Mindfulness, meditation, healing, resilience, and compassion are at the heart of this conversation with author and meditation teacher Oneika Mays.

After a personal tragedy changed the course of her life, Oneika left a successful career and began teaching mindfulness in one of the most unexpected places — Rikers Island.

There, she became the first mindfulness expert to assist incarcerated individuals, introducing meditation and compassion practices to people navigating some of life’s most difficult circumstances.

For nearly 15 years, Oneika has dedicated her work to bringing real-world mindfulness practices to communities often excluded from traditional wellness spaces. Her message is refreshingly honest:

Meditation isn’t about perfection.

It isn’t about always feeling peaceful.

And you don’t have to like people to love them.

In her book Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation, Oneika shares a deeply human approach to mindfulness that replaces pressure and performance with honesty, compassion, and presence.

In this inspiring episode of Women Road Warriors, hosts Shelley Johnson and Kathy Tuccaro explore:

• How tragedy can lead to personal transformation

• What working inside Rikers Island taught Oneika about compassion

• Why meditation doesn’t require incense, silence, or a perfect mindset

• How mindfulness helps people navigate grief, stress, and life’s hardest moments

• The power of learning to simply sit with what is real

Oneika’s work reminds us that mindfulness isn’t about escaping life.

It’s about meeting it with courage, honesty, and compassion.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, judged, or disconnected, this conversation offers a powerful reminder:

You don’t have to change who you are to begin healing.

You just have to show up and sit with yourself.

🎧 Tune in to discover how mindfulness can transform the way you move through the world.

www.oneikamays.com

https://womenroadwarriors.com/

Book: https://tinyurl.com/y69tn3dp

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