SF Bay Area Meditation Communities
Sitting regularly with a meditation community and finding a teacher you trust is the best way to strengthen your mindfulness practice. Below are local SF Bay Area meditation groups and classes. Most of these groups are donation based. Check the websites for their schedule and more information.
East Bay Meditation Center (Oakland) - Various classes and groups held throughout the week. Their mission is to provide a radically inclusive environment for people of color, members of the LGBTQIA2+ community, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented communities.
Insight Meditation Satsang (Berkeley) - Weekly Tuesday night group ran by Sean Feit Oakes.
Insight Meditation Community (Berkeley) - Weekly Thursday drop-in classes.
Spirit Rock - (Marin) - World-renowned meditation center, holding short and longterm workshops and retreats.
Mission Dharma (San Francisco) - Tuesday night meditation led by Howard Cohn.
Insight Meditation Center (Redwood City) - Classes and events throughout the week.
San Francisco Insight Medication Community (San Francisco) - Sunday and Wednesday nights.
East Bay Healing Collective (Berkeley) - Peer-led Saturday night meditation groups.
San Francisco Zen Center (San Francisco) - Daily groups and classes.
Rockridge Meditation Community (Oakland) - Zen meditation community, meets Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.
Berkeley Zen Center (Berkeley) - Regularly scheduled groups Monday through Saturday.
Recommended Books
Apps & Online Resources
Below are apps and online resources to help you develop your personal meditation practice:
This is my new favorite app to recommend for breathing practices. The design is clean, and the app is simple and easy to use. Many of my clients are reporting very positive results in integrating this app in their daily practice!
Free meditation app for various levels. Includes large library of guided meditation at different lengths from prominent teachers, as well as a timer with virtual bells to support your personal meditation.
Basic meditation training app starting with 10 min./day. Free 10-day series followed by optional paid subscription.
This app includes a daily check-in to rate how you feel and then tailors recommended meditation practices to match your mood. Free or paid subscription version.
Websites & Podcasts
Self-Compassion - Dr. Kristin Neff’s website offers free downloadable meditations and exercises to cultivate self-compassion.
Tara Brach, PhD - Renowned mindfulness teacher and clinical psychologist offers free teachings and guided meditations.
UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center - Free basic guided mindfulness meditation exercises.
UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness - Free Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction guided meditations, loving kindness and movement practices.
Mindful.org - Free audio resources for guided meditations.
OnBeing - Podcast by Krista Tippet exploring questions of meaning and topics on healing, spirituality, and the arts.
10% Happier - Podcast & App by Dan Harris on Mindfulness for Fidgety Skeptics
Focusing Resources - Wonderful resources by Ann Weiser Cornell to help you learn the skill of Focusing.
Mindfulness & Self-Compassion Videos
Kristin Neff: The space between self-esteem and self-compassion
Sylvia Boorstein: Wish Yourself Well
Iain McGilchrist: The Divided Brain
Daniel Siegel: Mindfulness and Neural Integration