Matt Swift – Phrase and Action Repetition and Overall WellbeingThe power of repeating words, thoughts, or movements during meditation can have a great effect on how bodily responses. When repeating phrases or thoughts of negativity, the body will respond to those as if in a negative situation invoking a fight or flight response, increasing stress, and possibly causing pain. When repeating positive phrases, the body will respond to those phrases as if in a positive situation reducing stress and increasing circulation in the body. Likewise, undertaking physical actions while focusing on or repeating various thoughts can cause the body to imbue those thoughts with the bodily reactions of the release of endorphins typically heightening those thoughts towards a positive realm of consciousness. This is a basic explanation for how the power of positive thinking, mantras, mindfulness, artistic mediational expression, and meditational exercise can impact overall wellness of the body.

Mantra Das is a non-traditionalist meditation teacher and spiritual seeker with a love of helping people learn to pause and chill out. Das became interested in meditation during college by reading about The Beatles and George Harrison’s involvement in India. In 2012, he was introduced to mindfulness and mantra meditation techniques through OSU’s Integrative Medicine clinic and has been heavily involved in the Columbus meditation scene ever since. Das’ meditation sessions usually include pranayama (yoga breathing), Pancha Kosha meditation, and sharing first-hand stories about mental health/meditation experiences with enthusiasm and a sense of humor.

Brad J. Bushman studies the causes, consequences, and cures to the problem of human aggression and violence. He was a member of President Obama’s committee on gun violence and has testified before the U.S. Congress on the topic of youth violence. His recently published a comprehensive review with his former PhD student that found techniques that lower physiological arousal (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure) such as meditation, mindfulness, breathing, and muscle relaxation can also lower anger and aggression. The meditation sessions he leads focus on 4-7-8 breathing techniques and self-guided meditation to the solo piano music of his friend Michiel Borstlap .

Cara Brown – Living Mindfully, Every Day

Cara has been practicing mindfulness since 2003, when she attended a Day of Mindfulness retreat led by Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh and the monastics of Plum Village. That experience opened her heart to a new way of living — one rooted in awareness, compassion, and peace.

Since then, Cara has made mindfulness part of everyday life. Whether through quiet reflection, gentle breathing, or walking in nature, she continues to explore how presence transforms ordinary moments into opportunities for calm and clarity.

Her guided meditations help people release self-criticism, ease the body, and reconnect with a sense of kindness toward themselves and others. Drawing wisdom from her teachers and the natural world, Cara invites others to slow down, breathe deeply, and remember that peace is never far away — it’s right here, in this very moment.

“Mindfulness isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who we already are — whole, capable, and at ease.

Hey, I call myself Vismaya Shhree. Being born with a logical mind, I have found that experiencing spiritual life in human form is a true bliss. It has been quite a journey to taste the essence of existence as life itself, and then to find comfort in the idea of non-existence.

Through long practice, I have been deepening my awareness, unfolding layer by layer the reality that surrounds and permeates us. The more I explore, the more I realize how vast reality is and being peaceful in that state of “knowing nothing” gives me strength.

I believe that out of the countless life forms that exist in this universe, being born as a human with the highest potential for consciousness is the greatest opportunity to experience, evolve, and transcend. I am here to share what feels like the ultimate realization of being human and to help you connect with yourself first, truly feel and explore your inner universe, transcend to new dimensions of reality, and live in peace in every moment rather than just thinking about “resting in peace.”