Recommended Meditation Resources From Joanna Dunn Yoga
Looking for recommended meditation resources near you? Meditation is a practice that necessitates continuing education, much like learning an instrument. While solo practice is vital, anyone who has maintained a consistent meditation practice knows the importance of community and a skilled meditation practitioner or guide to prevent discouragement or stagnation.
Fortunately, we have access to a wide variety of excellent resources, from local circles here in Leavenworth and the Pacific North West to online virtual learning. I also highly recommend finding or developing friendships with others who are on the path.
Here is a guide to help you find your next step in practice, whether you're searching for meditation near me or online:
Local Resources in Leavenworth and the Wenatchee Valley
Mountain Om Sangha: Led by Ginger Holladay and Dean Marson, this group focuses on mindfulness meditation. They offer a silent sit one weekday evening and a more interactive sit with a "dharma talk" and discussion on Sunday mornings. (Contact Ginger: [email protected] for the email list)
Stone Blossom Sangha: This sangha offers Zen and Tibetan Buddhist Meditation and meets at the Unitarian Church in East Wenachee on Wednesday evenings. (https://www.stoneblossomsangha.org/)
Kari Lyons Price: Based in Cashmere, Kari teaches live and online Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction courses. (Email her at [email protected] for her next course email list)
The Ripple Foundation (TRF): Based in Leavenworth, TRF offers a variety of courses aimed at personal and global transformation. (https://www.theripplefoundation.org/)
Regional and Meditation Retreat Centers
Mindfulness Northwest: A primary resource for all things mindfulness and compassion-based practices in the Pacific Northwest. They offer many audio and written resources, a calendar of events, and have staff who offer courses in Wenatchee. (https://mindfulnessnorthwest.com/)
If you’re ready to “dig in” and take on a meditation retreat, here are a few highly recommended meditation centers in Washington:
Cloud Mountain in Castle Rock, WA (Between Olympia and Portland)
Harmony Hill in Union, WA (Outside Tacoma)
Northwest Vipassana Center in Onalaska, WA (near Mount Rainier)
Online and Written Resources For Meditation
SoundsTrue.com: Offering enlightening books, audio, and online courses for decades. Recommended resources include:
Power of Awareness with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield (Seven-week Mindful Meditation Course)
The Power of Self Compassion with Kristin Neff and Chris Germer
iRest Yoga Nidra 8 Week Immersion Course with Richard Miller
Self-Compassion.org: Kristin Neff and Chris Germer’s website for Mindful Self Compassion. They offer a ten-week online course and several free guided written and audio resources.
Recommended Teachers
I recommend all of these meditation teachers for their audio, video, online, and written resources.
Tara Brachh - Mindfulness and Compassion-Based Practices
Jack Kornfield - Mindfulness Meditation
Richard Miller - iRest Yoga Nidra
Pema Chodron - Accessible beginner instruction, also more advanced
For a more secular approach, I recommend Jon Kabat Zinn’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction.-----Further Reading: Neuroscience and Meditation
If you are curious about how meditation changes the brain, consider these resources:
Buddha Brain - Book by Rick Hanson
Kelly McGonigal - Books and Audio
Norman Doidge - Books on Neuroplasticity (not necessarily related to meditation)