Mindfulness Activities for Adults: 50 Simple Exercises to Relax, Stay Present, and Find Peace Paperback – December 21, 2021

Easy book to use. I use it with clients and for myself

So I have to admit that I know Matt from a meditation group that we are in, so I was predisposed to like the book, and I did get a copy of the book for free – however, I was actually quite happy to find that this book exceeded my expectations. My wife “stole” the book from me before I had a chance to really take a look at it and had already chosen 12 activities she liked and gave the book two thumbs up, so some of her comments are interwoven into this review.First off, the layout of the book is very functional and the color coding is awesome. Someone put a lot of thought and care into the design of the book and it really shows. The icons depicting the different types of activities – whether they are a creative activity, everyday, nature or quick time-based one – are great. That way you can just flip through the book and pick one at random from the category you want. Each activity is further broken down into number of players, time and supplies if needed, which makes choosing them simple and even puts an interesting twist on some of them.What I like most about the book is that Matt has put a lot of work into designing each activity so that you can strengthen and stretch your awareness. Most of the time when someone teaches a mindfulness class the teacher tells the student to then go off, practice meditation for n minutes a day and then “just be mindful as much as you can the rest of the day.” The student is left with: how the heck am I supposed to be “mindful all day”? This book answers that question and fills the middle ground between practice and everyday life with solid, grounded and interesting activities. Even if you’re an established mindfulness practitioner I’m pretty sure you’ll find something of interest or new.

The activities are fun, but a few require more than one person.

I got this book free from the author - to critique and review honestly. I am a "kinda mindfulness" person; I DO NOT meditate, but believe that mindfulness practices (like building self-awareness and noticing my environment/people) help me better live in this world. Since I'm not about to go to a mindfulness retreat or deep dive into a class, this book lives up to it's word - simple and practical. The author does a great job using different techniques to clue you in to the things someone would look for in deciding which activity is needed in the moment: how many people, how much time, what the focus is, etc. The steps are simple for the activity. Some activities are "woo woo" while others feel more grounded (for someone like me who likes the more logical and straightforward in times of stress). Pick and choose for the moment! In sum, pick up this book so you have on hand in the moment where you think, "I am overwhelmed/stressed/need a different perspective." You'll find something that resonates.My one wish for this book in it's second edition(!?!) is that there was an index or more detailed table of contents for even easier go-to reference.

This book is full of ideas to practice mindfulness. Each exercise is well organized, it tells you the time it takes, they are all very doable timewise, between 3 and 15 mins, and the steps for each exercise are clear and easy to follow. I also love that each exercise has a phrase that the reader can use as a mantra during the day, such as "I live with ease and joy", "I listen mindfully to others"... This book is perfect for beginners, people who are curious but haven't started a mindful practice yet, and also for regulars who want to explore new ways of practicing mindfulness.

I wasn’t sure what my reaction to this book might be. Meditation is not my thing and I tend to think five steps ahead rather than focus on the present moment. I was pleasantly surprised, after trying a few of the activities in the book, to find helpful tools for stress reduction. One, “Breathing the Ocean,” has already become a go-to for preparation to sleep. “In Nature’s Lap” showed me that I already practice mindfulness in nature; now I can be more intentional about it. Not every activity applies to my circumstance; the point of this book seems to be for each person to find which activities do. The book is a treasure. I’ve recommended it to friends and look forward to continuing to use it.

...along comes this tiny treasure. I've studied mindfulness for over a decade, had a clinical practice, attended seminary, been a life coach, and also participated in many many trainings and workshops in higher education. I thought I had seen just about every permutation of mindfulness techniques out there. but I was wrong.Rezac brings oodles of creativity and experience to crafting this astoundingly practical collection of mindfulness activities. This book would make a wonderful 50-day transformation guide, an excellent toolkit for anyone leading workshops or trainings in a business environment, or a great mini-retreat to get grounded and centered as you launch into your new year.Do yourself a favor, and buy this book!

We hear and read, are coached and preached, to be present, be cognizant, be intentional, be mindful. And how, so very many times, the next question is, well How Do You do that? Matt has distilled the psychological and physiological know-how of the ages in to exercises and reminders how to catalyze those moments you'd like to find some clarity and be mindful. I especially appreciate the categorizing of each exercise, that it is quick or it is for nature, etc. Easy enough to carry around and spend those mindful moments on the park bench or preparing for a meeting or a mid-day body check-in, Matt's book is a gem!