Patrick Zeis Over the past two and a half months, life in America has come to a halt as the number of citizens infected with COVID-19 has risen from one to nearly 300,000. With states and cities across the country introducing laws that halt non-essential business activity and call for residents to stay at home on lockdown orders, many of us find ourselves emotionally overcome with stress and panic as we wait for life to return to normal.
There is no doubt about it, these severe measures have had a significant impact on the mental health of people all over the world. One of the worst aspects for many people is gyms and fitness centers having to close. People are concerned about their fitness and not being able to exercise is having a negative effect on people’s mental health. However, as it says on BonBon Shalal, it is possible to keep fit at home if you are committed to it. Additionally, being unable to work or socialize has undoubtedly had an impact on our personal relationships. That being said as this data from New Vision Psychology highlights, it is crucial to remember that support is out there. Ultimately, if you are struggling to cope with the pressures of lockdown, it is vital that you reach out to someone for help.
That is not all though. One of the main ways that people are trying to deal with this stress is by watching tv shows with their friends and loved ones (often as a virtual movie date as well). It’s no surprise that these are the COVID most watched shows either since people had a lot more time on their hands during this lockdown. Whatever works though, that’s all that matters. People deal with stress in their own way. More and more people have been turning to CBD products as a way of helping themselves calm down and relax a little. Plus, given that 36 percent of millennials said it was effective in helping them cope with feelings of stress and anxiety, there is clearly a portion of people who will likely be continuing to incorporate CBD into their lives even after things have gone back to normal.
Fortunately, due to the challenges and hardships brought about by the ongoing health crisis, many prominent mindfulness teachers, organizations, and institutions have begun sharing free meditation resources that can help us mindfully endure the epidemic. While we’ve done our best to compile a sizable list of offerings here, we ask that you share any additional resources in the comments below:
Eckhart Tolle & Kim Eng – Teachings and Meditations: As one of this generation’s most popular spiritual teachers, Eckhart Tolle has been a global symbol of hope and wisdom for over 20 years. Now, during these most challenging times, the best-selling author of The Power of Now, along with his wife Kim Eng, who is also a spiritual teacher, is sharing insightful teachings and guided meditations related to the coronavirus crisis.
Jack Kornfield – Pandemic Resources: The renowned American Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield, who played an instrumental role in bringing mindfulness to the west in the 1970s, is offering a variety of useful pandemic resources on his website. In addition to a collection of relevant articles and guided meditations, Kornfield has included a number of video interviews during which he shares timely advice for finding peace amid the epidemic.
Judson Brewer – Teachings and Office Hours: As an accomplished psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author, Dr. Judson Brewer, who also has a TED Talk that’s been viewed over 14 million times, is one of today’s most influential figures in the fields of mindfulness research and habit change. Although COVID-19 has limited the work he can do as the Director of Research at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, Brewer is still making a difference by sharing insights about the epidemic on his YouTube Channel. In addition to offering tips for nurturing well-being in this time of crisis, he’s also holding ‘office hours’ every Monday at 12:00 PM ET to answer viewers’ coronavirus questions.
Rick Hanson – Being Resilient During Coronavirus: Prominent American psychologist and best-selling author Rick Hanson is offering a variety of resources on his website that aim to change visitors’ thinking from fear-driven helplessness to hopeful resilience. In addition to video and audio recordings, which touch on topics such as safety and anxiety, the Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center has also included information about how to access his free live meditation sessions taking place each Wednesday from 9:00-10:30 PM ET.
Sharon Salzberg – COVID-19 Resources: In addition to the previously mentioned Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg also played a pioneering role in the 1970’s American mindfulness movement. Since then, Salzberg has spent the past 40+ years disseminating Buddhist wisdom throughout the United States while becoming one of the country’s most well-respected meditation teachers. Now, at a time when spiritual guidance is desperately needed, she’s put forward an assortment of useful COVID-19 Resources, including relevant audio recordings and links to the organizations she’s partnering with during this perilous time.
Tara Brach – Pandemic Care Resources: The globally beloved psychologist and meditation teacher Tara Brach has put together a list of life-affirming Pandemic Care Resources, comprised of guided meditation practices, dharma teachings, and access to a free half-day retreat she taught alongside Jack Kornfield. Additionally, Brach is also offering a free Livestream class every Wednesday night, on Facebook and YouTube, starting at 7:30 PM ET.
Tricycle Magazine – Online Practice Sessions: In collaboration with the popular magazine Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, a number of celebrated meditation teachers are coming together to ease anxiety amid our social distancing efforts by offering free guided meditations, dharma talks, and Q&A sessions. Some of the most prominent teachers you’ll find at Tricycle are Pema Chödrön, Jack Kornfield, Lama Surya Das, and Koshin Paley Ellison.
Shambhala Publications – Global Health Crisis Resources: As one of the meditation industry’s most well-respected publishing companies, Shambhala Publications is offering a number of free global health crisis resources, including e-books such as ‘Radical Compassion: Shambhala Authors on the Path of Boundless Love’ and digital courses such as ‘The Way of the Bodhisattva.’ Additionally, Shambhala is offering discounted rates on a wide variety of other online programs.
Sounds True – Resilience in Challenging Time Care Package: Sounds True, another one of the meditation industry’s most prominent multimedia publishing companies, has put together an enheartening care package that included free access to daily video sessions, online opportunities for community connection, and webinars featuring globally renowned teachers such as Michael Singer and Caroline Myss.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center – Dharma Programs: Due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, located in Woodcare, California, has moved all residential, non-residential retreats, and drop-in programs to an online format, through at least April 15th, and is accepting donations on a sliding scale of $0-$1008 as payment. Some of the upcoming offerings include the ‘Resilience: Transforming Adversity into Learning and Growth,’ ‘Wednesday Morning Meditation with Sylvia Boorstein and Donald Rothberg,’ and ‘Restoring Well-Being: Integrating Qigong and Meditation.’
Brown Mindfulness Center – Community Mindfulness Sessions: Established in 2017, the Mindfulness Center at Brown University has quickly become one of America’s leading institutions for mindfulness research and training. Although the Center, which is led by the previously mentioned Judson Brewer and his colleagues Eric Loucks and Dianne Horgan, has suspended all on-campus activities, it’s still making a difference in the community by offering free Community Mindfulness Sessions every day of the week on Zoom Video Conferencing.
Center for Healthy Minds – COVID-19 Well-Being Toolkit: The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds, which is lead by prominent mindfulness researcher Richard Davidson, has made a nourishing COVID-19 Well-Being Toolkit available on its website. In addition to offering free access to their transformative Healthy Minds Program App, which offers science-based tools and daily training exercises meant to help users enhance well-being, improve relationships, and boost productivity, the center is also streaming free live meditation sessions and webinars.
Calm – Meditation Tools and Resources: A number of popular mindfulness and meditation apps are also offering free resources to help us get through the COVID-19 epidemic. The team at Calm, which has over 50 million downloads and 700,000 5-star reviews, has curated a collection of audio recordings, videos, and other materials. In addition to guided meditations, mood-enhancing music, and stretching exercises, you can also find activities for kids, sleep stories and a number of Calm journals with meditation instructions and writing prompts.
Headspace – Weathering the Storm Meditations: Another popular app stepping forward in this time of crisis is Headspace, which was founded by the prominent author and mindfulness teacher Andy Puddicombe. On the app’s website, visitors can access a number of guided meditations, from a larger collection of Weathering the Storm practices that aim to steer users through the stormy weather of life. Moreover, the app is also offering free access to the premium version of the Headspace app to all US healthcare professionals, K-12 educators, school administrators, and supporting staff.
Open Heart Project – Free Daily Meditation Gatherings: The Open Heart Project, which was founded by renowned meditation teacher and best-selling author Susan Piver, is offering four live meditation gathering Monday-Friday via Zoom Video Conferencing and Facebook. Beyond Piver herself, other teachers include the likes of Crystal Gandrud and Kyoun Sokuzan.
Mindful Schools – Mindfulness Classes For Kids: With the vast majority of American schools postponing classes due to the coronavirus crisis, many parents are struggling to find ways to keep their children educated and entertained. Fortunately, numerous organizations are offering interactive activities online to assist America’s moms and dads, with Mindful Schools being one such outlet. On their website, visitors can find information about the nonprofit’s free mindfulness classes, which are designed for K-5 students but open to all age groups. In addition to 30 minutes of mindfulness practice taught by an experienced Mindful Schools teacher, the classes also have fun interactive activities, such as mindful eating and mindful movement, built into their structure.
The Center For Mindful Eating – Community Practices: With the specific focus of changing individuals’ relationship with food, by teaching them how to eat mindfully, The Center For Mindful Eating is offering all of their community practice sessions free of charge through at least April 30th. Included in these sessions is the nonprofit’s Conscious Cafe group sitting, where you can learn mindful eating from an experienced facilitator, and Comunidad de Meditación, a special monthly meditation program taught in Spanish.
The Rubin Museum of Art – Coronavirus Care Package: One of the most unique offerings of free coronavirus meditation resources comes from New York City’s Rubin Museum, which is dedicated to the collection, display, and preservation of the art and cultures of the Himalayas. On The Rubin’s website, you can find a Coronavirus Care Package containing a number of interactive features, including a video stream of the museum’s Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room complimented auditorily with meditative chanting, and a daily video series aimed at helping you achieve greater balance in this time of uncertainty. Furthermore, there’s a variety of articles and practices dedicated to helping visitors’ learn how to harness their emotional states.
