly exhaling. You may experience racing thoughts, fatigue, or restlessness – this is all normal. Keep bringing your attention back to the inhale and exhale of your breath.
5. Once you are somewhat settled in your breath, notice what is happening in the room and in your body (including sounds, sensations, thoughts, emotions) without getting carried away by them. When you do get carried away, simply bring your attention back to your breath and the present moment with gentleness.
6. DON’T GIVE UP! There is no such thing as meditating “wrong.” The more you practice, the easier it gets to stay present.
   

• From events/talks hosted by the Mindfulness Project

A variety of talks on all sorts of subjects by guest speakers brought through the Mindfulness Project

• From the NYU Student Health Center
  As part of an initiative by the NYU Wellness Exchange, along with Counseling and Behavioral Services, this page offers several free meditation podcasts based upon different themes, including “Body Awareness” and “Progressive Muscle Relaxation.”
• Meditation Oasis
  This website offers more than thirty podcasts primarily through an iPhone application, which is available for $2.99. The podcasts are mainly guided meditations with music, though a few are talks about meditation. Topics covered range from general such as “Body Balance Meditation,” to the more specific, such as “Pregnancy Meditation.”
• From UCLA
  This page is presented by the Mindful Awareness Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, as part of an effort to increase inner calm and introspection according to historic traditions, combining them with scientific research. The podcasts range in length, and cover topics such as “Meditation for Working with Difficulties” and Loving Kindness Mediation.”
• Kino Yoga
  The podcasts offered on this website are somewhat longer, and generally feature chanting or interesting talks about yoga rather than simple guided meditation. This yoga website fits into founder Kino MacGregor’s philosophy of wellness through conscious living and Ashtanga Yoga. A Master’s Graduate of NYU, MacGregor runs a studio out in California with her husband.