Developing Your Own Practice
Do you want to start your own practice? Enhance your current practice?
Below we’ve compiled lists, guides, and resources to support your inquiry into the world of mindfulness. The volume of information out there can get overwhelming—which is why we made it simple.
Guided Meditations from our Community
Gratitude Meditation
Led by Saifa Hussain
Adapted from Dr. Kathi Kemper
Poem:
“Late Fragment” by Raymond Carver
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved,
to feel myself beloved on the earth.
Two Wings of Awareness
Led by Carter Branley
Inspired by teachings from Tara Brach
Web of Connections
Led by Marc Lapin
Joanna Macy
Thich Nhat Han
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
The many scientists of all cultures who help us understand these cycles.
This is an informal practice you can do at any time for 10 seconds or for 30 minutes. Simply stopping and noticing the interconnectedness in a mindful way can be part of your practice.
Letting Go at the River-bend
Led by Zoya Kobets
Inspired by Patrizia Collard and the Kachess river
Field of Care Meditation
Led by Danielle Stillman
Adapted from John Makransky
Head, Heart & Body
Led by Michelle Kaczynski
Credit to Vanessa Zoltan
Saifa Hussain
Former Associate Chaplain, Muslim Advisor, Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life
Carter Branley
Former LCMHC Staff Counselor, Health Services
Marc Lapin
Associate Laboratory Professor in Environmental Studies
Email:lapin@middlebury.edu
Tel: (802) 443-3239
Office:Franklin Env Ctr-Hillcrest 216
Zoya Kobets
Middlebury College Student Class of ‘24
Independent Scholar in Contemplative Studies
Danielle Stillman
Associate Chaplain, Rabbi
Email:dastillman@middlebury.edu
Tel: (802) 443-5762
Office:Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life
Michelle Kaczynski
Licensed Psychologist - Master
Former Staff Counselor
Free Guided Meditation Recommendations
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UCLA Mindfulness Awareness Research Center
UCLA offers a variety of meditation practices in multiple languages!
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Tara Brach Meditations
Tara Brach is a leading psychologist, author, teacher, and researcher in the field.
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Self Compassion
Researchers Kristen Neff and Christopher Germer have created a library of compassion-based meditations.
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Koru Mindfulness
Here you can find a list of the koru-developed meditations like gatha meditation, body scans, and belly and dynamic breathing.
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Foundation for Active Compassion
Find meditations from leader John Makransky and resources in media formats "watch" and "read."
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Heart Works
A collection of short, helpful, and relevant meditations.
“Contemplative Looking”
Videos and Verbal guidance from our very own Middlebury College Museum of Art.
“Sounding Sculpture” by Harry Bertoia
“Nocturne: Battersea Reach” by Walter Greaves
Online Campus Resources
Campus Well archives articles, programs, and recommendations across all areas of wellness. On the Campus Well Website there is a specific section dedicated to Mindfulness.
The Health and Wellness Education Office offers many resources for deepening one’s understanding of mindfulness. Check out their applications of mindfulness for stress reduction.
App, Podcast, and Book Recommendations
Free Apps
Liberate: Black Meditation App
“Meditation app for us, by us, that is Black-owned,” aimed at supporting a Black community of practitioners but open to all; meditations led by teachers of color
Oak
No “premium” or “pro” ads; approachable; includes a meditate, breathe, and sleep section
Insight Timer
One of the most popular meditation apps; includes a bell, guided meditations, tracker, etc.
Plum Village
Thich Nhat Hanh’s app is created from a Buddhist perspective; find a bell, dharma talks, and meditations
Podcasts
Books
Find our list of books for developing your own practice on our research and resources page.
Poster Guides
For more information please contact the 2022 Mindfulness Fellow Zoya Kobets ‘24 at zkobets@middlebury.edu, or the Scott Center at scfsrl@middlebury.edu.