Stillness Matters

Stillness Matters

By Sara PenneyEducationSelf-Improvement
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Stillness Matters episodes

  • Ep. 3 - Why SHOULDN'T you be meditating?

    "Unlock your power to create real change in your life with mindful awareness and intentional presence."


    I was exploring the concept of mindfulness and meditation when I found out something fascinating - that there are as many methods of mindfulness as there are people practicing it. Instead of a formal sitting or walking meditation, I learned that I could be mindful of any task, anytime. I found a simple breathing meditation to train my mind to stay focused and I practiced every day until I was able to get to a count of ten (which I teach you in this episode!). I realized that I didn't have to be hard on myself when my mind wandered and that I could simply smile, laugh, and start again. I learned to observe myself objectively, without judgment, and to find joy in activities despite having the fear of the pain of losing that joy. Human minds, am I right? The essence of this episode is to  understand why we shouldn't be meditating (just yet) and why we should focus on mindfulness first.


    "The act of mindfulness summarized is the skill of being able to get your mind to stay - think of it as like a dog. If you can get your dog to sit and stay, that's what you're trying to get your mind to do with meditation."


    In this episode, you will learn the following:


    1. What the power of mindfulness is and how can it be applied to everyday moments
    2. How we can train our minds to stay still in the present moment
    3. The relationship between joy and fear, and how our brain keeps us safe from both


    If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave a review and tell me so! It really helps the show grow (plus I’ll love you forever as one of my very first listeners). If you REALLY liked it, here’s where else you can connect with me:

    To stay up to date = Instagram @stillnessmatters

    For quick bits and entertainment = TikTok @stillnessmatters

    To connect with me personally, ask questions, and hear more Stillness Matters content = Wisdom @stillnessmatters

    (shocking handles, I know.)


    Chapter Summaries:

    [00:00:00]

    There are as many methods of mindfulness as there are people practicing mindfulness. The act of mindfulness can be applied to any task, any moment in your day where you can bring your attention to be present. What stillness and mindfulness can do is to pull you out of that autopilot.

    [00:06:11]

    This meditation is a very good and basic tool to practice working out your mind. All you have to do is tune into your body and watch your breath. Every time you notice your mind has started to wander and you've gone along for the ride, laugh at yourself.

    [00:15:51]

    A lot of people have a hard time figuring out what it is that they actually enjoy nowadays. The best way to start incorporating that is to find something you actually enjoy doing and apply the concept of mindfulness to them. If you have any methods or thoughts on this, I would love to hear them.

    22 min
  • Ep. 2 - Stress, Stillness, and Joy

    "It's not about getting rid of stress - it's about learning to mitigate its effects."

    Discover how to reduce stress and increase productivity with simple and effective stress management techniques.


    This episode of Stillness Matters is all about stress management. Stress is not necessarily a bad thing, but rather our body's way of communicating that we are not feeling safe and in today's episode we explore all about how we can help our mind and body feel safe again. Additionally, stress can manifest itself in many forms from physical to mental symptoms that can have a substantial affect on your life. The key to managing stress is to find activities that release signals opposite to the stress response - things that bring us joy, peace, and the feeling of safety. 


    "Stress is just information - it's our body's way of saying we're not feeling safe."


    In this episode, you will learn the following:
    1. What is the true nature of stress and how it manifests in our bodies
    2. How we can reframe our understanding of stress and use it to our benefit
    3. The most effective methods for stress management 


    If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave a review and tell me so! It really helps the show grow (plus I’ll love you forever as one of my very first listeners). If you REALLY liked it, here’s where else you can connect with me:

    To stay up to date = Instagram @stillnessmatters

    For quick bits and entertainment = TikTok @stillnessmatters

    To connect with me personally, ask questions, and hear more Stillness Matters content = Wisdom @stillnessmatters

    (shocking handles, I know.)


    Resources Mentioned:

    Gabor Mate - When the Body Says No
    Amelia Nagoski - Burnout
    David Hawkins - Letting Go


    Chapter Summaries:

    [00:00:00]

    This is the second episode of the Stillness Matters podcast. This week we are talking about stress and stillness and joy. What is stress? We often think of stress as being a bad thing. But stress is just information.

    [00:11:41]

    When you don't choose to deal with the stress, that is a choice. Stress can be sudden, like an injury that suddenly puts you up. It can also be the accumulation of a bunch of little things. It's not about getting rid of stress, it's about learning how to mitigate the effects.

    [00:16:12]

    There are so many ways of managing stress, probably as many ways as there are people dealing with stress. The important thing is to find an activity that releases signals opposite to your stress response. One of the top methods is physical activity of any capacity. Reach out to your community.

    [00:21:23]

    The home care that I like to give people is to go play, to go do something that genuinely brings you joy. Play is the joy of doing an activity purely for the sake of doing that activity. Once you reconnect with your inner child, you can see where that feeling goes.

    [00:29:19]

    David Hawkins developed a scale of frequencies of consciousness. It goes from what is perceived as a negative emotion to the ultimate positive emotion. The emotion that's even higher on that scale, or state of consciousness, is actually peace. There are many ways of finding peace.

    [00:37:14]

    Not every day is good, but every day has good in it. The wonderful thing about being a conscious human is that we get to choose. We can choose to only be in the stress, or we can take that moment and see what the good in today is.

    41 min
  • Ep. 1 - What is stillness and why should you care... also welcome!

    "There is a deep, profound beauty in stillness. It's something that can only be felt when you're in it - and it's where your nervous system gets to heal, your emotions can be regulated, and your body and mind can both heal."


    Yay it's episode 1!! Welcome to the show (officially) - I am your host Sara. I am an osteopathic manual practitioner, massage therapist, RRT practitioner and teacher, and lifelong martial artist. In today's episode you learn how I discovered the power of stillness and awareness PLUS: 

    • What inspired me to create a podcast
    • How can mastering the flow of energy help you move through life with more intentionality 
    • What can you do to reclaim your power, joy, and love of living
    • What is the experience of true stillness, and how can it help your body and mind heal

      • AND

      • What to expect from this show moving forward including expert interviews, more stories with yours truly, tips and tricks for practicing mindfulness, how to reduce your stress

        • Through mindfulness, I have learned that I have the power to take back control of my life and make intentional choices. I am excited to share this journey with you, my listener, and help you find peace and joy in stillness.


        If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave a review and tell me so! It really helps the show grow (plus I’ll love you forever as one of my very first listeners). If you REALLY liked it, here’s where else you can connect with me:

        To stay up to date = Instagram @stillnessmatters

        For quick bits and entertainment = TikTok @stillnessmatters

        To connect with me personally, ask questions, and hear more Stillness Matters content = Wisdom @stillnessmatters

        (shocking handles, I know.)

        19 min
      • Episode 0: Welcome to the show!

        Welcome to the Stillness Matters podcast! 

        This is your cozy space to grab a cup of tea and unwind while I teach you about the necessity of rest in our hectic lives, and how to incorporate more of that glorious stillness on a daily basis. 

        Join me weekly as I interview guests, share personal stories, and share practical tips for building your own stillness practice no matter what your day is throwing at you. 


        Subscribe to the show to never miss an episode. 

        Follow me on Instagram and Tiktok @stillnessmatters for daily tips, behind the scenes, and a peek at my own journey in finding stillness in the chaos that is post-pandemic life. 



        1 min

      About Stillness Matters

      From the publisher's feed

      Join me on a journey of self-discovery and inner peace as we explore the art of mindfulness and self-care. In each episode of Stillness Matters, I invite you to curl up with a cup of tea and let go of…