Latest Posts on Engaged Mindfulness & Teaching Mindfulness

Doubt is the quietest hindrance, often masquerading as wisdom or responsibility. Learn how to identify hindering doubt and return to the direct practice of mindfulness.

There was a class where no one could land. People kept adjusting their posture. Someone cleared their throat every thirty seconds. When the silence stretched even a little, eyes opened, hands moved, and a few people looked around the room like they were checking for an exit. When we shifted into dialogue, the words came fast and scattered, jumping from topic to topic without much pause.

When Jamie Reygle enrolled in the Engaged Mindfulness Institute's teacher training in 2022, he had a clear, straightforward goal: earn a certification. As founder and executive director of InStill Mindfulness, a nonprofit bringing contemplative practices to underserved communities in rural southwestern Virginia, Jamie needed formal credentials to support the organization's growing work. What he didn't expect was that the training would fundamentally r

Struggling with low energy in your mindfulness classes? Explore how naming "sloth and torpor" can transform a flat room into a space of honest connection and renewed presence.

Aversion shows up like this all the time in mindfulness teaching. A student who talks too long. A group that feels disengaged. A tone in the room that’s heavy, angry, or flat. Sometimes the aversion is obvious in students. Sometimes it’s quietly living in us. Either way, when it’s unacknowledged, it starts running the show.

Learn how to identify and soften 'strained effort' in mindfulness practice. Discover why seeing desire is the first step to true presence.

Mike’s journey into mindfulness began while working as a federal employee with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Through an employee resource group called Mindful NOAA, he discovered a growing community of professionals bringing contemplative practices into government spaces. That discovery led him to EMI’s Mindfulness Teacher Training.

If you've taught mindfulness for any length of time, you've probably had moments when you think, 'Well… this isn't the calm, insightful space I was hoping for.' The room feels restless. People are distracted. Someone looks irritated. Someone else looks bored. And if you're honest, you might be feeling some version of that too.

Much of today’s mindfulness teaching takes place on screens, in curated rooms, among people who can mute themselves, turn off their cameras, and leave quietly. This raises an uncomfortable question: Are we still practicing engaged mindfulness—or have we become well-regulated spectators of suffering we no longer have to encounter directly?

Explore the ancient Buddhist metaphor of the six animals to understand how our senses pull us in different directions and how mindfulness can bring us peace

The Insight Timer meditation group offers exactly that. It’s a space where anyone, no matter their level of experience, can come home to themselves through the power of guided practice.

Read or Listen: In a conversation I had with renowned mindfulness teacher and neuroscience consultant Shinzen Young , we explored the wild intersection of ancient contemplative practice and cutting-edge 21st-century technology. The interview, part of a summit on teaching mindfulness, quickly vaulted past standard meditation discussions into a fascinating look at how mathematical metaphors, the rapid ascent of AI, and new biotech  are shaping both human communication and spiri

Learn the difference between formal mindfulness practice (meditation) and informal mindfulness, and how to integrate both into your daily life for less stress and more peace.

Choosing a mindfulness teacher training program is not just about enrolling in a course. It’s a wholehearted step toward your own transformation—a commitment to growing in wisdom and compassion, and to bringing those qualities into the communities and systems you touch. At the Engaged Mindfulness Institute (EMI), we often hear an essential question: “Is a hybrid training really as meaningful as being in person?”

Explore how mindfulness offers presence and resistance in an age shaped by algorithms and screens. Learn practical steps for mindful tech-engagement

The Engaged Mindfulness Institute programming isn’t about quick fixes or abstract ideas—it’s a community where real people learn, practice, and support one another to bring mindfulness into their daily lives and work.

At Engaged Mindfulness Institute, gratitude isn’t an afterthought. It’s woven into the heart of every practice, every circle, every shared breath.

Discover the true meaning of loving-kindness by understanding the subtle enemies of attachment and hatred. Learn how genuine metta transforms relationships, reduces stress, and fosters clear, compassionate living grounded in Buddhist wisdom.

When we discuss mindfulness today, the conversation often centers on meditation, stress reduction, and the development of self-awareness. However, many experts and practitioners remind us that one of the most powerful ways to practice mindfulness is through listening to ourselves, to

Explore the impact of compassion fatigue on caregivers and discover how mindfulness practices can help manage emotional exhaustion. Learn practical strategies for cultivating resilience and sustainable compassion in the face of distressing experiences.