When I think back to ten years ago, it makes sense that meditation practice offered relief when I felt at war with my own mind. It was a taste of an entirely different way of being. I did not have to fight the thoughts—I could surrender to what was arising, watch them, release judgment, accept them, let them pass and find refuge in the present moment.

This meditation is really the foundation of meditation and mindfulness practice. Use this meditation to train the mind to access the present moment more easily. Whether you’re just getting started or are an experienced meditator, wholeness is always accessible through the present moment. This guided awareness of breath meditation is one I have incorporated into my practice since I first began, inspired by some of my very first sessions ten years ago.