Intro to Meditation Videos

May 11, 2019 11:08 AM

Im teaching a college class on an unrelated subject but will also include some basic mindfulness meditation instruction. I’m looking for 2 good youtube videos, approximately 10 minutes each. For the first, I’m looking for a good explanation of why one should meditate - with a focus on being present and not becoming attached to negative thoughts. For the second video, I’m looking for a good Headspace style guided meditation that focuses on breath counting. Thank you.
posted by captainscared to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

I would make sure you have a valid reason to include meditation instruction in your course, if indeed your course is completely unrelated.

I would be irritated if I were taking a course on some random subject and was then required to a) 'learn' why meditation is good and b) actually meditate myself.

At the very least allow students to opt out of these exercises.
posted by crazy with stars at 12:01 PM on May 11, 2019 [3 favorites]

Please note that one style of meditation does not work for everyone and passive meditation like that can exacerbate some mental health conditions like PTSD in the short term. If you don't want somebody to end up in tears during the mediation I think this is something you should avoid.


Here's a brief article
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:14 PM on May 11, 2019 [6 favorites]

Im teaching a college class on an unrelated subject but will also include some basic mindfulness meditation instruction

This seems like a very, very bad idea. If you are teaching a course on say, peer support, you can give students a list of links of possible resources for self care, but to make students engage in a spiritual practice as part of unrelated course work seems ill-advised in any number of ways.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:20 PM on May 11, 2019 [1 favorite]

I think my comment came off a little abrupt and I apologize. I have been in well meaning groups and classes were exersizes live like this could easily bring on flashbacks for me, it was very uncomfortable and usually the set up made me feel guilty about not wanting to participate or opting out.

I think learning about meditation is important and it has many life skill benefits, and I'm sorry I don't have a video offhand to give you, and i think it is an awesome tool with a wide variety of uses. I'm more questioning an impromptu 10 minute excersize with a group of students where your relationship may be not strong, and with no or little ability for follow up. It is an incredibly personal experience even to count breaths for some people.
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:22 PM on May 11, 2019 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Noted. Thank you.

The class is on increasing creativity, for what it’s worth and my initial idea was to offer suggestions on how to meditate as a way to help diminish negative voices. I was going to spend some time on the subject but perhaps it's better to explain and let students try at home.

Thoughts?
posted by captainscared at 12:30 PM on May 11, 2019

So I would not expect to learn about meditation in a course on increasing creativity. By all means cover obstacles people face in becoming more creative and mention negative voices as part of that. You could then put forward different strategies people have found helpful in overcoming that kind of thing and provide a reading list/resources. If meditation is indeed one of the strategies you mention fair enough. But it should be one of multiple options they can explore on their own.
posted by koahiatamadl at 12:53 PM on May 11, 2019 [3 favorites]

The class is on increasing creativity, for what it’s worth and my initial idea was to offer suggestions on how to meditate as a way to help diminish negative voices. I was going to spend some time on the subject but perhaps it's better to explain and let students try at home.

I'm also sorry that I came off as abrupt. My basic rule is: if it would be inappropriate to suggest prayer to someone, it is inappropriate to suggest meditation. Or yoga.

I would feel very differently about a class exercise where you asked students to share their mechanisms for diminishing negative voices. Because you will get a much wider range of answers, including meditation, prayer, yoga, running, knitting, etc. All are valid, all are worthy of attention.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:18 PM on May 11, 2019 [1 favorite]

As someone who has been diagnosed with PTSD, I would gently ask for the benefit of any of your students with a similar situation to couch this as “here’s a thing that can work” not to actually lead them through the practice. If folks are interested, invite them to follow up with you directly. Suggesting an avenue is different than walking people through the activity.

Mindfulness and meditation can really fuck you up if your body is carrying a lot of trauma. Known or not. No one should feel bad about not knowing this. Honestly, not even mental health practitioners are regularly versed in this hiccup, and routinely ‘prescribe’ it, not recognizing some of its limitations (or negative consequences).

Mindfulness and meditation practices are not unlike psychedelics. They should be lead by experienced folks who know what to do when things go sideways.
posted by furnace.heart at 4:43 PM on May 11, 2019 [3 favorites]

I like this video by happify about mindfulness and it's less than 3 minutes long so may be preferable to a longer video for the reasons mentioned above.

There are links between creativity and mindfulness and you can direct interested students to this article and this book on the topic.

If you are set on sharing a practice I would frame it as "let's try one of the meditations that has been connected to improved creativity" (based on this research), and stick to something less than 5 minutes. Students who aren't comfortable can mind wander if they don't want to do it. I like these ones, very beginner friendly and gentle.

If you don't have personal experience with mindfulness sufficient to allow you to speak to the class about potential benefits of a meditation practice I wouldn't include it at all because it won't resonate with students without your personal experience.

It might be fun to encourage students to try things related to creativity like walking, naps, music, and meditation so you're not just focusing on meditation.
posted by lafemma at 10:15 AM on May 12, 2019 [1 favorite]