My favorite place. Meditation, dharma talks, lots of love,friendly people. A very quiet place to unwind.

This was one of my entries into group meditation and it was very low-pressure and thoughtfully carried out. Celeste was the leader of the group and her calmness was helpful for me and seemed to be for the others in the young persons group as well. I'm grateful to have found this and though I've since begun exploring other avenues for meditation, remain thankful for my experience there. read more

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Seriously, how is this page not overflowing with amazingness? GET ON THIS, YELPERS. I've been ClassPass-ing my way around the USA trying virtual meditation and yoga classes. I was immediately intrigued by InsightLA. Not only is it a non-profit, but they currently have multiple virtual classes a day. I attended Walking the Buddha's Path Together: Clear Wisdom for Modern Times with Lisa and had a 6-star experience. The communication was timely and I had zero issues logging on. They were so organized. Even from about 3,000 miles away, this was one of the best meditation classes I've ever taken. I resonated immediately with instructor Lisa. She made me feel welcome and I felt like I've known her my entire life. I could sense the deep connection in their community, mostly because I've never done a virtual class like this where almost all participants had their cameras on and were actively engaged. I loved that Lisa didn't just read something out of a book, but rather created an original lesson based on her extensive knowledge of meditation and the Buddha's teachings. I donated immediately after and will be back several more times through this pandemic! read more

Trudy Goodman is an outstanding meditation and mindfulness coach! Her teachings have helped me manage stress greatly. Strongly recommended!

"Qigong ('chee-gung'), a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong It is all of that but how does it feel? I attended my first Qigong Self Healing Class, initially concerned about getting it "right". Somewhere between the self-massage portion of class and the meditation, the perfectionist in me abated. I fumbled through the strengthening poses but it didn't matter that I did. By cool down I had forgotten my laundry list of to-do's, as well as, the week's stressors. And like being under the influence of a great massage, I felt like I was "floating", at peace. No radio on the ride home. Once there I craved quiet to be with, to savor, this feeling, of which traces remain today. As I don't connect with Yoga, Tai Chi or meditation (hm, or do i?) this is where I need to be for now. Michael Sieverts http://www.michaelsieverts.com/ is an unpretentious, patient instructor. More on InsightLA's good works here: http://www.insightla.org/about/ read more

You'd have to been living under a rock not to have noticed the skyrocketing popularity of mindfulness meditation practice these past few years. It's everywhere: on the covers of national magazines like Time, the Atlantic or Psychology Today; books on practice line miles of bookshelves in the brick-and-mortar and online book stores; and meditation apps proliferate like Instagram posts. While this is a positive trend, prospective students should be wary. The more popular a health and wellness practice becomes, the more options appear - in the form of studios, media offerings and classes, the more carefully the student should be when selecting a class, a teacher or a place to practice and study. Mindfulness is a gradual training. While some benefits of practice are immediately apparent, when it comes to teachers, there are no "overnight wonders." The sad reality is that there are a lot of people out there with, "overnight certifications," who have no business teaching, however well-intentioned. What distinguishes InsightLA from the spate of for-profit meditation spaces that have opened up in recent years is that InsightLA is a nonprofit (nobody is getting rich teaching here), and the experience of the instructors. Their senior teachers have been practicing in the insight tradition since it was first widely taught in this country by people like Jack Kornfield, Sharon Shalzberg and Joseph Goldstein, the very people who brought the practice from Thailand and Myanmar, in the early seventies. Several of the doctors and therapists teaching with Insight LA studied with, and were certified by, medical professionals who pioneered the use of secular mindfulness and compassion practices in medical and therapeutic settings, like Jon-Kabit Zinn, PhD, and Kristen Neff, MD. Others trained as dedicated lay practitioners or monastics in all three branches of the Buddhist tradition abroad, in countries like Thailand, Myanmar, Korea, Japan, Nepal and India - some for periods as long as ten years. Moreover, many of the teachers are doctors, therapists, social workers, educators, lawyers, media and business persons, and have had direct experience applying the lessons of their practice to their busy personal and professional lives, experiences they share in class and on retreat. To help you establish and maintain your practice, there are donate-what-you-can community sits held every weekday at 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm at the Santa Monica location; and 9:15 am, 12:15 pm and 6:15 pm at the East Hollywood location. There are also sits for affinity groups sits scheduled for People of Color, Young Adults, LGBQT, lawyers and people in recovery, among others. While donations are encouraged, no one is turned away for lack of funds at community sits. To help you deepen your practice, InsightLA offers (and recommends participation in) day-long non-residential retreats at the East Hollywood, Santa Monica and the Benedict Canyon locations in LA; and multi-day, residential retreats held at the Retreat Center in Big Bear City, CA (2-3 hours north of LA). Financial aid is available for most of the classes and retreats, for those who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend. You can apply for aid when you register for classes or retreats at insightla.org. Whether you practice meditation to improve your effectiveness at work, the quality of your life and relationships, relieve the symptoms of stress, chronic anxiety or depression; to stay sober or seek nothing less than liberation from suffering in this lifetime; if you really want to reap the full benefit of mindfulness practice, there is no better place to study and practice in our area that InsightLA. read more

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Sunday morning sitting group with the masters Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfeld. And therein lies my ongoing frustration with Insight LA. Excellent teachers. Excellent group of people. Excellent way to spend 2 hours on Sunday morning. I feel like my brain got cleaned out and re-set. People hang around afterwards and I always meet interesting people. So why can't I get anyone to help me find the next class that's right for me? I'm at a loss. I have not found an organization in LA that is so closely affiliated with Spirit Rock and Jon Kabat-Zinn's teachings, but I cannot find a way to take the next step with Insight LA. Trudy if you're ready this, a little help....?! read more

For an organization promotion Buddhism etc... they charge an exorbitant amount of money for their classes. That is big turn off. For their mindfulness class they are charging $225! This isn't an organization I can support as it's clearly against the principle of Dana. It's geared towards the privileged and elite and makes it out of financial reach for the rest of the population. Clearly they are more interested in making a profit rather than standing by the principles of Buddhism. read more

I've dropped in for several of the "Young Adult" meditation groups (because I'm only in the area really on Sundays)....good stuff! It is more the Theravada style of Buddhism, but it's a pretty cool space to practice anything. These particular sessions were guided, but with room for your own practice, and involved group discussions and questions. Nice, peaceful vibes and a DONATION process for the class - which is both traditional and flexible - that was cool, no risk of feeling "cheated" or like you wasted your money, in fact you'll probably be glad to donate something! I have encountered "really good" to "ok" teachers though because they trade out duties on teaching this particular Sunday night session....just a heads up, if you don't think it's awesome go back when another teacher is there! read more

Insight LA is a HUGE blessing in my life! I wish everyone in LA knew about this. Their guided meditation classes are led by amazing teachers and everyone is so nonjudgmental and accepting. As a woman of color who is unemployed currently, they told me I could receive financial aid and donate whatever I could for amazing events such as the Self Compassion training by Dr. Kristen Neff, who is one of my role models for the past 6 years. I never thought I'd be able to afford going to these kinds of retreats and events to find peace but they offer so much support and it is accessible to those who are struggling financially. I am so grateful for everyone who makes this non profit thrive! It is life changing. read more

Always reliable and steady. It's a non-profit and donation based. Their weekend programs are great as well as their lunch time sessions. A treasure on the west side. read more

I learned to meditate with insight LA 10 years ago and it's changed my life. The teachers have been practicing for eons and the donation based classes are inclusive and warm. Since moving from the westside to the eastside I have been trying to attend their eastside classes but it's ironically hard to make the time to forget time. I'm grateful that I now have a personal practice and have Insight LA to thank for that. read more

Took a six-week "mindfulness and depression" class in early 2011. Elisha Goldstein--who never stops promoting himself every chance he gets--was the teacher. During one of our "check-ins" (going around the room of ~20 people, chairs in a semi-circle, each person taking a turn), I talked about being suicidal and was in tears. The people near me were kind and hugging me, while Elisha stared at me and went into a monologue--and told me I was "just having a pity party" for myself. I was in crisis and had come to InsightLA for help! And here was the narcissistic Elisha ridiculing me. He should have his licensed revoked for the things he said to me. I always warn people in emotional or spiritual need to avoid this place. read more

I first heard about InsightLA in 2008, when I took an 8-week MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) class with Trudy and Christiane. It was a group of 20-ish people that met once a week in the loveliest room at Loyola Marymount University. This room had giant picture windows and a view of Marina del Rey and the ocean, and the part of the campus we were in was just so calm. Really, an ideal location for this class. In the class, we shared about our stresses, learned how to be more mindful in our daily lives, did take-home practices, and practiced meditation together. Trudy also gave us CDs of a guided meditation that helped me IMMENSELY during what was a very stressful time in my life. Really, the whole class helped me calm myself and integrate mindfulness in big and small ways that I still use today. Trudy and Christiane are both very authentic and warm, and I remember feeling like they always went out of their way to communicate fully with each and every person in the class, and to acknowledge each and every person - whether they were present or even missing from a specific class. It was a very welcoming and safe space to be in, and I met some very warm people through it. One thing that I will always remember is Christiane telling the group how she teaches women to use mindfulness to help them get past their fear of childbirth. I have always gotten psychosomatic cramps every time I watch anything relating to childbirth, or even see it acted out in the movies. So the fact that I can say that her description actually made me feel like I could fearlessly give birth means A LOT! Since taking this class, I have referred countless clients and friends to InsightLA for seminars (they have very moving speakers), MBSR classes, and just a general point-towards for education on quieting the mind. If you have any interest at all in doing something to make yourself healthier on the inside, more resilient to what affects you from the outside, and calmer all the time, you really owe it to yourself to check their classes out! It can literally be life-changing and life-saving. read more

I really want to like Insight LA but after multiple visits I think Insight LA is in it for the money and ego. Recently, I went to an event where Insight LA founder, Trudy Goodman, referred to her husband as "The American Dalai Lama." I thought that was off-putting but tried to let it pass, since he has done a lot, but he took over the event and wouldn't stop talking about himself so I ended up leaving. I was there to listen to Maria Shriver speak about her book on Mindfulness and only heard about Jack Kornfield. Jack Kornfield reminds me to the Bhagwan from the Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country who says some wise things but is charmed by his ego. read more

my experiences with insightla going back at least five years up to present includes work with many different teachers. my most recent experiences with Christiane Wolf and Celeste Young continue to inspire my daily practice. i recommend the insight retreats and formal classes such as mindful self compassion as important steps on the pathway to liberation. sunday is a big day for practice including many affinity groups. maybe i'll sit with you and Lisa Kring at nine. read more

I'd been interested in meditation for years, but never got further than thinking "hey, that's something I want to know about!". Then a friend of mine mentioned InsightLA to me. I checked out their website and finally took the leap this January and signed up for the Beginning Meditation class. I couldn't be happier that I did. I don't have anything to compare InsightLA to as far as medidation centers go, but I loved the welcoming feeling of the space, the teachers and the other participants. I liked that the rules weren't super strict. I have a friend that practices another type of mediation and it seemed very rigid to me. I liked that we discussed how we were progressing each week with the mediation and the other practices we were learning. Overall, what I've learned has been very helpful to me and I'm so grateful that I found InsightLA. I'm looking forward to a continued relationship with this mediation center. read more

First things first: I'd recommend you go sit in on a class before you make up your own mind. Secondly, my experience has been great with InsightLA. I took Basics of Mindfulness Meditation (with Celeste) and I attend their guest talk events when I can. Also, I've sat on their Sunday morning sitting group, which is a pretty neat constellation of folks, lead by InsightLA's founder, Trudy. As a beginner, I appreciated their small size & their ability to draw some pretty cool teachers, like Jack Kornfield (who also sits on the board). Take the time out and discover it for yourself! read more

I've been taking Mindful Meditation classes here for the past 2 years. Seems Mindful Meditation has become a bit trendy lately but honestly, if you make it a part of your life it helps with stress and overall well being. For beginners, they offer 6 week basic meditation courses, and each instructor offers a different spin, which I love. I especially like Ron Ames. read more

My experience at InsightLA was excellent. I recommend InsightLA very highly, especially to all healthcare professionals. I will definitely return to study and practice there. My MD boss paid the very reasonable $35 fee for me to attend "Mindfulness, Meditation, and Coping with Death: A One-Day Retreat for Professional Health Caregivers." Although I am a mere statistician, our research in End-of-Life care affects me in the same way my earlier work on AIDS and bullet penetration did. Sad, powerless. I feel too much, get numb and need some specific coping tools. The workshop was perfect. Mostly nurses and social workers, MDs and caregivers' spouses, the group was extremely warm and welcoming. I am not alone in feeling so troubled. That in and of itself was worth my spending a work day at InsightLA. Those who work with dying children gave me hope and faith in our human race. Next, the physical space: gorgeous. Nice lighting, great flooring, excellent choices in soap, coffee cups, toilet paper. Sheesh, am I fussy or discerning? Dunno, but I am happy at InsightLA. Best part? The teachers, Catherine Klatzker, RN and Trudy Goodman, PhD. Authoritative and compassionate, these two were real leaders. I left feeling so much more supported with these specific tools: A. Breath awareness mindfulness-based stress reduction meditation B. Contemplative Meditation C. Silent mindful eating (of a yummy lunch) D. Truths of suffering E. Metta practice Teaching a class with first time meditators and seasoned practitioners is NOT easy they did it very well. And nothing we learned was at odds with my religious practice at all. Secular and non-theist, they were kind and open to all beliefs. A note on the purported "disorganization" another reviewer found: Sir, you may be right. A young woman came in for a different class that had been cancelled or rescheduled. I saw how kindly she was treated and wish your experience had been more like hers. She joined us for one sitting and left in peace. My only suggestion would be to add a recycling area, perhaps in the parking lot. Oh, and change the Yelp categorization of InsightLA as a "religious organization" to perhaps, educational or some other SBNR (Spiritual But Not Religious) category, please. Maybe I can find out how to do that, huh? read more

Insight LA is a very welcoming meditation center in Santa Monica with a variety of courses such as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Metta (loving kindness), Buddha's Path, and more. All of the classes I have taken five classes there so far have been great. Celeste is one of my favorite teachers as she is personable and knowledgeable about meditation. There are also sitting groups daily which request dana (donation). I have attended one with Diana Gould on Thursdays. We sit for about 45 minutes and then have discussions on topics like gratitude and having intention rather than reacting. I have observed people coming there for a few years and can see the change in their outlook and a greater sense of equanimity. I always feel happier after leaving classes at Insight LA. Come join! read more

Such a gift to the physical and online communities! Trudy Goodman, Jack Kornfield, and all the other teachers are so generous with sharing their wisdom, compassion, and lovingkindness. read more

Insight LA used to be a good place to learn about Buddhism and secular meditation. I've taken several classes there, mostly with Celeste Brooke Young, who was always prepared and an overall great teacher. I also took classes with another teacher whose name I won't mention. I didn't learn much as she never really seemed prepared for class; it wasn't structured, and she seemed to just 'wing it'. She didn't control the class, and at least half of it was taken up by people asking long-winded questions. So I ended up having to really grill her about her knowledge of Buddhism, but didn't get anywhere. Even approaching her after class didn't work, as the long-winded devotees took up the post-class time too. It's best to just stay home and do your own research from books. InsightLA has grown into a big money-making venture run by a board of media moguls. It's just a new sort of business model. The main reason I no longer attend InsightLA however, and don't recommend it is because they have strayed from their Buddhist principles and their core mission. They're dedicating a disproportionate amount of their energy towards promoting political issues which only create strife and discord among a commuity of people who need peace more than hysteria. Among the recent emails I've received from them, one was to promote attendance at a protest to save 'net neutrality'. What does Buddhism have to do with net neutrality? The other was email was promoting attendance at the "Women's March". The organizers of the Women's March have banned groups who oppose aborting (killing) babies from joining the protest as partners. At least two pro-life groups were removed from the march's 'partners' page. March organizers added "safe, legal, affordable abortion" as a core principle of the march. In Buddhism it is traditionally believed that life starts at the time of conception. Every single day, around the world, we Buddhists place our hands together in a gesture of devotion and chant the Pali words panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami (I undertake the training principle of not taking life). This is the primary principle of Buddhist ethics, the first precept. There are 125 partners as part of the march, and they couldn't make room for one group that followed the most important Buddhist precept and one that InsightLA claims to teach. Why is InsightLA promoting a march that is so unwilling to listen to a feminist and Buddhist perspective with such deep roots in feminist history? And why, InsightLA, are you encouraging members to support a political march at all? This sort of publicity you're giving to protests comprised of groups you have not vetted, and funded by financiers who've you've not vetted is not in conformity with Buddhist teachings. It's all about politics. These days, if you frequent InsightLA, it's not a place to seek solace from the stormy political climate. InsightLA enables it; they foment it. It's the product of a really juvenile, unsophisticated, simple-minded, intolerant, disriminatory, mindset. Why is a group that espouses tolerance so intolerant? They've been manipulated into supporting every nebulous 'social justice' cause you could think of. We don't come to InsightLA for more shallow political hysteria. We come to meditate and learn about Buddhism. I'm not the only one who has experienced the off-putting injection of politics into InsightLA's teachings. Read Yelp reviewer Denise R's March 16, 2015 review. Besides supporting political protests, InsightLA teaches a sort of laughable Buddhism lite, a rather confused mishmash of hippy, pseudo Buddhism rather than any genuine doctrine. Most of its leaders and teachers are devotees of the Spirit Rock doctrine, which one should be wary of, considering its links to lamas such as Sogyal Rinpoche who have been accused of physical, emotional and sexual violence towards women. Sogyal Rinpoche's abuse was well documented by numerous mainstream media outlets. In 1994, a $10 million law suit was brought against him by former students, claiming he used his position as spiritual leader to sleep with his female students and included charges of assault and battery. He allegedly punched a nun in the stomach in front of a whole class! It was settled out of court. I recommend people to take classes in mindfulness at UCLA's MARC (Mindful Awareness Research Center) instead. Their classes are far more structured and the teachers far better. That's expected when you take classes at a prestigious university. You will never receive an email from UCLA's MARC encouraging you to attend a sign making party for a woman's march or protests against technology issues that have everything to do with corporate greed and politics - nothing to do with Buddhism or mindfulness. So again, I cannot recommend anyone taking classes at InsightLA or being associated with them in any manner. As I said earlier, InsightLA has grown into a big money-making venture run by a board of corporate moguls. read more

Wonderful space of refuge, sanity and wisdom. It is such a gift to be able to have direct access to such wonderful teachers such as Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman. I have personally had many breakthroughs in the 2+ years I've been going to their classes. If you live in LA this a great Buddhist resource, even if you're not Buddhist. It is a safe space for all colors and identities. May all beings be happy. read more

Insight LA provides the warm and loving community one badly needs in a big city in our modern world. I feel at home and at ease when I am there. No pretenses. No shoes. Good tea. And plenty of time to sit and just be, and remember that life needn't be difficult -- it can be simple and beautiful and sweet in its simplicity. read more

InsightLA is MY sanctuary of Los Angeles. For anyone who wants to learn and integrate a mindfulness and meditation practice in their busy and stressful lives - this is the place! It's also excellent as an educational center for anyone who wants to learn how to teach mindfulness and meditation. I've practiced mindfulness over 15 years and daily Meditation for 6 years. Initially I took the 6 week MBSR course with Christiane Wolf and then two years ago I took the teacher's practicum in MBSR over the course of 10 weeks (70+ hours) with Christiane Wolf and BethMulligan. It was absolutely awesome because Christiane and Beth are! read more

After a traumatic life event, a friend suggested it might be helpful for me to go to Insight LA to find some peace during this difficult period. I will always be grateful for that suggestion and to Insight for helping me to heal and to learn. Today I am completing an 8-week MBSR (mind body stress reduction) course led by Dr. Christiane that has catapulted my learning. Christiane is a remarkable teacher! I feel calmer and was very surprised to notice that a large patch of eczema on my left foot has totally disappeared ... amazing proof of the mind/body connection. I love the warmth and intellectual stimulation that I've found at Insight ... it feels so nourishing and good to be there. I look forward to learn from Insight's smart and skilled teachers, to connect with new friends and to continue to grow. Audrey S. read more

What a gift I discovered today! This is a beautiful safe space free of judgement and wonderful wisdom. Today's topic was "True Generosity", and I feel so grateful that Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield were generous with their time. Also, the fact that there is no ticket fee for these Sunday Morning Meditations is rare, they operate on donations, so please, donate. I definitely will be coming back and spreading the word about this beautiful place. Thank you, Trudy and Jack. read more

InsightLA is the most wonderful place in LA to connect with a community of meditators and mindfulness practitioners. Last fall I took an 8-week course in MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) with Christiane Wolf and fell in love. I already had a regular meditation and mindfulness practice but the course introduced me to Body scans and other mindfulness practices as well a deeper commitment to my practice. MBSR is a gem of the highest order and I am so grateful I experienced it at InsightLA. For anyone looking to find a way towards peace and tranquility look no more... read more

This is a fantastic community and a legit meditation center. They have Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self-Compassion, both of which I would highly recommend. It might seem expensive, but it is more than worth the cost. They also have sitting groups and daylong retreats. read more

I started coming to Insight LA a few years ago, on and off. I always had a great experience sitting and participating in the dharma talks of Trudy Goodman and Jack Cornfield. However, and this is why I am writing this now, and not when I could give only 5 stars, some of the guests when Trudy and Jack are not there are questionable. Last Sunday we had a teacher whose name I will not give, but who only tied acceptance and tolerance to political plights, including hers, such as those of the Irish at the hands of the English, or of the African-Americans at the hands of the whites, also invoking the recent movie Selma. Her talk was shallow and she read quotes from poetry and other authors, infantile, like a high school presentation. I asked a question that could elicit both Buddhist answers - it was about rightful action and the connection between sitting (practicing acceptance and tolerance) and action - or more secular, or even political answers. After all, with her political presentation she had opened the door to political questions. The speaker became defensive and absolutely not equanimous. She gave the example of the civil rights movement, but then she said we could not talk politics there. She could not answer my question in fairness, and cut short the Q&A time after me. Some of her students glared at me, although many other people came to me in the lobby as they had been truly intrigued by my question. One member of that sangha, who also called herself a Quaker, wanted to pick a fight with me and she picked on my accent, putting me down for being Jewish, pro-Israel, for believing in God. I felt that was not the place to truly ask Buddhist or otherwise questions, and I also felt the absence of a community. Their courses are extremely expensive, a reason why I will not take them. The place has a promise that sometimes it delivers , other times it doesn't, like everything else in life. read more

I have gone to events and talks at InsightLa for many years. I never stop being grateful and awed by what has developed there, and continues to develop. Devoted, altruistic, gifted teachers and staff. An incredible range of distinguished visiting speakers and workshop leaders. I recently went to a full day workshop which was transformative. As a long time practitioner and sitting group leader, I have loved having a place where i can send people to learn mindfulness, meditation and stress reduction and know that will work with beautifully trained teachers in a center that has none of the sexual and money issues that have dogged groups of old. i would encourage anyone to try this precious resource for bringing peace and happiness into their lives read more

I'd never studied meditation before, when I recently took a 6-week class with Celeste @ InsightLA. I'm not a spiritual person and confess I was expecting a somewhat annoying hippyish vibe from the experience, but I'm impressed to say that Celeste led the sessions in a manner where people could incorporate her lessons into their belief system or simply take her exercises in a purely secular way, while both camps simultaneously received a beautifully rich, peaceful, wonderfully productive experience. It's a rare gift in any teacher not to load their own beliefs onto what should always be the personal journey of the student. I still don't make time to meditate every single day, but whenever I do...every single time...I feel profoundly better, calmer, clearer & more centered. They took this skeptic and made me...if not a believer, a fan. read more

I have taken a number of classes at InsightLA in both their Santa Monica building and in the Los Feliz area. My beginning mindfulness class was taught by Christiane Wolfe and Lisa Kring. Mindfulness was extremely difficult for me. Due to Christiane's help and support I was able to begin my own practice. I then took Elisha Goldstein's mindfulness class for depression which incorporates mindfulness and cognitive therapy. I was amazed by how well Elisha was able to balance a class full of people in pain. He would always help us work through any deep emotions brought up in class and also made himself available by email and phone. This class was also difficult for me. But Elisha was compassionate, helpful and caring. The classes at InsightLA have helped bring some balance and peace to my life. I whole-heartedly recommend InsightLA. read more

I've been coming to InsightLA since 2005, and I can say that meditation has transformed my life. (Not like the way a caramel-brownie sundae transforms your life. More deep and lasting and trustworthy than that.) I started because my dad had cancer and I just didn't feel like I had the emotional capacity to absorb what was happening. Basically, I was freaking out. Meditation helped immensely -- then and after, when he died. I'd recommend it to anyone going through a difficult time. But it's also a great practice if you feel like you're on a hamster wheel and don't know how to give yourself a break. Or you just want more joy. (Who doesn't want more of that?) Trudy Goodman has a generous and rare ability to listen to people's stories, make them feel heard, and then translate their experience into something that resonates with a whole roomful of people. She's a gifted teacher and we're lucky to have her here in LA. Also worth noting InsightLA's philosophy of not turning anyone away for lack of funds... should some of your troubles be financial. read more

If you're seeking refuge and calm from the wildness of urban living in LA, you've arrived home. So forget about the traffic, kick off your shoes, relax, and be prepared to receive meditation and mindfulness instruction from, literally, the world's greatest teachers. The drop-in classes throughout the week are fantastic as are the various workshops and retreats. InsightLA is a true national and global treasure, and whether you live in Los Angeles or are visiting, you are lucky to have this resource, so I highly encourage you to take advantage of it. (I'm an LA resident but away often and appreciate the extensive programming available on InsightLA's fully-stocked Facebook page. If you're not in LA, go to https://www.facebook.com/insightla/ where you'll find lots of guided meditations and mindfulness instruction.) There is so much goodness that comes out of the centers, the teachers, and fellow souls, who, just like you, are seeking to improve the way they think, live, and interact with the world around them. At https://insightla.org, you'll find the mindfulness groups that meet throughout the week and throughout our vast city, and you'll also discover all the fine programs. You'll also gain insight into how this organization connects with a lineage that spans literally thousands of years...so you can be assured that the guidance you're receiving is based on time-tested methods. I love this place and have become a calmer, happier, and less stressed-out person as a result of what InsightLA has given me. read more

I took the 8 week MBSR class with Christiane Wolf in Santa Monica and loved it. I had already been meditating on my own and I liked that this offered me different kinds of meditation, a community, a push to stay committed to creating a daily practice even if it doesn't involve sitting, and an introduction to a daylong class. Christiane was more then available for support and I really enjoyed our discussions in class. I am now going to the Monday night sitting groups in Los Feliz and feel like I have found a home for my practice. read more

This place is amazing. The administrators are very compassionate and considerate. Any time I come here, everything is properly organized and prepared for guests. I think most people would benefit from a class at this center. My experiences have been great. I have very peaceful memories from this place. Whenever I need to relax and reset myself I come here and immediately see the resulting wonder. read more

While I appreciate the existence of InsightLA, they've led the way in LA in providing sitting groups, workshops and classes in insight meditation and MBSR, and also in reaching out to parts of LA beyond Santa Monica, I've come to view the organization as somewhat elitist, `particularly in catering to the needs of mental health professionals seeking to use the concepts in their practice and in using mental health professionals to lead their classes. Buddha may have been a privileged man but he didn't have a Ph.D. While they profess to exercise the practice of "dana", the workshops and classes are very expensive, as if catering to affluent white professionals in Santa Monica (and financially successful mental health professionals), and there's a push after every session for donations. I realize even non-profit organizations need money to sustain their work but this is over the top, like a newfangled entity, capitalist Buddhism. There is more ego here than I find tolerable and it's unfortunate. They teach a powerful technology that can be life saving. It's unfortunate that it must be employed in their sessions with all the triggers they set off. read more

Definitely a money-making venture for wealthy people. I referred a young woman who I thought a class may help, and she said that she was treated rudely even after offering payment plans on the lowest sliding scale fee (which is very high). I was disappointed when she relayed her conversation to me. read more