We could all use a sense of inner peace right now, right? As this year becomes more and more chaotic, so becomes the intense desire to be thoughtful, self-caring, and present. Right now is the perfect time to begin a new practice with online mindfulness courses because you know your brain needs the rest.

Learning mindfulness doesn’t begin and end with meditation. Even strictly within the practice of meditation you’ll find several disciplines to choose from. But we decided to round up a few different mindful practices that might spark your interest and give you that break so desperately needed.

The best online mindfulness courses for beginners

1. DEMYSTIFYING MINDFULNESS

A true 101 course that actually explains the intricacies and practices that make up, well, mindfulness. Approaching in both a philosophical and psychological way, this course will deconstruct the different beliefs that make up mindfulness.

2. THE MINDFUL WORK DAY

If you’re still employed, your job has no doubt come with fun new stressors. That could mean encroaching fear of risking your life in the middle of a pandemic or, well, Zoom meetings. Take a step outside yourself with this course on the mindful work day, and hopefully you’ll find at least some semblance of peace when you’re on the job.

3. THE SCIENCE OF WELL-BEING

Yale’s famous class on happiness, run by Laurie Santos, PhD, not only teaches you to be mindful in how you savor the day and construct personal positivity, it gives you homework assignments. The course’s positivity rewirements will help you stay positive long after class is dismissed.

4. BIPOC LOVE: NURTURING COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE

For all Black Indigenous People of Color, this course focuses on empathy, compassion, and being able to actively “turn toward” each other in a loving, ethically conscious way. It also helps with alleviating compassion fatigue, and being able to center oneself, giving the self-care that members of the Black community need more than ever right now.

5. ENGINEERING HEALTH: INTRODUCTION TO YOGA AND PHYSIOLOGY

A course from New York University, Engineering Health speaks to those who are trying to learn about how mindfulness practices like yoga and meditation help us on a physiological level. But don’t worry, if you’re looking to get physical there’s weekly yoga assignments.

7. BREATHWORK: MOVE INTO YOUR TRUTH WITH REGINA

Led by breathwork healer Regina of Wolf Medicine Magic, this workshop is meant to hep you get in touch with yourself using the art of inhale and exhale. Get comfy and ready to learn how to balance your chakras—and yourself. Can’t make it to the class on June 14? You could always sit in for Breathwork: Let Love In on June 19.

7. SECRET GARDEN

Intrigued? This is specifically meant to teach you about the seven chakras, but it does it by way of both video and audio meditations. It’s also specifically soundtrack with soothing nature sounds and gentle music, so this is an ideal atmosphere if you really need a mental vacation.

8. HEART OF THE BRUSH

Mindfulness doesn’t have to be pretzeling your body, you can allow yourself to get into a flow in a different way. This is an East Asian calligraphy workshop taught by calligraphic artist and teacher Kazuaki Tanahashi. With little homework assignments at the end of each lesson, you’ll be able to joyfully compose your own unique style of calligraphy by the course’s end.

9. VIPASSAnā FELLOWSHIP MEDITATION COURSE

Originally conceived for beginners but great if you need a refresh in your practice, this long running yoga course focuses on samatha and vipassanā. Samatha focuses on concentration on certain objects, stating with breath relation and then focusing on my compassionate, self-loving meditations. With vipassanā you’re developing insight and awareness. Go ahead, double team your mindfulness.

10. IMPROVE YOUR LIFE AND HAPPINESS WITH THE POWER OF GRATITUDE

Aas trite as it sounds, developing a gratitude practice extremely works! And in this course you’ll learn how to see gratitude from a spiritual, energetic, and scientific lens, before using it to magnify the greatness of your life.