with soothing classical and instrumental background music
Mindfulness is the act of observing, without judgment, your thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the present moment. As our brainscan research at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Spirituality and the Mind has documented, if you take a few minutes during the day to practice the simple exercises on this CD, you’ll rapidly improve the functioning of your brain, adding years of happiness to your life. Stress diminishes, and your physical and psychological health improves. This CD includes traditional, contemporary, and unique exercises designed for both beginning and advanced meditation students. Five of the meditations are extended versions of those we presented in our book, How God Changes Your Brain, and three are new. These simple exercises can improve your memory, cognition, motivation, and social empathy while simultaneously suppressing the neural circuits that generate anxiety, depression, anger, and stress:
1. Disclaimer 2. Introduction 3:25 3. Conscious Yawning 5:05
4. Breathing Awareness 8:30 5. Progressive Muscle Relaxation 12:20
6. Mindful Stretching 10:05 7. Leaves on a Stream 7:05
8: The Silence Behind the Bell 3:30 9: Speaking Slowly 2:45
10: Walking Awareness 9:55 11: Lovingkindness 9:45
12: The Two Wolves 3:00
Recording Engineer: Alec Dixon, The Study Recording, Los Angeles, CA
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Mindful Eating Affirmations $15 (includes shipping)
Brief Meditations to Strengthen Your Commitment
to Eat Consciously and Lose Weight
with Mark Robert Waldman
and members from the Southern California Centers for Spiritual Living
Recording Engineer: Alec Dixon, The Study Recording, Los Angeles, CA
This CD was developed to help individuals deepen their practice of mindful eating, and is part of a science-and-research based weight-reduction course created by Mark Waldman. By bringing meditation into the physical act of eating meals and snacks, you can undermine the brain's propensity to overeat. Eating disorders are lessened as you learn to savor and appreciate every morsel of food, and this increases satisfaction and pleasure as we become more conscious of the way we feel about our bodies and the foods we choose to eat. Proceeds are used to support our new brainscan research (with Jean Kristeller, Ph.D, and Andrew Newberg, MD) on the neuroscience of hunger and the effects of mindful eating on the brain.
1: Disclaimer
2: Introduction and Two Meditations, by Mark Waldman [9:47]
3: “I breathe in love…” by Dorianne Cotter-Lockard [3:35]
4: “I am the light…” by Marc Bachrach [1:43]
5: “I begin my day…” by Lisa Chadwich-Peterson [2:42]
6: “My loving consciousness feeds me…” by Audrey Larson [2:12]
7: “This moment is the holiest moment…” by Marc Bachrach [2:16]
8: “Energized knower….” by Barbara DiFebo [1:05]
9: “In this spirit…” by Michael DiFebo [1:29]
10: “Every cell of my body…” by Jeanie Kingsford [2:12]
11: “Today is a new day…” by Linda Fisher [4:32]
12: “I release…” by Marc Bachrach [2:57]
13: Creating a Personal Affirmation, by Mark Waldman [3:47]
Recording Engineer: Alec Dixon, The Study Recording, Los Angeles, CA
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Rilke: Searching for the Inner Soul $20 (includes shipping)
Yuval Ron & Mark Waldman
Contemplative Poetry and Music (on the Oud)
Record Label: YRM Records
Recorded: April 2010
Recording engineer and digital editing:Giona Ostinelli
Design: Stacey Stanley, the notepad
Profound, romantic, and moving meditations on the nature of love, transcendence, and life.
LISTEN TO SAMPLES OF THIS CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ronwaldman
Born in Prague, Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) became one of the most gifted poets of the early 20th Century. Throughout life, he struggled with inner demons and gods, choosing solitude over relationships and love. And he always found himself in his writings. The poem becomes Rilke, and Rilke becomes the poem. With the exception of “In the Stillness of Your Depth,” taken from New Poems (and "Musician Stop," a tribute from Mark Waldman to Yuval Ron and the transformational power of the Oud), the verses in this recording were inspired by Rilke's early collection, The Book of Hours, published in 1905. They capture his yearning for a glimmer of transcendent truth. For Rilke, only the turn of a phrase could soothe his torn soul:
“Embody me. Flare up, like flame As I move between your shadows.
Let everything happen: beauty and terror.
And give me your serious hand.”
Translations and Interpretations by Mark Robert Waldman
With Mystical Music from the Middle East Composed and Performed by Yuval Ron on the Oud (Middle Eastern Lute)
1. Introduction
2. The ancient tower
3. The wildest storm
4. My urgent knocking
5. The wings of god
6. The silence between two notes
7. In the stillness of your depth
8. Musician stop! (Original poem by Mark Waldman)
9. Taqsim in D Nahawand
10. Taqsim in C Rust
11. Taqsim in D Hijaz
12. Taqsim in A Hijaz
13. Taqsim in G Ajam
14. Taqsim in D Ajam
15. Taqsim in D Nahawand
16. Taqsim in D Nahawand
Taqsim is an improvised form of Middle Eastern music, with traditional melodic elements.
Thus, "Maqam D Nahawand" describes a tone similar to the Western D Minor scale.
Amazon.com Review:
Dr. Debra Jan Bibel
If I were to think of the mystical words of the Sufi, Jalâl ad-Dîn Muhammad Balkhî, better known as Rumi, I would not be surprised to hear musical accompaniment by an oud, but oud with text of the Austrian-Bohemian spiritual poet Rainier Maria Rilke? We should not attach or restrict ourselves to cultural forms, for the transpersonal state of mind accepts all. This album contains in part six short poems of Rilke, with introduction and epilogue, as read by therapist and scholar Mark Robert Waldman. This researcher is associated with the Center for Spirituality and the Mind, University of Pennsylvania, where with Andrew Newberg he examines the neurological correlates of spiritual beliefs and practices, morality and compassion, meditation, and religious experiences. Vamping with the recitation is Yuval Ron, Israeli-born oudist and leader of the Yuval Ron Ensemble, which specializes in the music and songs of the Middle East and seeks cultural exchange and peace.
As if performed in a slightly echoing chamber, the two soft baritones of voice and instrument have a mellowing effect to emphasize the depth and longing conveyed by the text. Two of the poems use music as metaphor. The second part of the album consists of eight brief taqsim, or solo improvisations, on the oud in various Arabic maqams, or modes. They continue the quiet meditations of the first part and are akin to formal etudes.
This album supports quiet reflection and spiritual and religious practices. Yuval's particular instrumental sound and technique is rather yin, that is, somewhat muted and not loud or crisp, and in concert venues where dance and bright songs prevail, even when the oud is played strongly, amplification is often required. In this instance, however, the quality is meditative and appropriate. Waldman's career concerns transpersonal investigations, and his readings are sensitive and compassionate.
QUANTITY ORDERS: Many people have requested additional cds for distribution to students, patients, etc., or for resale at conferences and bookstores, and we thank you for your support. If you order 10 cds or more of any of the above titles, the cost is $9.60 per unit, including shipping and tax (for example, 10 cds = $96). If you resell them, we ask that you do not charge more than $20 per CD. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
NEW CDS COMING SOON: We're currently creating a CD/Book package to guide your through a weight-loss/mindful eating program that we currently teach as an 8 week class in Los Angeles, and at weekend intensives throughout the country.
And we're about to go into the studio with esteemed musicologist and musician Yuval Ron to record a second meditation cd that includes spiritual practices and traditional music from the 4th-17th Century Abrahamic and mystical traditions.
We're also developing a cd/mp3 program that will guide an individual through an experiential day of mindfulness. These exercises are part of my and Andy Newberg's new research exploring the neurological benefits associated with meditation, prayer, and music. For more information, visit www.MindfulLivingFoundation.org.
Results from Our Compassionate Communication Workshop Study:
Using a modified Miller Social Intimacy Scale, participants from different church groups and community colleges practiced this exercise for an hour. Depending on the specific aspect of empathy and social comfort being measured, a 10-20% improvement of social intimacy was attained. The results will be published in a forthcoming peer-reviewed journal:
* 121 individuals participated in this study
* Mean age was 50.8±17.3 years old and there were 36 males and 85 females
* The mean total Miller Intimacy score post training was significantly higher compared to pre-training (36.2±7.6 and 32.6±7.0, respectively, p< 0.00001)
* African American respondents (N=17) had a mean post training score of 36.2±7.6 compared to the pre training intimacy score of 32.6±7.04 (p=0.02)
* When the subjects were arranged by age quartiles, the youngest quartile (ages from 18-40) did not demonstrate a significant improvement in intimacy scores although there was a trend towards improvement (31.6 compared to 29.8, p=0.08).
* All of the other age quartiles demonstrated significant improvements in intimacy with the group from 40-53 years old having the greatest impact (38.7 compared to 33.0, p<0.0001).
