Mindful Blogger is a practical resource on mindfulness, meditation, breathwork and mindful living, written by me, James. I am a daily Vipassana practitioner and breathwork facilitator, and I live in north Goa, India. This site collects the practices I use and the guides I wish I had when I started.
My story: how I found mindfulness
While travelling in India, I discovered Vipassana meditation. It is a game-changing technique that some people call ‘meditation prison’. Essentially it is a straight-edge practice that cuts through the bonds of conditioning to reveal personal insight. I now sit for an hour each morning and an hour each evening, and I have sat thousands of hours. Everything else on this site grows out of that daily practice.
In 2015, I set out to cycle around the world. That journey reflected how I approach life: make the decision, take the steps to make it possible, then go. I wrote about the connection between riding and stillness in Meditation by Bike for Toms Bike Trip, and about how I found Vipassana in this article on Medium. The long-distance adventure and the discovery of Vipassana are inseparable. Together they are the cornerstone of my personal transformation.
Since then I have gathered the mindfulness tools I found along the way into a holistic approach to modern life. I live as an expat in sleepy, rural north Goa, a bubbling mix of cultural and spiritual influences. It is quite bonkers, and I love it.
What you will find on Mindful Blogger
The site focuses on a few core topics, each with in-depth guides:
Meditation
Start with my beginner’s guide to anapana meditation, the breath-awareness technique that begins Vipassana. If you are new to the field, read the difference between mindfulness and meditation and my answers to common questions about meditation.
Breathwork
I facilitate conscious connected breathing in group and one-to-one settings. My breathwork for beginners guide explains the technique, breath of fire and how to book a session.
Mindfulness practices and mindful living
Explore everyday mindfulness practices, mindfulness activities, mindful eating and mindful minimalism.
Sleep, parenting and kids
See how to use mindfulness to sleep better, and read my guides to mindful parenting and mindfulness for kids.
Tools, books and your practice space
I share the things I use and read, including the best incense sticks for meditation and books about mindfulness.
How I approach this site
I write from personal experience and say so. Where I describe research, I try to keep my claims in line with what the evidence supports. Some links on the site are affiliate links, and I mark them. Mindfulness and meditation are not a replacement for medical or psychological care, so if you are struggling, please speak to a qualified professional.
Get the free mindfulness guide
I wrote a short art-of-living manifesto, packed with eight tools to help you thrive in modern times. Download the free mindfulness guide, or subscribe to the newsletter to get new posts by email.
If you would like to support my work, I also have a Patreon page.