16:01

Taming The Monkey Mind

by Elliott Treves

Rated
4.8
Type
guided
Activity
Meditation
Suitable for
Everyone
Plays
42.6k

In this session, you will be riding the sensations of the breath and making a mental note of when you’ve noticed the monkey mind running around. Only through discipline can we truly experience our vast mind & outer limits of our possibilities. The discipline allows a rejuvenating energy to arise within us. Without the monkey mind running around and causing havoc, there is suddenly a new deposit of energy rising within you. This guided meditation is part of StressFit's 'Becoming Meditation' series.

MindfulnessBreathingCompassionDisciplineBody ScanEnergyMonkey MindMental Note TakingPresent Moment AwarenessSelf CompassionBreathing AwarenessBreath SensationDisciplines And EnergiesGuided Meditations

Transcript

Welcome.

This recording is part of the Becoming Meditation Series exclusive to StressFit.

This is a concise,

Grounding meditation.

It has been designed to offer you maximum relaxation,

Alertness,

And presence when you don't have much spare time or just feel like checking in with the present moment.

Taming the monkey mind will be helpful if you find your mind excessively wandering or feel you would like to be experiencing a more calm state of mind.

Find a comfortable position for this meditation.

Maintain a straight back with its natural curves,

Then gently close the eyes and mouth.

Only through discipline can we truly experience our vast mind and outer limits of our possibilities.

The discipline allows a rejuvenating energy to arise within us.

Without the monkey mind running around and causing havoc,

There is suddenly a new deposit of energy rising within you.

This will allow you to use this energy for better things.

With the discipline to engage in more meaningful tasks and to stay with them,

Enjoyment comes naturally.

Check in with the body,

Whether you're standing,

Sitting,

Or lying down.

The breath is relaxed and natural,

And you're just noticing how the body is in this present moment.

In this session,

You will be training the monkey mind by mentally noting when your mind has wandered.

You will be writing the sensations of the breath and making a mental note when you've noticed the monkey mind running around.

When you've caught the monkey running amok,

You'll be making a specific or general mental note.

You may want to label your distraction as body sensation,

Or thought,

Or even more specifically,

Like future or past.

You can simply label it wandered or make a sound,

Hmm,

Then gently come back to the breath in the present moment.

There's no need to judge yourself when the monkey mind has been disruptive.

Noticing when the mind has wandered is the practice here.

These are the mental muscles that we are flexing here.

Listening to the breath is all you need to do after the monkey mind has been caught.

I will occasionally produce a sound like this.

This sound should act as a reminder of whether you're in the present moment or if the monkey mind has taken over.

Taming the mind is essentially collecting scattered energy and raining it in so you may experience a deeper sense of freedom.

So this should be a gentle practice where we cultivate compassion for ourselves and the part of us that isn't working towards our greater purpose.

The monkey mind doesn't realize it's doing us harm and it wants to be obedient.

We can realize our potential once we've organized our energy to work in our favor.

Begin by following your breath from beginning to end.

Just watch your breath.

Just observe your breathing.

Focusing all your attention on the breath.

Breathing in through the nose and out through the nose.

In through the nose and out through the nose.

Disengage from the mind and put all your attention on the breath.

In through the nose and out through the nose.

In through the nose and out through the nose.

In through the nose and out through the nose.

As you follow your breath from beginning to end,

Notice how it's flowing in through your nostrils creating a cool sensation on the upper lip.

Perhaps a little bit of a tingle in the back of your throat.

As it moves through your passages,

Down your airways and into your lungs and abdomen.

Feel your lungs absorb your breath.

Connect with the body.

Gently tune into each breath.

One breath at a time.

Gently breathing in through the nose and releasing any tension out through the nose.

In through the nose and out through the nose.

In through the nose and out through the nose.

In through the nose and out through the nose.

In through the nose and out through the nose.

In through the nose and out through the nose.

Life is happening all around you.

You don't need to do anything.

Your breath is happening within you.

You don't need to do anything.

Allow your natural rhythmic breath to anchor you into the present moment.

If distractions arise,

Acknowledge them.

There's no need to try to push them into the background.

And there's no need to fret about them being there.

You are here.

You are now.

These distractions only serve to be your teacher.

To show you where you need to be.

Any distraction is just a sensation,

Attempting to draw you away from the present moment.

It's just there to show you where you need to be.

See the space.

There's no need to chase after the monkey.

You are not sleeping.

You are not working.

You are just here and now.

By sitting here,

You are becoming the witness of your monkey mind,

Taming it with each time that you notice it has been distracted.

And come back to the breath.

In this space,

You are simply present.

It's just there to show you where you need to be.

Congratulations for gathering your energies,

Exerting yourself,

And taking the time to directly investigate what it is like to be mindfully alive.

I hope that this practice has brought you some peace,

Calmness,

Clarity,

And that you will continue to use it to tame the monkey mind whenever you need.

Namaste.

A tron two

Meet your Teacher

Elliott TrevesMelbourne, Australia

4.8 (2 725)

Recent Reviews

Hiba

February 18, 2026

This is a very nice intro, id love a more advanced practice a but longer with brief explanation to be used for daily practice. It can have a couple of minutes in the beginning to align then meditation for 25 minutes or so. Since my goal is to reach daily meditations for 30 min. This was was super for me thanks

Mahesha

May 20, 2025

Such a creative and effective meditation to be aware of the monkey mind. Thank you Elliot☺️🌻☀️

Tatyana

April 20, 2025

Love this guided meditation. Need this every day to tame my monkey mind. Much love and gratitude. ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🕊️🕊️🕊️

Sophie

April 6, 2025

The gentle reminder needed to steer me back on track. Thank you. Namaste 🙏

Sharon

February 10, 2025

Just what I was looking for. I need to train my mind to focus better. Gather energy.

Bekah

October 8, 2024

Just what I needed. Thank you for the calming, focused meditation.

Sarah

March 12, 2024

Very helpful practice to feel more confident on "how" to meditate. Grateful 🫶🏽

Carol

January 19, 2024

I come back to this meditation always. It is a transforming space for me. Thank you so much Elliot. Namaste. C

Jenna

August 26, 2023

Excellent. My monkey is winning tho. Gonna go again.

Corina

July 7, 2023

so peaceful to stay with you in the present moment🕉️

April

April 5, 2023

I appreciate your calm voice and clear direction. I would like even more and longer quiet moments without direction. Namaste

Claire

March 13, 2023

The musical reminder to return to the breath was very helpful.

Don

November 16, 2022

Very well done Thank you very much I will return to this often and share it

Andrew

November 7, 2022

Absolutely beautiful, and EXACTLY what I needed 🙏

Diane

August 11, 2022

So so needed to calm my monkey mind this morning…thank you 🙏

Tanya

August 7, 2022

Really helped me relax and connect with my breath and body, will be back for this one often. Thank you 🙏

Suzanne

May 29, 2022

Fantastic! Thanks Elliot - such simple yet wise guidance. Mother in law stomping in and flicking the kettle on was too much to sit with and had to finish a minute early 🤣❤️

Bob

April 26, 2022

Good reminder of whats important while in a state of calmness. Thanks Bob

Jefrin

April 15, 2022

It was really good and calming gave me a good insight about my distractions... Helpful.

giustäna

November 23, 2021

i liked that the meditation directly addressed and cleared multiple ways of how the monkey mind turns up and gets one out of the mindful state, very effective, thank you :)

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© 2026 Elliott Treves. All rights reserved. All copyright in this work remains with the original creator. No part of this material may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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