I adore Suzanne…read more Her studio in Playa is VERY far for me to travel since I live in the valley... and yet after a session with her, coming home in traffic didn't bother me in the least (maybe for the first time... ever!? ha!) I was so glad to be alone with my thoughts and in such a great mental state I felt grateful for the slow drive instead of aggravated by it. I think that alone says enough about her as a meditation teacher! But I don't want to stop there... because I haven't told you enough about this lovely and amazing woman. Suzanne truly has a gift. She is calm and soothing and caring and supportive... and she is absolutely meant to be doing this. She seems to have an intuitive knack for knowing just what a person needs... You see the mind can be a dangerous place and we all have such different experiences, and blocks, and ... you cannot apply a one size fits all philosophy to new students. And she doesn't... she works with you, to help you unlock your best self, and she does it bravely and beautifully and she truly makes it as painless as possible despite whatever pain you bring in there. She is awesome :-)

Absolutely fantastic!! Suzanne's mediations are so calming and therapeutic. She can personalize…read moreher guidance to any situation you are going through, and she makes you feel safe to let go, be where you are, and move to where you need to go. I couldn't recommend this studio or Suzanne more highly. Great for people who have never meditated before or for experienced meditators, and everyone in between!

Wonderful Meditation Center and gardens. Group Meditations take place on Thursday evenings at 7pm…read more Today I participated in a meditation retreat starting at 9am. Seated meditation, chants, walking meditation inside and outside. Silent Vegetarian Lunch. I am writing this during a break following lunch. The retreat will end at 5pm. Regular Sunday Service is at 11am. This temple observes the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism. Vietnamese language but if you are seeking enlightenment or understanding of Buddhism the lead venerable monk is very welcoming and helpful. There may be slight language barriers. But they will treat you like family. If nothing else, stop by and walk the grounds, light some incense, enjoy the beautiful sculptures, and breathe.

Excellent place to explore Buddhism however the service is in Vietnamese. There are members that…read morespeak English and there are language classes. It's a place you wouldn't want to pass up if you're looking to explore cultures and religion.

I'm so grateful for this community of special teachers and welcoming students. I teach 3-4 classes…read morea week here and take 3 classes a week as a student. The beautiful space, people and surroundings make my time here each week a place to recharge and relax. All the teachers are devoted students of yoga. Their dedication shines through in every class.

A true sanctuary. A place to dive as deep as you want into your yoga practice, or just take it as…read moreexercise. All practices are welcome here.

When I moved into my house everything felt heavy and difficult. I felt this strange lack of…read moremotivation and stuckness. I couldn't even finish unpacking. It was like slogging through quick sand. Emma's energy clearing work brought life and vitality into the house. Everything felt brighter, like I could take a deep breath finally. I was able to unpack and make my room feel like a safe space finally. I'm so grateful for her work!

From the owner: I believe that the highest possibilities are here and I want to empower everyone that I encounter…read morealong the way. Since 2015 I've been gathering skills and tools to empower clients through Reiki, Meditation, Herbalism, Yoga, Shamanic practices and more. I am a Reiki Master, a Certified Yoga Instructor, a Shamanic Practitioner and an herbalist. I also have a B.S. in Chemistry, which keeps me grounded and critical. Combing all the tools I've learned along the way, I work within the unseen and physical realms to weave personal empowerment as the base of my work. Because I have a solid foundation of the scientific energetic dynamic that makes up matter, I easily understand and work within these relationships with others. I give powerful and practical sessions, leaving clients with tools to continue on their own for pursuing their dreams.

Stopped by the soft opening and was blown away by the store and how much detail and thought was put…read moreinto the wonderful set-up! New stores like this is what the gig needs, make sure you stop by when you get a chance, I believe their grand opening will happen in late April. Emily is super sweet, friendly, and knowledgeable, and she explained all the spirituality background behind the crystals and everything in her shop. She is also Reiki certified and has a bunch of sound bowls for sound baths on the lawn outside in the summer when it's warmer. I can't wait to attend one of her sessions! :)

Beautiful Store with a selection of good quality items. Emily has an amazing energy. It was hard to…read moreleave her store.

I have just recently moved to Seattle and gotten involved with KMC Washington. I am so impressed by…read morethe people here! There are many very long-time practitioners of Buddhism here, and it is clear that they have been sincerely being Buddhists. These are people who have learned from a qualified Buddhist master, and they are humble and have a sense of humor. It is so refreshing! This is a great example of Sangha. As you can see from the photos, the temple is beautiful with a lovely meditation room. This is covid time, and they are being careful, so everything is streamed right now. It will be wonderful when people can gather together inside again in the future.

I encourage everyone to make their own impression but being as this is Yelp, here's mine: this…read moreplace is great in concept but it quickly gave off a cultish vibe to me. And I'm not saying this because I'm a skeptic of Buddhism, as my entire family is Buddhist! My grandfather was a political figure in Vietnam who had the backing and support of the Buddhist party. He also was the one who lent his car to his monk friend on the day that monk infamously lit himself on fire in protest (if you Google pics you can see my grandpa's car in the background behind the burning monk). So yeah, I'm trying to say that I have a familiarity/background with Buddhism. Anyway back to the KMC: Everyone was very nice, but I didn't like how everything was "for purchase" and how meditation classes have a mandatory fee. I'm used to free or donation-based sessions, as most Buddhist temples/centers I'm familiar with are. It felt like they obviously were trying to make money wherever they could, which didn't feel very Buddhist to me? But again, I understand that this place isn't technically a temple or monastery etc so maybe that's the difference. Group meditation felt more like a lecture hall at a college. I personally seek a more intimate, calming environment. Here, they have the ceiling lights on so bright you'd think you were being interrogated. How does one relax and meditate with bright ass lights? Perhaps that's a challenge on purpose? I'd suggest dimming the lights a bit for meditation, even if it means some might fall asleep. *UPDATE*: Upon further online research, I've discovered to my shock that the NKT organization is actively against the Dalai Lama and have been called the "Death Eaters to the broader Hogwarts of global Tibetan Buddhism." There are actually testimonies written by "survivors" claiming how NKT is very much a cult. Make up your own mind about it but the info is out there. TLDR: I don't know if most who go here are aware of all this controversy and that Kelsang Gyatso is opposed to His Holiness. Basically, the sect he's created here is based on teachings/practices that's been banned from Tibetan Buddhism, and there are eyebrow-raising articles online regarding the activity of its members. I strongly urge anyone interested to do their research first because I suspect they're largely successful due to the ignorance of Westerners (their target audience/demographic). I'm giving them 2 stars because the people seemed nice, they provided snacks afterwards, and the lesson taught that day had value, but I personally will not be supporting this center and will seek meditation from a more traditional Buddhist establishment.

I have been coming here for months now and only have great things to say!…read more The teachers are thoughtful, knowledgeable and so friendly. I've taken classes with Aspen, Carolina, Alex, Laura, Iza and Will and they've all been kind, generous teachers. The community at the studio is great- classmates are welcoming and friendly. The studio is clean and mats are spaced in a way that gives everyone enough room. I love that the studio offers special events like yoga Nidra with Carolina, and Kundalini and Sound Baths with Aspen Rose.

I was hoping to like this place and i enjoyed it the first few classes but the majority of the…read moreinstructors are rude and not super friendly or inviting and made me feel like I was unwanted every time I showed up. There was maybe two instructors that I actually enjoyed their classes and made an effort. I understand it's small but yoga is also for everyone and I did not enjoy my experience compared to other yoga places I've been.

I have been attending the Puget Sound Zen Center, both on Vashon and more recently in West Seattle,…read morefor about three years. It is a wonderfully open, cheerful, and thoughtful community, both for experienced practitioners and for those coming for the first time. There are great tips for first-timers here: https://pszc.org/new-to-zen/. I would add two quick things if you are coming for the first time. First, it is a good idea to arrive 15-20 minutes early, regardless of which meditation you attend. It is helpful to get a few pointers on where to sit and what to expect. People will be glad to offer suggestions, and there is always someone assigned specifically to help newcomers. Just ask for "the Shoji." Second, if you do not need wheelchair access, the entrance is right up the steps in the front of the building. The front is the side that looks out on the driveway where you drove in. Like Zen itself, the place has many doors. Like Zen itself, this can be a little confusing. If you need a more accessible entrance, the double doors will be on your right. If they are not open, just knock and someone will no doubt let you in. There is also a satellite Zen Center in West Seattle that meets on Monday nights at Fauntleroy UCC. You can find the schedule and other information for both Zen Centers here: https://pszc.org/.

Warm, supportive community dedicated to learning and applying Zen principles. The practice is…read morerooted in a centuries-old tradition (Rinzai Zen), which feels strong, something I can lean into. When you first start, it might feel foreign, very different, but don't let that dissuade you; the practice, here, is to be true to the discipline while also learning how to teach & apply it in our culture. I also love that there are so many ways to be involved -- from working in the meditation garden, or working in the food garden (food is donated to the food bank), the Racial Healing group - or sitting in meditation on Zoom (every day there's at least one sit). But the thing I appreciate the most is the feeling I get that everyone is sincere, not judgmental or self-righteous. Really just learning how to practice no-self and, from within, transform greed, hatred and ignorance (the vows we say at every sit).