Meditation, Relaxation, and Guided Practice
It's natural to seek out ways to escape or move away from emotional pain and distress, but a perspective of awareness can help confront strong emotions like anger, anxiety, and grief. Mindfulness involves present moment awareness through attention, with acceptance and nonjudgment. By bringing intentional awareness to our bodies, minds, and automatic reactions through meditative practice, we prepare ourselves to respond thoughtfully and cope more effectively with uncertainty and distress.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the physical and mental health benefits of regular meditative practice for reducing stress and promoting resiliency, especially for those in healthcare professions. Meditation involves learning about ourselves and how to work with our thoughts and feelings, which can facilitate awareness and compassion for ourselves and others. If you are new to mindfulness or guided meditation practice, or wish to broaden your current practice, please consider these resources.
What is mindfulness? How do I meditate?
Meditation and mindfulness can help us reduce stress, cope with pain, and improve our focus as we approach the obstacles of our daily lives. For a helpful guide on how to begin meditating and practicing mindfulness, please see the mindful.org guide on How to Meditate.
What are the benefits of meditation?
Some research suggests that practicing meditation may reduce blood pressure, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression, and insomnia. For a closer look at the benefits of mediation, please see the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health’s In-Depth Guide to Mediation.
What are the benefits of relaxation?
Relaxation techniques may be helpful in managing a variety of health conditions, including anxiety associated with trauma. For a closer look at relaxation techniques and their benefits, please see the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health’s Relaxation Techniques for Health.
Mindfulness and Relaxation with CUIMC
In the recordings below, you'll be guided by psychologist Dr. Erin K. Engle, within CUIMC's Department of Psychiatry, as she incorporates mindfulness meditation and relaxation into therapy to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. She provides guided meditation practices here cultivating restorative breath and using guided imagery to promote relaxation and stress-relief.
- Restorative Breath Meditation with Dr. Erin Engle (9 min.)
- Your Safe Place using Guided Imagery with Dr. Erin Engle (12 min.)
Apps to Foster Well-Being and Sleep
- Calm is a mental wellness platform designed to reduce stress and improve sleep quality through a diverse library of guided meditations, immersive soundscapes, and celebrity-narrated sleep stories.
- CBT-i Coach is a free app developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for those using cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.
- Headspace is an app-based resource for guided meditation exercises that can be tailored to your schedule and needs.
- Insight Timer offers guidance for stress and anxiety management and sleep assistance.