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Mindfulness Resource Round-Up: Deepen Your Practice with Our Instructors' Stand-Out Favorites
- Shanthi Project
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
When it comes to learning about mindfulness, no two people follow the same path. For some, their mindfulness journey might look like conducting research — determining its efficacy by analyzing data points and collecting personal testimonies. For others, it might entail courses, trainings, and workshops that empower them to not only strengthen their own practice, but to share mindfulness with others, too. No matter how you come to mindfulness, there’s no ignoring the treasure trove of resources that lies at the ready — in print, online, and in person — to aid your own foray into mindfulness education.
If you’re looking to dive into this wealth of resources, you’re in luck. Recently, we asked our staff to help us create a list of their favorite books, podcasts, instructors and more, and with their recommendations, we developed a practical guide to mindful media. Take it from our experienced teachers: these resources have played a big role in their own practices of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga, which they now skillfully share with others in our community. Thanks to their help, we present Shanthi Project’s roundup of mindfulness media!
Books to Read
Needless to say, our very first recommendation is Mindful with Me — a book near and dear to our hearts. Written by Shanthi Project’s very own Senior Director of Programs Sarah Dennehy, Mindful with Me serves as a family’s guide to practicing mindfulness with children. The book includes mindfulness activities, educational information, and simple instructions for setting up routines that stick.
In May 2025, Mindful with Me was even awarded Gold in the Parenting & Family category at the Independent Book Publishers Association Awards dinner – congrats, Sarah! We’re so proud to have her on our team, and if you have a little one in your life, we highly suggest checking out her book. You can learn more about it here!
There Is No App for Happiness and A Life Worth Breathing, both written by Max Strom, were recommended by Shanthi Project instructor Annie. “I met Max at Easton Yoga for two weekend workshops. He helped me understand the great importance of breath and brought me back to mine,” she told us. Another practical book, Annie also shared Yoga Sparks: 108 Easy Practices for Stress Relief in a Minute or Less by Carol Krucoff, which includes over one hundred bite-sized yoga practices for daily life.
Kelly, another instructor with us, suggested Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J. Siegel M.D.: a work that has proven insightful in her own role as an educator. This resource explores how the unique years of adolescent brain development impact young people’s behavior and relationships. Kelly also recommended Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto written by Tricia Hersey, which is a call to prioritize peace, rest, and healing over our culture of unconditional productivity.
Our two final books were shared by Sally, another Shanthi teacher. Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn maps out a plan for creating a consistent, meaningful, and practical mindfulness routine. You may already know of Kabat-Zinn for his educational program Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), an eight-week mindfulness course that has been evaluated by extensive scientific literature.
Last but not least, Lovingkindness draws on author Sharon Salzberg’s personal experiences from twenty-five years of practice and teaching, proposing that it is possible to cultivate true happiness in ourselves and genuine compassion for others at the same time. Her call to embrace the path of lovingkindness relies on a foundation of mindfulness, which allows ready access to goodwill.
Podcasts and Apps to Download
Longtime Shanthi instructor Sara is a consistent listener to Tara Brach’s podcast, she told us. “Tara Brach first drew me in with the calmness of her voice,” Sara said. “I continued to listen because her content is so helpful and relatable. She often goes off track briefly to tell a story or parable. I find that portion entertaining because it feels more conversational.”
Each week’s episode features a guided meditation and dives into the value of mindfulness, both personally and at a worldwide scale. Tara Brach has also written multiple books in addition to her podcast, including True Refuge, which has been highlighted by Sally!
Sara also recommended First This, which she describes as “a brief guided meditation for even the busiest of listeners. Every episode starts with a sighing breath and moves into metaphors and various scenarios that really hit home.” First This serves as a ten-minute respite from the busyness of your day, offering a simple way to practice mindfulness and meditation for practitioners of all experiences and skill levels.
Two apps make our list of mindful media, too – first, Happier Meditation (formerly called Ten Percent Happier), suggested by Sally. This is a practical and popular all-around mindfulness app, with hundreds of guided meditations to fit any goal, like sleep troubles, anxiety, or lack of routine. The app offers users the ability to create personalized meditation plans, designed to fit flexibly into their lives.
Finally, we’re featuring Insight Timer, recommended by both Sally and Annie. Another meditation app, this one also offers music, stories, and courses. Insight Timer is particularly known for its extensive wealth of resources – thousands! – and a wide range of users who sing its praises.
People and Organizations to Follow
In addition to digital and physical media, our instructors also learn from the expertise of mindfulness professionals, both near and far. Annie, for instance, admires yoga and meditation teacher Jillian Pranksy, whom she met during her 200-hour yoga teacher training. “She taught us restorative yoga. I absolutely shifted,” said Annie. “Coming from a body that was often moving and a mind that was overactive, practicing restoratives shifted my body and brain synapse connections into a whole new place!” Each week, Jillian organizes a free, online, 20-minute guided mindfulness meditation session, based on the teachings in her book Deep Listening. She also has a full calendar of yoga retreats, teacher trainings, and longer, in-depth online classes.
Other mindfulness leaders include Sam Himelstein and David Treleaven, both of whom were introduced to our staff by Sarah Dennehy. Sam educates on trauma-informed mindfulness, offering online courses and practices via Zoom. His specific area of expertise is adolescence studies, making his work relevant and practical for anyone working with children – like our own teachers! Likewise, David’s work focuses in on the “trauma” aspect of trauma-informed mindfulness (or trauma-sensitive mindfulness, as he calls it). As well as writing two books about the topic, David offers courses for all levels, a certification program, and a free introductory webinar. As Shanthi instructor Annie told us, “He has one of the most soothing voices to practice mindfulness with! David is also very insightful into the physical aspects that are calmed and supported by the practice of mindfulness.”
Last but not least is Banyan, a company and online mindfulness community recommended by Kelly. Founded in 2020, Banyan provides digital mindfulness meditation programs, led by highly experienced teachers and designed for mindfulness novices, experienced practitioners, and aspiring instructors alike. Banyan also focuses on building a community space where members can support each other and, together, cultivate a strong mindfulness practice. Learn more on their website!
If you check out any of these resources, drop us a message (on our website or via Instagram) and let us know your thoughts! Feel free to share your favorite mindfulness media, too, as we’re always looking for more resources to further deepen our practice and build our capacity for teaching others. And no matter how you practice mindfulness — whose meditations you follow, what books you read, which leaders inspire you — if you’re showing up with grace, compassion, and non-judgment, you’re doing it right!