As I was perusing the Internet for ideas for this blog, I came across a great resource: MARC, the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Their mission is "to foster mindful awareness through education and research to promote well-being and a more compassionate society.” Except for the research component, this could be the mission statement for my blog. The use of the word “mindful” is becoming more mainstream in the mental health community, I’m happy to see. It certainly describes the idea of being present in the moment and paying attention to what your mind is full of.

I encourage you to explore the website: marc.ucla.edu. A great feature of the site is a link to free guided meditations. Click on “mindful meditations” in the left column. Seven different meditations are offered from 3 minutes to 19 minutes. Topics include “Loving kindness meditation,” “Meditation for working with difficulties,” and more. The Institute director, Diana Winston, whose voice is very conducive to helping the listener slip into meditation, offers the recordings.

As a mental health professional, an owner of a fitness studio, a writer, and a wife, mother and grandmother, I have found meditation to be helpful in every aspect of my life. To find out about my meditation classes this fall, you can contact me at susanmmorales@yahoo.com or check out my websites: susanscottmorales.com and bodiesinbalancefitness.com.