Meditation Teacher & Author
Tami Roos is a meditation teacher and author who joined us during our 24-hour live stream.
Verbatim from the transcripts — each quote links to the moment.
“you have to give yourself the benefit of the doubt and understand it's a journey and you need to go slowly and not have expectations.”
“it's learning to relax the body and quiet the mind. So it's a form of relaxation.”
“Critically important.”
“And so the detachment side of, of things, I guess, like, um, is there an area that you can get into where you're emotionally unavailable? What's the difference between sort of detachment and what you're talking about and just being a brick wall? Yep. So no, it's not about being emotionally unavailable because I think what does happen is you tend to realise that that really with this practice, because you're embracing more of who you are and you're feeling more supported in that, because you are filling your tank up, you're nurturing yourself, that you actually, your heart is more open. So it has nothing to do with being detached. You're actually there for others with a space of more empathy, and again, there's actually a lot of the evidence coming out now which is really just fabulous, is showing that people who meditate, their EQ is much higher than those that don't. So the, you know, so emotional intelligence is being impacted. We know that your— the, the front prefrontal cortex, the frontal lobe on the left-hand side, which they call the side of acceptance, okay, that actually starts to physically change shape the longer you meditate. So it's like you find more acceptance in life, more peace. And so from that, this is where you're getting all these more altruistic, I guess, ideals, more empathy and compassion. So it's not about being a brick wall. The difference that you're asking about is you're detached from having whatever may be being said. You're not taking it on personally anymore and it's not impacting you. Okay, because really, if you think about it, when you get angry because someone says something, it's because you've been triggered. Then you allow that anger to build, and then that anger that you're feeling— take for instance, somebody cuts you off driving. I know this is a really easy example for most people. Some people get really angry. They're cut off, and the dialogue starts, and then it keeps, and then it continues. I should have done this, and I'll remember when that happened, and I'll, you know, a month 'Oh, years ago this happened as well,' and then it just goes on this tangent and you get hijacked and you realise that you go down this spiral of feeling angry and then more of the negative emotions come in and you've really gone out of the present moment, but you've also allowed yourself to be impacted negatively. So when you're in a detached space and you realise this has just happened, you realize, 'I've got the power to choose how I'm going to respond.' So I— does this require something from me right now or not? And that's the difference.”
How do I start meditating without getting discouraged?
Go slowly, don't set rigid expectations, and understand it's a journey like training for a marathon — give yourself the best shot and see how it goes rather than expecting immediate success.
What posture should I use when meditating?
Sit with a straight spine (critical for the 'meditative flow' of energy), keep arms uncrossed and palms upward to stay relaxed, and if sitting unsupported is uncomfortable, use a pillow against a wall, couch, or bed backboard, or sit in a chair with feet flat on the ground.
How should I set up a space to meditate at home during lockdown?
Designate a specific area in the house (not a workspace like the kitchen) as a retreat space for meditation, make it warm and comfortable with items like a candle, blanket, or cushions, and if possible agree with housemates to treat it as a no-work zone.
How can I fit meditation into a busy schedule?
Recognise that the average person spends around 2 hours a day on social media, and choose to redirect just 5 to 10 minutes of that time to meditation, since prioritising your health is your own responsibility.
What's a simple meditation exercise I can do right now?
Turn away from bright screens, sit comfortably, take audible deep breaths, place a palm on your heart to connect with your heartbeat, silently repeat 'there is calm' while breathing, then think of one thing you're grateful for before slowly bringing awareness back to the room.
About three months into her meditation practice, a neighbour stopped Tami and said she seemed different and had 'a glow,' which became Tami's realisation that meditation was changing her even though she hadn't consciously noticed the internal shifts.
Tami describes the discomfort of not being able to travel to see her son in Hawaii or family in the US during lockdown, and how she had to surrender to the situation and rely on her routine of meditation, water, and exercise.
Drawn from the episode transcripts.
Tami Roos says sitting up with a straight spine is critically important because it allows a 'meditative flow' of energy down the spine; lying down often causes people to fall asleep instead of entering a deep meditative state, though she suggests using back support like a pillow against a wall or bed backboard if sitting unsupported is uncomfortable.
From episode 717→Tami Roos explains that meditation is the practice of learning to relax the body and quiet the mind (a form of relaxation), and that doing this consistently is what allows a person to become more mindful — able to observe and respond thoughtfully rather than react from a 'racing' or 'monkey brain' state.
From episode 717→Tami Roos advises starting without rigid expectations, treating it as a gradual journey (like training for a marathon before running one), and simply committing to short, regular sessions rather than expecting instant results.
From episode 717→Every episode featuring Tami Roos on The Daily Talk Show.
