14: Soaking in Mindfulness: Lessons in centering from a Japanese onsen

Join me, Irene Salter, as I reflect on a serene visit to Arima Onsen, one of Japan's oldest and most charming hot springs. I'll describe how the tranquil waters and peaceful ambiance offered a profound sense of relaxation and inspired a deep dive into mindfulness.

In this episode, I’ll guide you through a centering meditation, dive into the neuroscience of mindfulness, and offer practical tips on how to bring the peace of a hot spring back to work, a moment of calm amidst life’s chaos. Tune in to explore how soaking in tranquility—whether through a hot spring or mindfulness practice—can renew your mind, body, and soul.

Resources:

• This article in NPR was the one that led me to the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn: https://www.npr.org/2021/12/21/1066585316/mindfulness-meditation-with-john-kabat-zinn
• Jon Kabat-Zinn’s website: https://jonkabat-zinn.com/
• For a fantastic, and fairly accessible review of your brain on mindfulness meditation, see this article in Nature Neuroscience: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn3916
• But if you want a one-page infographic of your brain when centered, head to my podcast page to find that resource. Or better yet, subscribe to my newsletter and get beautiful illustrations of your mind on beauty, awe, adventure, and much more: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast
• If you’d like to access this episode’s centering meditation directly, you can download the audiofile at: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast
• Or try one of many many others on my favorite mindfulness app, Buddify: https://buddhify.com/
• Episode 10 - Time confetti, goes more deeply into the default mode network: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast
• Here’s the onsen that I went to visit in Arima: https://www.arima-gh.jp/en/

For complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast