Hey everyone, it's K-Sunga here. I just want to let you know that we've launched a brand

new call and advice podcast called Dear Headspace. Each week the headspace teachers, along

with some amazing new friends, are answering your questions about relationships, work,

life, mindfulness, and just about everything else. It's so different from anything we've

ever created and we're so excited for you to hear it. Dear Headspace comes out every

Tuesday on the Headspace app and anywhere that you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening.

Hi, I'm Sam and welcome to Radio Headspace and to Monday morning. So this is my last week

hosting Radio Headspace and I've enjoyed it so much. Thank you for tuning in and spending

time with me over this last month. I thought I would spend this week sharing five of the

most impactful mindfulness practices that I've learned over the last few years. My hope

is that wherever you are in your mindfulness journey that you'll take something valuable

away or at least have something to think about. So let's start with something I discovered

during my first retreat. If you've never been on a silent retreat before, it can feel pretty

disorienting. You're part of a group but are encouraged not to interact with each other

at all, not even eye contact, as a way of giving each other mental privacy but still enjoying

the support of the community practicing together. And you basically alternate between sitting

and walking meditation all day long and only take breaks to eat and sleep. For me, the

first day of the retreat brought up strong feelings of doubt about the whole practice.

I was like, is it okay for human beings to be silent for this long? Aren't we social

creatures who need to communicate with each other just to stay sane? And I was debating

the whole day about whether or not I should leave. I even walked down to the bookstore

off-premises just to say hi to people that were browsing. And looking back, it's funny

...