Finding Presence: A Conversation with David Vander Meer on Mindfulness and Yoga
On this week’s Resoluna Podcast, we sat down with David Vander Meer to explore the practice of mindfulness—what it is, how it connects to yoga, and why it can be such a transformative tool for everyday life.
David’s journey into mindfulness began when he found himself easily distracted and struggling to concentrate. Yoga and mindfulness entered his life at the same time, and he quickly noticed subtle but powerful shifts. Over the years, mindfulness has become just as essential to him as yoga—something he finds especially meaningful as both a practitioner and a teacher.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is often defined as non-judgmental present-time awareness—simply being aware of what’s happening in the moment with a sense of acceptance.
As David explains, this doesn’t mean abandoning judgment altogether, but instead developing the ability to pause before reacting. When someone cuts you off in traffic or speaks rudely, mindfulness gives you space to notice what’s happening inside your body and mind, rather than immediately defaulting to old patterns of response.
This pause—the gap between reaction and response—is where mindfulness can change everything.
The Role of Yoga in Mindfulness
Yoga, for David, provides the perfect container for mindfulness. He draws from the Tristana method, which focuses on three points:
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Breath – anchoring attention in steady, conscious breathing
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Gaze (Drishti) – focusing the eyes on a single point to quiet distraction
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Posture – cultivating awareness of the body in each shape
Together, these practices leave little room for wandering thoughts. As David puts it, “You can’t think about your to-do list and be fully present in yoga at the same time.”
For many, yoga becomes a gateway into mindfulness—whether through powerful, physically challenging classes or slower, restorative sessions.
Why Mindfulness Matters
David shared that one of the most profound benefits of mindfulness is the ability to break free from conditioned habits. For example, instead of automatically reacting in frustration during an argument, mindfulness allows space to pause, reflect, and choose a more constructive response.
He calls this the habit of pausing, a practice that doesn’t always come naturally but can be developed over time.
Mindfulness also brings greater self-awareness—helping us notice physical cues like clenched fists, tense shoulders, or a tight stomach during moments of stress. Once we identify these signals, we can consciously choose to breathe, soften, and respond differently.
Five Practical Tips to Start a Mindfulness Practice
David offered five approachable ways anyone can begin incorporating mindfulness into daily life:
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Start Small – Set a reminder on your phone for 2–3 minutes of mindful breathing each day.
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Seek Guidance – Use a book, app, or teacher to help structure your practice.
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Stay Persistent – Change doesn’t happen overnight; commit to practicing even in small ways.
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Notice the Body – Pay attention to where stress shows up physically, and use that awareness as a signal to pause.
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Practice Micro-Pauses – Build mindfulness into daily routines: pause when you wash your hands, touch a doorknob, or sit down to eat.
These simple steps can train the mind to be more present, creating moments of clarity in the midst of everyday life.
The Gift of the Pause
Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from David’s perspective is the reminder that mindfulness gives us the gap to pause. In that pause, judgment can shift into discernment, reactivity into choice, and distraction into presence.
As Viktor Frankl once wrote, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Whether through yoga, breath, or everyday pauses, mindfulness offers us that freedom.
✨ Want to hear the full conversation with David Vander Meer? Listen to this episode of the Resoluna Podcast and explore how you can bring mindfulness into your daily life.