Episodes

  • The Real Purpose of Mindfulness

    The Real Purpose of Mindfulness
    Feb 6 2025
    In this thought-provoking episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo unpacks one of the biggest misconceptions about mindfulness: that it’s about clearing the mind, suppressing emotions, or striving for constant calm. Instead, true mindfulness is about meeting whatever arises—thoughts, emotions, and sensations—with openness, curiosity, and non-judgment. Whether you're new to mindfulness or a seasoned practitioner, this episode will challenge the way you think about your mindfulness practice and help you embrace mindfulness as a way of being, rather than something to achieve. What You’ll Discover: Why mindfulness isn’t about controlling or eliminating thoughts. The difference between being with an experience versus fixing it. How to meet emotions—like fear, anger, or distraction—with gentle awareness. The hidden ways we use mindfulness as an escape rather than a tool for presence. Practical ways to integrate true mindfulness into daily life and teaching. Sean reminds us that mindfulness is not about transcending discomfort—it’s about turning toward it with kindness, acceptance, and a willingness to explore. Timestamps: [00:01:00] The Myth of Mindfulness – Why mindfulness isn’t about stopping thoughts or emotions. [00:05:00] Meeting Life As It Is – The power of presence without resistance. [00:10:00] How We Misuse Mindfulness – Recognizing when mindfulness becomes avoidance. [00:15:00] Exploring Emotional Layers – How to be with emotions rather than suppress them. [00:25:00] Bringing Mindfulness into Teaching & Coaching – A guide for facilitators and mindfulness teachers. [00:30:00] Practical Integration – How to embody mindfulness in everyday life. 👇 Explore more resources from Sean Fargo and learn how to teach mindfulness with confidence! 📜 Become Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification: https://bit.ly/MindfulnessCertify Trauma-Sensitivity Teaching Certification: https://bit.ly/METraumaSensitiveMindfulnessCourse 🌱 Be a Part of our Growing Community Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    11 mins
  • Use Retreats to Deepen Your Mindfulness and Teaching

    Use Retreats to Deepen Your Mindfulness and Teaching
    Feb 3 2025
    In this transformative episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo explores the profound impact of retreats on mindfulness practice and teaching. Drawing from his experience as a former Buddhist monk and seasoned mindfulness teacher, Sean shares personal insights on why retreats can be one of the most powerful ways to deepen your mindfulness journey. Whether you're considering attending your first retreat, leading one, or simply curious about the practice, this episode offers a roadmap for understanding how retreats cultivate inner clarity, self-compassion, and a deeper sense of presence. What You’ll Discover: Why retreats are one of the most effective ways to deepen mindfulness practice. How stepping away from daily distractions enhances inner awareness. The stages of a retreat experience—from initial resistance to deep transformation. Practical tips for preparing for and integrating retreat learnings into daily life. The role of gentleness, curiosity, and surrender in retreat practice. Sean emphasizes that retreats are not about escaping reality, but about coming home to yourself—shedding distractions, breaking mental patterns, and embracing a greater sense of ease and presence. Timestamps: [00:01:00] The Transformative Power of Retreats – Why retreats are an essential tool for mindfulness practitioners and teachers. [00:05:00] Lessons from Silent Retreats – Sean shares experiences from his two years in retreat as a Buddhist monk. [00:10:00] The Challenge of Stillness – How facing discomfort leads to profound inner breakthroughs. [00:15:00] Gentle Awareness & Self-Compassion – Learning to meet yourself with kindness during a retreat. [00:25:00] Common Retreat Structures – Exploring different formats, from silent retreats to at-home retreats. [00:30:00] Integrating Retreat Lessons into Daily Life – How to transition back into everyday routines with presence and sensitivity. 👇 Explore more resources from Sean Fargo and learn how to start your own mindfulness journey! 📜 Become Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification: https://bit.ly/MindfulnessCertify Trauma-Sensitivity Teaching Certification: https://bit.ly/METraumaSensitiveMindfulnessCourse 🌱 Be a Part of our Growing Community Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Meeting Your Mindfulness Students Where They Are

    Meeting Your Mindfulness Students Where They Are
    Jan 30 2025
    In this insightful episode of Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean explores the art of understanding your mindfulness students’ unique journeys. With years of experience as a mindfulness teacher and former Buddhist monk, Sean shares practical tools and frameworks to assess and support students’ growth with compassion and curiosity. Whether you’re guiding individuals or groups, this episode offers a roadmap for meeting your students where they are and helping them deepen their practice. What You’ll Discover: The importance of honoring your students’ experiences and perceptions. How to use frameworks like body-heart-head and safety-contentment-connection to assess growth. The role of trauma sensitivity in mindfulness teaching and practice. Tips for using language, patterns, and curiosity to explore students’ inner landscapes. Sean emphasizes the value of approaching your students with openness, avoiding assumptions, and collaborating to uncover what’s present in their experiences. Timestamps: [00:01:00] The Importance of Practice: How meditation deepens self-awareness and understanding. [00:03:00] Honoring Students’ Experiences: Avoiding assumptions and meeting students with openness. [00:10:00] Trauma Sensitivity in Practice: Tailoring mindfulness techniques for those with trauma. [00:20:00] Frameworks for Growth: Using body-heart-head and safety-contentment-connection models. [00:30:00] Language and Patterns: Listening to students’ words and exploring their emotional landscapes. 👇 Explore more resources from Sean Fargo and learn how to start your own mindfulness journey! 📜 Become Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification: https://bit.ly/MindfulnessCertify Trauma-Sensitivity Teaching Certification: https://bit.ly/METraumaSensitiveMindfulnessCourse 🌱 Be a Part of our Growing Community Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    11 mins
  • (Part 2) Reconnecting with Mother Nature through Mindfulness with Baba Mendoza

    (Part 2) Reconnecting with Mother Nature through Mindfulness with Baba Mendoza
    Jan 27 2025
    In the concluding part of this powerful two-part series on Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo, Baba Mendoza deepens the conversation about humanity's relationship with Mother Nature. Building on the foundational insights shared in part one, Baba emphasizes the urgent need for personal transformation, collective unity, and actionable mindfulness. Through his heartfelt words, Baba calls on each of us to embrace our role as stewards of the Earth, to reconnect with the gifts of nature, and to act with compassion and purpose. This episode is both a profound reflection and a call to action for mindfulness practitioners and leaders to heal the wounds of separation, nurture the seeds of unity, and embody the wisdom of Mother Nature in our daily lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Guided Meditation for Balance and Spacious Awareness with Sean Fargo

    Guided Meditation for Balance and Spacious Awareness with Sean Fargo
    Jan 23 2025
    In this deeply restorative episode of Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo leads a guided meditation to help you reconnect with your body, breath, and present awareness. This practice gently invites you to explore balance, ease, and spaciousness, fostering a deeper sense of calm and clarity. With Sean’s years of experience as a mindfulness teacher and former Buddhist monk, this meditation offers practical tools to center yourself amidst the busyness of life. Whether you’re a seasoned mindfulness practitioner or just beginning, this episode provides an accessible way to ground yourself in the present moment. What You’ll Discover: How to tune into your body’s posture and energy with gentle awareness. Breathing techniques that engage the belly, heart, and head for holistic mindfulness. Ways to find balance and ease, whether sitting, standing, or moving. Practical tips for practicing mindfulness with eyes open or closed. This episode is an invitation to reconnect with yourself and approach your day with greater spaciousness and balance. Timestamps: [00:00:00] Starting the Practice: An invitation to reconnect with your body and breath. [00:02:00] Awareness of Energy: Noticing physical sensations and carrying awareness through the body. [00:05:00] Breathing with the Whole Body: Engaging the belly, heart, and head. [00:07:00] Finding Balance: Allowing movement and stillness to guide your sense of ease. [00:10:00] Spacious Awareness: Cultivating mindfulness in a way that carries into the rest of your day. 👇 Explore more resources from Sean Fargo and learn how to start your own mindfulness journey! 📜 Become Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification: https://bit.ly/MindfulnessCertify Trauma-Sensitivity Teaching Certification: https://bit.ly/METraumaSensitiveMindfulnessCourse 🌱 Be a Part of our Growing Community Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • (Part 1) Reconnecting with Mother Nature through Mindfulness with Baba Mandaza

    (Part 1) Reconnecting with Mother Nature through Mindfulness with Baba Mandaza
    Jan 20 2025
    In part one of this special two-part series on Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo, we are joined by Baba Mendoza, a healer, activist, and peacemaker, to explore the profound connection between mindfulness and nature. Baba shares his heartfelt wisdom on how humanity can rekindle its relationship with Mother Nature, emphasizing that we are not separate from her but integral branches of her creation. Through his teachings, Baba inspires us to reflect on our personal relationship with the Earth and how mindfulness can guide us to a more compassionate, sustainable, and harmonious existence. This episode lays the foundation for understanding the gifts of the natural world and invites us to begin healing our collective relationship with the planet. Stay tuned for part two, where Baba dives deeper into practical ways to embody mindfulness and honor our connection with the Earth. Timestamps [00:01:00] Introduction [00:05:00] The Gifts of Nature: Baba reflects on how everything we use, from beds to food, originates from Mother Nature. [00:15:00] The Forgotten Connection: Why humanity treats nature as a separate entity and the consequences of this disconnection. [00:25:00] Nature as Ancestor and Creator: A spiritual perspective on the Earth as our living ancestor and provider. [00:35:00] A Call for Healing: Baba invites listeners to reflect on their relationship with nature and take steps to heal it. [00:45:00] Guided Silent Meditation: Baba leads a two-minute meditation to honor and connect with Mother Nature. 👇👇 Explore more resources from Sean Fargo and learn how to start your own mindfulness journey! 📜 Become Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification: https://bit.ly/MindfulnessCertify Trauma-Sensitivity Teaching Certification: https://bit.ly/METraumaSensitiveMindfulnessCourse 🌱 Be a Part of our Growing Community Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • Justice, Compassion and Ethical Mindfulness with Pamela Ayo Yetunde

    Justice, Compassion and Ethical Mindfulness with Pamela Ayo Yetunde
    Jan 13 2025
    In this profound episode of Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo, we are joined by Dr. Pamela Ayo Yutende, JD, PhD—author, pastoral counselor, and co-editor of Black and Buddhist. Ayo shares her unique insights on integrating mindfulness with ethical leadership and social justice. Drawing from her Buddhist practice and professional experiences, Ayo dispels myths about mindfulness being separate from activism, showing how mindfulness-based ethics can empower individuals to foster equality, compassion, and healing. Together, Sean and Ayo explore how mindfulness practitioners can engage in justice-oriented practices while staying true to the principles of awareness and social balance. This episode is an invitation to cultivate an ethical posture that embraces both personal growth and collective healing. Timestamps [00:01:00] Introduction [00:03:00] The Journey to Advocacy: How Ayo’s experiences with the Brethren Volunteer Service and anti-apartheid activism shaped her justice orientation. [00:10:00] Mindfulness as an Ethical Practice: Exploring the roots of mindfulness in Buddhist ethics and its application in modern leadership. [00:15:00] Justice Through Compassion: Why mindfulness encourages compassion for all sentient beings, human and non-human. [00:20:00] Lessons from Leadership Ethics: A Buddhist perspective on compassionate governance, avoiding greed, and addressing poverty. [00:30:00] Redistribution and Generosity: The role of generosity in ethical leadership and social transformation. [00:40:00] The Power of Awareness: How mindfulness counters narratives of separation and conflict to build unity and truth. Connect with Pamela Ayo Yetunde Website: Buddhist Justice Reporter Books: Casting Indra’s Net, Black and Buddhist 👇 Explore more resources from Sean Fargo and learn how to start your own mindfulness journey! 📜 Become Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification: https://bit.ly/MindfulnessCertify Trauma-Sensitivity Teaching Certification: https://bit.ly/METraumaSensitiveMindfulnessCourse 🌱 Be a Part of our Growing Community Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Mindfulness, Storytelling, and the Power of Transformation with Erik Ireland

    Mindfulness, Storytelling, and the Power of Transformation with Erik Ireland
    Jan 7 2025
    Welcome to another enriching episode of Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo. In this episode, Sean Fargo is joined by Erik Ireland, creator of the globally celebrated Listen to Sleep podcast, for a deep dive into how mindfulness and storytelling can transform our lives. Erik shares his personal journey and introduces his Awaken Your Myth method, a practical framework inspired by the Hero’s Journey. Erik shares his personal transformation from acting to mindfulness and storytelling, shedding light on how each of us can awaken our unique inner hero. Also, he explores how mindfulness can help us overcome resistance, embrace transformation, and connect with our inner wisdom. This conversation delves into the ancient archetype of the hero’s journey and its relevance to modern mindfulness practices, inspiring listeners to embrace their authentic paths. Dive into a rich conversation about the transformative power of mindfulness, the importance of storytelling, and how understanding the hero’s journey can unlock your true potential. Whether you’re a mindfulness teacher, a coach, or someone seeking inner peace, this episode offers profound insights and actionable tools for personal growth. Timestamps [00:01:00] Introduction [00:05:00] Erik’s Journey: From acting to mindfulness—how Erik discovered the limits of external success and the power of inner work. [00:10:00] The Hero’s Journey Framework: What it is and how it relates to mindfulness and personal transformation. [00:19:00] Breaking Through Resistance: Erik discusses how mindfulness helps us face and embrace resistance as part of growth. [00:29:00] The Myths Method Explained: A practical breakdown of the five pillars—Mindfulness, Yielding, Transformation, Healing, and Storytelling. [00:40:00] Guided Meditation with Erik: A visualization exercise to help you uncover your personal myth and inner wisdom. [00:50:00] Practical Applications: Sean and Erik share how to integrate mindfulness and storytelling into daily life for lasting change. Connect with Erik Website: Awaken Your Myth Podcast: Listen to Sleep Explore more resources from Sean Fargo and learn how to start your own mindfulness journey! Become Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification: https://bit.ly/MindfulnessCertify Trauma-Sensitivity Teaching Certification: https://bit.ly/METraumaSensitiveMindfulnessCourse Be a Part of our Growing Community Mindfulness Exercises Website: http://mindfulnessexercises.com/ Connect Community for Mindfulness Teachers: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/connect-mindfulness-community/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulness.Exercises/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindfulness-exercises/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/exercising.mindfulness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins