Mind-Body Minute: Meditation with Michele Spring (Ep 72)

Episode 73: Mind-Body Minute — Beginner Meditation with Michele Spring Meditation is one of those practices that almost everyone recommends—especially in the autoimmune world. We know nervous system regulation matters. We know stress impacts inflammation. We know slowing down is important. And yet, actually sitting down to meditate can feel surprisingly difficult. Instead of calm, you might feel restless. Instead of clarity, your thoughts get louder. Instead of relaxation, your body feels uncomfortable. For many women living with autoimmune disease, this makes perfect sense. When your nervous system has been on high alert for a long time—monitoring symptoms, managing flares, juggling responsibilities—stillness can feel unfamiliar, even unsafe. In this Mind-Body Minute, Mickey is joined by AIP Certified Coach, Qigong and yoga teacher Michele Spring to talk about why meditation feels hard, what’s actually happening in the nervous system when we try to slow down, and how to begin in a way that feels supportive instead of frustrating. This conversation reframes meditation as a practice of building safety and awareness—rather than clearing your mind or doing it “perfectly.” In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why meditation can trigger anxiety instead of calm How nervous system dysregulation makes stillness feel unsafe What meditation actually is (and what it isn’t) Why you don’t need to clear your mind to meditate How moving meditation (like Qigong) can be more accessible than sitting still A simple way to start with just 30 seconds How to structure a meditation habit so it actually sticks Resources: Free Guided Meditation – Michele’s calming nervous system meditation Michele on Instagram – @ThrivingAutoimmune Michele on YouTube – Michele Spring (Thriving Autoimmune) Episode Timeline: 00:00 – Why meditation feels so hard 01:26 – Meet Michele Spring 02:34 – Nervous system dysregulation and stillness 06:27 – What meditation really is (and common misconceptions) 10:13 – How to get started if meditation hasn’t stuck 11:57 – Structuring a sustainable practice 13:34 – Free guided meditation invitation 14:39 – Where to connect with Michele