Susan Piver on Mindfulness, Meditation, & The Open Heart Project

We sit down with Susan Piver to get clear on what mindfulness trains and what awareness reveals, then we rethink what meditation is actually doing to the heart and mind.

Visit Susan Piver's website: https://openheartproject.com/

We leave with a simpler technique, lower self-judgment about thinking, and a more realistic view of what students may experience as practice deepens.

• mindfulness as attention training and awareness as insight • why awareness expands through receptivity not effort • simplicity in instruction and helping people discover • why you do not need to stop thinking • why meditation is bigger than self-help • how meditation amplifies the inner state and softens defenses • consistency over duration and the limits of “90-second” practice • a guided approach to posture plus breath plus mind • using silence and pacing as a teaching tool • eyes-open meditation for wakefulness and daily-life integration • attention as the most basic form of love • strengthening the human realm through teaching practice • practical tips for structuring a class and setting the room

If you want to stay in touch, go to the Open Heart Project, sign up for her newsletter. It’s free.

Visit Susan Piver's website: https://openheartproject.com/

Want to teach mindfulness?

Certify.MindfulnessExercises.com

Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life.

Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work.

Each episode offers a mix of:

• Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings • Conversations with respected meditation teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers • Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers • Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change

If you’re interested in:

• Mindfulness meditation for everyday life • Trauma-sensitive and compassion-based practices • Teaching mindfulness in an authentic, non-performative way • Deepening your own practice while supporting others

…you’re in the right place.

Learn more at MindfulnessExercises.com.

Email: Sean@MindfulnessExercises.com