Rest isn’t a “reward” for working hard enough. It’s a human need and birthright.

This week’s episode is a little different. We’re not only sharing a guided meditation from mindfulness leader and professional coach Jenée Johnson, but also her teaching on some of the brain science behind relaxation—why it’s essential for our well-being, how it works, and how to incorporate intentional relaxation practices into your daily life. 

Jenée Johnson, is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Racial Healing, Emotional Intelligence Educator, and HeartMath facilitator. Jenée initiated and led the unique effort to bring mindfulness into San Francisco’s public health programs and practices through the Trauma Informed Systems Initiative. She is on the advisory board of Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute  and is certified to teach mindfulness and emotional intelligence based on the latest neuroscience. She is also the founder and curator of The Right Within Experience, a day-long program for people of African ancestry that teaches practical mindfulness to overcome the diminishing impact of racism and open a portal to a liberatory lifestyle.

The transcription of this guided meditation will be online at Mindful.org next week. 

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Show Notes

Find more from Jenée Johnson and her work with The Right Within Experience here.

Go Deeper

Mindfulness is a resource that can be used not only for finding more calm, but also as a support for mental, physical, emotional, and communal healing. If you want to learn more about these restorative practices and how they contribute to wider individual and collective healing, check out these articles:

• How Mindful Leaders Can Heal Trauma 

• Encouraging Meaningful Conversations about Race and Trauma 

• The Science of How Mindfulness Relieves Post Traumatic Stress 

• Mindfulness for Racial Healing 

For more practice, here’s another deep rest practice you can try: R.E.S.T.—A Guided Practice for the Tired and Weary.

And more from Mindful here:

More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation

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