7 Books and Journals To Become A More Mindful Person

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | 7 7 Books and Journals To Become A More Mindful Person

Mindfulness is a powerful tool for moving through life with awareness and perspective, but it can be hard sometimes to know exactly what it means to practice mindfulness. At times it can feel like an abstract buzzword, hard to connect to or put into motion. The truth is that mindfulness can help us more meaningfully experience the present and develop a more solid understanding of our own thoughts, and this process can be easier to begin with some guidance and direction. Here are seven books and journals that can help us understand and interact with mindfulness in different ways, helping us to cultivate our ability to stay thoughtful about our present.

Practice You: A Journal by Elena Brower

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A more amorphous, left-brained journal, Practice You‘s watercolor style and gentle, open-ended prompts may help draw some new reflections if you’ve felt blocked or stalled.

The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day by Andy Puddicombe

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A down-to-earth, casual conversation about mindfulness from someone who’s gone through Buddhist monk training more than once, helping you find a new on-ramp for meditation through humor and approachability.

Little Book of Mindfulness: 10 Minutes a Day to Less Stress, More Peace by Patricia Collard

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An easy, approachable guide to increasing mindfulness (and its natural products like gratitude and joy) a little each day by paying more attention to our everyday motions.

Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn

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A deeper read, Wherever You Go, There You Are walks readers through the process of “waking up” to ourselves in order to live more fully in the present moment.

The Mindfulness Journal: Daily Practices, Writing Prompts, and Reflections for Living in the Present Moment by Barrie Davenport

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This journal emphasizes non-judgmental observation, encouraging us to put aside our conceptions about how we should be thinking, feeling or acting and allowing us to simply pay quiet attention to the truth underneath.

Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday by Matthew Sockolov

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Full of exercises to establish mindfulness as a practice, this book has something different to offer you each time you return to it. Each meditation is easy to understand and states the amount of time it takes, making it easy to find the meditation that suits you best in the moment.

I Am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal Paperback by The Mindfulness Project

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A more deconstructed journal, I Am Here Now encourages looseness, playfulness and creativity as it asks us to consider what mindfulness means to us.

Carrie Ann Inaba’s Favorite Books About Dancing

Dancing With The Stars Judges

I’ve been in love with dance for most of my life; it’s a language of the body, one that speaks to us on a deeper level. It’s physical, emotional, intuitive and there’s no art form quite like it. Learning about dance isn’t just about practicing the technical movements, it’s about studying the culture of different styles, the pioneers who took the art form and made it their own. Reading about dance always makes me feel closer to one of my favorite things in the world; here are a few books I’d recommend to anyone who wants to learn a bit more about dance.

Let’s Dance by Paul Bottomer

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Let’s Dance is a great reference guide for anyone who wants to learn more about Latin and Ballroom dancing. With an abundance of information about all forms of Latin and Ballroom, this book makes a great foundational resource for anyone with a passion for dance.

A Very Young Dancer by Jill Krementz

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This was the first book I ever had as a young dancer. It’s both beautiful and inspiring, following a ten year old ballerina through her routine as she plays Clara in The Nutcracker.

Fosse by Sam Wasson

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Fosse is my favorite choreographer of all time; he was such a brilliant artist. After I saw All That Jazz I was fascinated and had to learn everything I could about him. This book is a great resource for understanding what made Bob Fosse’s work so remarkable.

Meredith Monk (Art + Performance) by Deborah Jowitt

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Meredith Monk is one of my favorite artists of all time, a true visionary. I was first introduced to her while I was studying World Arts and Culture at UCLA. She’s a fascinating artist, and her relationship with dance is so deep and compelling. I came to understand my own love of dance through understanding Meredith Monk’s work; she’s an amazing creator and if you’re interested in dance it’s worth it to learn more about her.

Time and the Dancing Image by Deborah Jowitt

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When I went back to school at 30 years old after stepping away from education for my dance career, Time and the Dancing Image was one of the first texts I has to study. This book is a great retrospective of dance, walking readers through the movement of dance trends over time and chronicling all the modern choreographers. It’s a great book to have on your shelf whether you’re a dance educator, historian, or simply someone who loves dance and wants to know more about its history and evolution.

This Monday, June 1st marked the 15th anniversary of Dancing With The Stars. We’re so thankful to have been a part of the lives of all those who love Dancing With The Stars, our DWTS family, for so long. We are planning on returning this fall, but we have to see how things go. There is a lot to be considered and we need to be sure we can do it safely. All I know is that I am looking forward to an innovative and exciting Season 29 of Dancing with the Stars to experience with all of you. We all need a little DWTS magic right about now!

What are some of your favorite books about dance? Tell me in the comments below or tag @carrieannconversations on Instagram!