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Graduate Spotlight: Mike Croley
- EMI Faculty
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
When Mike Croley first encountered mindfulness, he never imagined it would become central not only to his personal identity but also to his public service, nonprofit leadership, and vision for social change. Today, Mike is the founder of Tranquil Path, a conservation- and mindfulness-based nonprofit, a longtime public servant, and a graduate of the
Engaged Mindfulness Institute’s Mindfulness Teacher Training—a program he credits with fundamentally shaping the way he teaches, leads, and lives.
From Curiosity to Calling
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.
What stood out immediately was EMI’s deep commitment to accessibility and integrity. The virtual retreats made it possible for Mike—like many working professionals with families—to fully participate without stepping away from his responsibilities. What he found instead was a profound deepening of practice.
“Before EMI, my meditation practice was bumping along,” Mike shared. “After EMI, it skyrocketed. Now mindfulness is very much part of who I am.”
Training That Transforms Practice
While Mike had meditated regularly before enrolling, EMI helped him step into the role of teacher and facilitator with confidence. The program’s emphasis on structure, inclusive language, and trauma-aware instruction reshaped how he guides others.
Simple yet powerful shifts—such as inviting rather than instructing participants, or offering multiple entry points into a practice—became foundational to his teaching style. Exposure to a wide range of practices, including body scans and visualizations, expanded his skill set beyond his comfort zone and strengthened his adaptability as a teacher.
One practice in particular left a lasting impression: the body scan, which Mike now integrates into his weekly guided meditation sessions.
“I had never facilitated body scans before EMI,” he said. “Now they’re a core part of my teaching.”
Mindfulness in Action: Tranquil Path
Perhaps the clearest expression of EMI’s impact is Tranquil Path, the nonprofit Mike founded after completing his training. Rooted in both land conservation and mindfulness, Tranquil Path protects undeveloped land parcels and offers opportunities for people to reconnect with nature through contemplative practice.
Drawing inspiration from Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), the organization invites communities—often in residential areas—to experience mindfulness outdoors, on land preserved specifically for that purpose.
“I’ve been a public servant my whole life,” Mike reflected. “This is where that path has led.”
Bringing Mindfulness to Public Service: Mike’s Congressional Campaign
In addition to his work with Tranquil Path and community leadership, Mike Croley has taken his commitment to service into the political arena. In 2025, he announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District, running in the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026.
Mike’s campaign reflects the same values that have guided his life and work: integrity, compassion, and a focus on meaningful solutions to real-world challenges. Drawing on his diverse background — including military service in the U.S. Navy, federal public service, and nonprofit leadership — he is advocating for policies that prioritize fair wages, accessible healthcare, voting rights, and environmental protection.
By integrating his contemplative practice with civic engagement, Mike embodies a powerful model of what it means to be an engaged citizen-leader — someone who shows up with both heart and clarity, ready to meet the complex demands of our times with presence and purpose.
A Broader Vision for Compassionate Leadership
Mike’s background in law enforcement and public service gave him firsthand experience with systems that often overlook mental and emotional well-being. Learning about EMI founders Fleet Maull and Vida’s work in prisons profoundly shifted his perspective.
“That work really opened my eyes,” Mike shared. “Mindfulness reminds us that everyone—without exception—is human and deserving of dignity.”
That insight continues to guide him today, including in his current run for public office. While the political arena may seem far removed from meditation cushions, Mike sees mindfulness as essential to ethical leadership—helping leaders listen deeply, regulate emotion, and act from care rather than ego.
Community, Connection, and Confidence
One of the most surprising aspects of Mike's training was the strength of the EMI community. By the time he attended his first in-person retreat, the cohort already felt familiar—connected through shared practice, dialogue, and mutual support.
“The retreats stripped away all the armor,” he said. “They brought me back to who I really am—and reminded me that, at our core, people are good.”
Advice for Future Trainees
For those considering the Mindfulness Teacher Training, Mike is clear and wholehearted:
“Do it. It’s demanding, but it’s completely worth it.”
He emphasizes that EMI doesn’t just teach techniques—it builds a foundation of lived practice, ethical grounding, and community support that continues long after graduation.
“If it weren’t for EMI,” Mike said, “I wouldn’t be a mindfulness teacher today.”
If you want to learn more about the foundations of mindfulness, deepen your own practice, and potentially offer the gift of mindfulness to others, check out our online trainings and the Meditation Teachers Training.
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