3 Loving-Kindness Meditations for Beginners 1) Directing Compassion Toward Ourselves Most of the time, we’re our own harshest critics. We strive to hide our flaws and mistakes so we can project a perfect image into the world. With this practice, we choose to instead bring compassion to our imperfections. This shift helps us grow more comfortable with the human difficulties we’ve been desperately trying to avoid—a radical shift that also uncovers the opportunity to develop our inner wisdom and equanimity....

Okay, hold your eye-rolling, but just for a moment. The company did some homework and teamed up with Gunilla Lönnberg, a mindfulness teacher, to develop an accompanying relaxation system called “Clean Your Mind.” The 30-minute recording includes ambient sounds intended to “harmonize” with the vacuum—like the sounds of the the power button clicking on and off. The guided instruction component sounds like a regular body scan—except for particular instructions for praciticing while holding a vacuum (i....

Oh my goodness! I had so much fun learning more about Tele-Retreat Speaker and Expert – Mark Chamberlain. I can’t wait to hear all the empowering information he’ll share with us about trust. I know, unfortunately, too many marriages have been affected by pornography and other issues that have crushed your trust in your partner – it’s come up numerous times in previous Tele-Retreats, so we asked Mark to join us in this next Tele-Retreat to talk about TRUST specifically so we can help you heal {or strengthen} your marriages!...

Co-operation A wise teacher was asked: “What’s the secret to your happiness?” The reply came back: “A wholehearted cooperation with the unavoidable.” When the present moment is boring, irritating, frightening, or painful, we may not want to co-operate. We may fear it will feel like resignation or self-betrayal, or that we’ll be overwhelmed. But when we can’t change much about our situation, we can change our approach to it. The word co-operate means “to work with,” and this requires alignment....

On a recent meditation retreat, I asked assembled students to share their favorite “evasive maneuvers” from the present moment, the ways we all hide out from having to be here with the direct simplicity of right now. People said all kinds of funny and not so funny things. In a discussion group later in the weekend, one student wondered why nobody had brought up Twitter and Facebook. Another student joked “Ethan asked us what our individual evasive maneuvers were, not our shared ones....

The speakers will include a variety of professionals and mindfulness teachers, including world-renowned neuroscientist Richie Davidson, author and psychologist Daniel Goleman, and others (see the full list). To get an idea of what the conference is about you can read a piece by Daniel Goleman on why a relaxed brain is a productive brain. To learn more about the conference, click here. If an organization you know might be interested in sending a group of their employees to attend, they should contact the GGSC’s Elise Proulx, at [email protected], to learn about group packages and sponsorship deals....

How Mindfulness Plays a Role in Sleep Many healthcare workers are under more stress now than ever. While previous studies have examined the role mindfulness may play in helping us get a better sleep, in this case, researchers at the University of South Florida asked the opposite question: They wanted to see if medical staffers’ quality of sleep might be linked to how well they paid attention. To do so, they monitored the sleep habits of 61 full-time nurses for two consecutive weeks....

Ahead, we’ve rounded up five ways you can style a fringe on curly hair and how to achieve the look. Read on: Get The Look: Natural Hair Bangs Women with natural hair may feel like there are certain styles they have to shy away from, especially when it comes to bangs, but there is no need to do that. Adding bangs to your look is a great way to amplify the natural texture of your strands and add more movement to your style....

Natural Hair Discrimination Ban This new policy allows those who have already experienced discrimination based on their hair the ability to take legal action. The policy was prompted by investigations that took place in the Bronx and Queens. Employees complained about treatment from their superiors. This is the first federal case in which the protection of hair is stated but the policy has been a long time coming. But this anti-discrimination stance already applies to religious hairstyles, such as Orthodox males’ payot....

One approach that serves us well in this context is the SoBe Mindful method. It makes mindfulness highly accessible by drawing upon familiar aspects of the natural world around us. Just as this method lets us ground ourselves by connecting with nature—especially amid a pandemic, when so many of us have been staying indoors—it opens a doorway to practicing with loved ones and is adaptable for all ages and needs....

Curly Comb-Over: 4 Easy Steps to Get this Popular Style 1. Start with clean hair. To create your curly comb-over style, it’s important to start with clean and washed hair. You probably won’t want to style your comb-over if your hair is full of greasy buildup, as second-day hair usually doesn’t hold a curl very well. To give your hair that fresh and clean feel, you’ll want to use Suave Men Hair & Body Citrus Rush 3-In-1 Shampoo + Conditioner + Body Wash when it’s time to clarify....

Before we dive in, remember the reason you’re getting family photos taken! You want to look back on your family with joy and pride during this marvelous stage of your life. Whether your kiddos are young or they’re leaving the nest, having a family photo to look back on is something you’ll cherish forever. That being said, don’t stress too much about the poses or the outfits. Your smiling faces will truly be the memory you hold dear to your heart!...

7 Ways to Reduce the Amount of Plastic You Use At allthingshair.com, we’re committed to saving our planet and recycling. We ran a survey among our readers and asked them if they believe in their ability to make a difference by reducing their plastic consumption and their answers put a smile on our faces. Are you also participating in plastic-free July this year? We’re counting on you because every little thing helps....

Ladies, braids are just one way to protect your natural texture; it doesn’t stop there! Below is a list of other protective styles for short natural hair for you to try. Read on: 20 Protective Styles for Short Natural Hair 1. Bob Wig One of the easiest and fun parts of protective styling is experimenting with wigs. Have you ever wondered how a short bob would look on you? Try it out with a wig while you protect your natural hair underneath....

Although this treatment is favored by those who want to change the natural wave or curl in their hair and prefer a straight style, that’s not the only way to determine if you should try it. Your lifestyle, favorite hairstyles and its ability to withstand frizz on a daily basis also play a major part in the decision-making process. Deciding on a Keratin Treatment? We Got You To determine if this keratin protein treatment is right for you, learn from our insider advice to see if your day-to-day styling routine, as well as your hair concerns, make you a candidate for a keratin hair treatment that might just help keep your frizz at bay....

Even if I am having a meltdown, am falling apart, am going ballistic or retreating into a collapsed isolation, I can remember that I am a human being, and that all human beings have similar reactions to life’s disappointments, difficulties, and even disasters. I can hold myself with compassion and care, finding the courageous action I need to meet the current challenges or crises. Many mindfulness practices use the wisdom of our bodies to return us to a state of ease and calm, no matter the cause of disruption to our well-being—allowing us to hold, to accept, and to work with anything at all....

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. To learn more about ’em, click here. FREE PRINTABLES Below you’ll find everything you need to pull off an epic anniversary getaway besides you, your sweetie, and a hotel reservation! Our awesome and free printables include: a surprise anniversary idea Step one… make it a surprise! Pack a bag for yourself and your spouse, but don’t tell them where you’re going or what you’re doing!...

Ready to revive your curly hair? Read on to learn more about some of our favorite curly hair shampoo options for the best, most hydrating cleanse yet: Shampoo and Conditioner for Curly Hair: The Best Options to Try 1. For Defined, Hydrated Curls If hydration is at the top of your list, we’ve got exactly what you need. Dove Amplified Textures Hydrating Cleanse Shampoo and Super Slip Detangling Conditioner, infused with a proprietary Dove Moisture Amplifying Blend, work to keep your hair supremely moisturized, shiny, and frizz-free....

Therefore, it’s safe to say that we can only hope to stretch our hairstyles out for as long as possible and get a “bang for our buck.” If you’re like me, then you sometimes struggle to maintain protective styling for long periods of time. Or sometimes, you have to keep in a protective style a little longer than anticipated, and you look for ways to keep the style looking fresh....