Episode 149: Using Mindfulness to Manage Our Suffering with Aiko Smith

On today's podcast episode, meditation teacher, Aiko Smith, talks to us about how we can use our mindfulness practices to bring awareness to our suffering. Suffering is so human! We all experience various forms of suffering. Gaining awareness that there is suffering is the first step. We explore themes of trauma and anti-racism work to highlight how much suffering there is internally and externally. Aiko inspires us to focus our attention on making ourselves and other people feel loved, seen, heard and included. Take a listen to the whole episode and connect with us on Instagram @OneWade and @Aiko.means.love to continue the conversation. 

Aiko Smith is a 2x TEDx speaker, mindfulness facilitator trained by UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center. She is the Founder of a nonprofit organization, The Mindfulness Mindset, which aims to provide mental health services to overlooked communities and the Director of Community at Netwomen.  Aiko is a Black and Japanese American Woman, born on a naval base in Okinawa, Japan, but raised in Los Angeles, California. Her experience of navigating systems of poverty and racism has given her a unique perspective on what individuals and communities require to achieve wellness. Aiko believes that when people feel well, they can present the best version of themselves to their loved ones and their communities. Her life's mission and profession are devoted to teaching evidence-based mindfulness practices and tools for daily life, as an integral part of cultivating an awareness that dismantles internal and external systems of harm. Aiko is a thought leader who envisions a society that prioritizes collective wellness and belonging.