From the popular host of The Astral Hustle , an accessible guide to hacking your mind--and life--to feel more fully present and alive, even if you're not the "the meditating type." Through his popular podcast The Astral Hustle and online meditation course Release into Now, Cory Allen has helped thousands of people better cope with the stress of daily life through meditation, mindfulness, and mental clarity. With concise advice and profound simplicity, he manages to cut through the jargon and speak to people where they are, giving them the tools to live in "the wow of now." In this accessible and supportive guide, Allen walks readers through the basics of mindfulness--not as something you should do, but as a tool to achieve greater peace of mind, dial down anxiety and stress, and truly feel like yourself. Informed by a lifelong personal journey, as well as insights gathered through podcast interviews with leaders in mindfulness, neuroscience, and philosophy, Now Is the Way is a simple user's manual for living the life you want, one present moment at a time. "This perfectly timed book is the antidote to our overwhelmed, distracted, and anxiety-ridden modern world. Cory directs us to the present moment with clarity and ease. Read this book and enjoy finding your bliss in the only place it resides…right now." —Emily Fletcher, author of Stress Less, Accomplish More and founder of Ziva Meditation “This honest, hilarious, kind, wise,  and extremely readable guide to presence, to NOW, is priceless and may well be the most important book you own. It has been a daily companion, guiding me back to reality, to what’s actually happening, reeling me back to my breath , reminding me to relax , and making me laugh along the way.” –Devendra Banhart, author of Weeping Gang Bliss Void Yab-Yum and Grammy nominated musician "Sometimes the modern world can feel overwhelming. Stress and depression run rampant even in the most affluent countries on earth. The good news is that Cory Allen is your new best friend for those times when anxiety has you by the throat. His superhero power is mindfulness. And his ability to break it down in an easily applicable way is second to none.” —Daniele Bolelli, author of Not Afraid and host of the History on Fire podcast   “We live in a world driven by ego, distraction, and endless anxiety. Learning to untangle ourselves from it is the work of a lifetime, but Cory Allen gives us a surprisingly simple way to begin that process.” —Damien Echols, New York Times bestselling author of Life After Death   “The journey to Absolute Now is a lifelong calling demanding great courage and persistence. So, understandably, one might need some inspiration. Hopefully Now is the Way will motivate you to stay the course.” —Shinzen Young, author of The Science of Enlightenment   "An insightful debut...Anyone looking for a practical, no-frills introduction to meditation and its potential benefits will readily benefit from Allen’s affable and upbeat style, and his practical tips for getting comfortable on the mat." — Publishers Weekly , starred review "Allen, the podcaster behind The Astral Hustle , offers practical advice on meditation, moving on from the past, being kinder, and more. He also provides several exercises readers will find useful for learning how to relax and live in the moment." — Success Magazine Cory Allen is a podcaster ( The Astral Hustle ), meditation teacher, and audio engineer. Through his popular online meditation course Release Into Now and binaural beats for meditation, he has helped thousands of people learn to meditate with clarity and simplicity. He lives in Austin, Texas. What Is the Present Moment? Your eyes are closed. Imagine feeling at peace in your body. It’s like you’ve had a heavy backpack on for all of your life and you’ve finally decided to set it down. Getting used to carrying that kind of weight is easy. It’s in our nature to tough things out. This weight hurts your bones, but you are good at carrying on. You’re able to make yourself believe that heaviness is a part of life. But today, you realize that you can take off that weighted backpack and leave it behind. When you sling the backpack off your shoulder, it hits the ground with a thud. It thumps the earth so hard you feel an impact tremor run through the ground and tickle your feet. Ah. This absence of weight makes your body feel light. It’s easier to breathe and stand up straight. Your spine pops in relief as you relax your shoulders and arch your back. You start to notice a new sensation. The crushing weight of the backpack made you numb. With it off, your body feels like it’s expanding and flowing outward in different directions. The center of your being feels rooted in your heart. Your shoul- ders and face muscles feel relaxed. A warmth flows into your chest with each breath. Your mind feels calm, crisp, and aware like that of an animal walking through the fores