Christian had been a wonderful teacher in my meditation journey. He has helped me laugh again and…read morehe consistently supports me with helpful insights and guidance, and I am grateful him!

I was offered the 4 day beginner meditation course through my work as an optional perk and I am so…read moreglad I decided to participate! Christian is very patient and very helpful when it comes to any questions. After the beginner course he invites you to the group meditation he offers every week. I haven't been to a group mediation yet because I live so far but I hope to make it one day! Christian also checks in with you every once in a while and offers up his private email and phone number so that you can call him to ask questions anytime! What I love the most about Vedic meditation is the fact that it doesn't interfere with your daily life, what I mean by this is that you don't have to go lock yourself in a quiet room every time you meditate. This style of mediation pushes you to practice mediating in all sorts of environments! I am only 4 weeks into mediating and I have already seen small positive changes in my life, which is a great start!

If you are having thoughts about wanting to learn to meditate from Light take the LEAP and do it! I…read morepromise you will never regret it. Light makes the mystical journey of mediation so simple and easy to learn. I can say with out hesitation you will learn to meditate and it will change the way you look at the world. I learned 3 months ago and have been mediating 2x a day for 20 minutes ever since. I have had many friends compliment me recently on how calm and relaxed I am and also how great my energy is! Mediation works and Light is an amazing teacher.

Learning how to meditate from Light was deightful. I had never before meditated in my life but I…read morewas looking for a teacher who really understood the concept and could show me a path towards consistent meditation that will help me achieve the inner peace and calmness I desired. I found all of this in Light. He provides his guidance over 4 consecutive days in 2hr lessons and I really felt after the classes that I had learned not only the fundamentals behind Vedic meditation but why it has such a positive impact in one's life and what to expect initially as a beginner meditator. I came out of the classes eager to meditate twice a day and I have not only consistently done it, but I look forward to my meditation sessions. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to meditate on their own and be able to understand meditation and its benefits.

I found Shambhala after reading Pema Chodron's "When Things Fall Apart". Her primary teacher was…read moreChogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of Shambhala. Everything about the Shambhala Westside Center, from the open-sit meditations on Sunday mornings to the Dharma talks on Wednesday nights to the many courses they offer on artwork, flower arranging, yoga and Buddhist thought are imbued with Trungpa Rinpoche's compassionate and inspirational teachings. Every Sunday that I'm able to meditate here is a gift to myself and those in my life. There may be other places to meditate and learn, but Shambhala embodies one of the fundamental sets of Tibetan Buddhist teachings brought to the West. I highly recommend attending any of the events

Anyone can learn to meditate at Westside Shambhala and enjoy the support of a vibrant, wakeful and…read morecreative community. Sundays feature FREE meditation instruction, open to the public. I found the Shambhala community through a book by the founder, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and later came to be inspired by the teachings of his longtime student Pema Chodron and his son and current leader of Shambhala, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. The Shambhala Buddhist teachings emanate from Tibet but are profoundly relevant to the speed and materialism of modern American life...learning to be still, simple and genuine is the antidote that Shambhala offers. Westside Shambhala is an expansion of the Los Angeles center in Eagle Rock. This newly established space is very convenient to meditators on the Westside (duh) and the Sunday sittings and Kitchen Sink Dharma classes on Wednesday nights are a big draw. Come. Have a seat. Take a load off. Get to know your mind.

This review is about the space and the instructor Aras. I haven't had classes with anyone else but…read moreI can say that Aras is the instructor for you if you are looking for more than a workout. But first, about the location - working a block away, this place is a god-send. The studio is no smaller than the spaces at Equinox, and serenely decorated. I am looking forward to doing some stretches with the built-in straps they have on the walls! They have a small boutique and also offer massages (have not tried yet). For those who have to drive, I believe they offer free parking validations. Now, for Aras' class: you will get no thumping music, and though a workout, you may not walk out dripping with sweat. His approach is more holistic so you should call and find out about each class/ instructor. Cheaper than some of the other Montana street/ Venice places, Tru Yoga is a complete yoga studio w/ a friendly staff.

Namaste, holmes!…read more Here's the deal. I not a "that" guy, with his jazz dot, short hair, worried/concerned look, stretching every 15 minutes and extoling the virtues of soy and the latest Vegan place where they make food that tastes like meat but is actually some plant who smells vaguely of patchouli. No. I like cheeseburgers, tequila, beer, comics and burritos. But I am finding I am really liking the yoga. I gotta say, it can be a great workout, it helps me relax and it's actually fun. I learned this because they opened up this yoga studio -- TruYoga--downstairs, literally downstairs from where I work, so I thought I would check it out and I gotta say...it's really awesomely dope. I have done a bit of yoga from my stressed out actor days in New York, but that was a few years ago. I go to the gym (TriFit, which I will also write a gushing review for) downstairs, so when they opened this yoga studio, I was all, "right on, let's check it out!" The good: - the staff is really nice and the teachers are fantastic. they do all kinds of different styles of yoga, from Peter's "Hatha" yoga, which is pretty crazy and all about releasing and opening up and all that, to Liz's Vinyasa flow, which is superb, she's awesome, and it's quite a workout. The other teachers are great, too--there's this guy Ben who does this "Forrest yoga" which is pretty intense. So, the people are great. - the space - it's apparently all eco friendly, from recycled ceiling panels to very nice sustainable hardwood floors. It's a very relaxing place and I have often snuck down there just to talk a bit, have some tea, and look at the stuff they have for sale in their retail area. - other stuff - they have massages there, which I have not done, but probably should try. The retail area is nice, not a TON of stuff, but it's all quite good and perfect for gifts. They have some cool mats, sure, but they also sell cool lotions and candles and other stuff. - I work there so I don't need it, but they have free valet parking, which can be useful if you are running late. The center is on Colorado and Cloverfield, in the Yahoo! Center. - you can shower and change in the studio, or you can use the TriFit facilities, which is nice Anyway, I know everyone and their llama is doing yoga these days -- my friend quips that yoga mats are the new puppies for meeting girls-- but seriously, this place is really, really nice. It's not too big and not to small, and everyone there is just cool. The classes are small (I haven't had more than 8 people) and I am just addicted. I go to Peter's at 5:45 on Monday and Liz's at 5:45 on Fridays and I feel like a champ. So, try downwarding your dog out here and see whatcha think.

Dharma Vow Zen Sangha is a Branching Stream affiliate of the San Francisco Zen Center where new and…read moreexperienced meditators practice Soto Zen Buddhism in the tradition of Sunryo Suzuki Roshi, author of "Zen Mind, Beginners Mind." Our diverse group warmly welcomes new and experienced meditators.

What a gorgeous studio! Adina has created a powerful community space and curated a wonderful…read moreselection of classes and healers in her collective. I love that I can find a wide variety of classes like breathwork, chi gong, sound baths and yoga. You can't find this kind of selection at any other studios in Los Angeles. The space is beautifully decorated and intimate. I enjoy that the max number of students per class is between 10-15 people. As a student that means I can get more personalized support from the teachers and I can make lasting connections with other students.

Adina has created a gorgeous, serene, and grounded space for spiritual transformation. I have…read moreattended two group classes here, and could not recommend more the curation of practitioners that Adina finds to welcome into the space. You have to experience it in person!

As a hardened skeptic, my father's pleas to treat myself to this meditation course fell on deaf…read moreears for many, many months. Until one day they didn't, and I signed up. How grateful I am that I listened to my dad. Barrett is an incredible teacher and human being. It's rare to see someone who can communicate effectively and with kindness, not only about his topic but about life in general, to an incredible array of students. Our group classes and meditation sessions are some of the most diverse and interesting mixes of people I've experienced in LA (and I'm a very social person). And again--I'm a skeptic, but... I went to class believing that in finding stillness I would find "my person." And I did! Am I saying that this class is magic? Yes! In a sense, it is magic. Not because taking the class directly led me to meet my future husband but because it lead me to myself, and that's someone I needed to meet before I could meet anyone else. The introspection and collective awareness Barrett teaches is incredibly beneficial to all aspects of one's life, not just relationships. Go, go, go. You will love him and love the class and love the students, and you'll just feel better in the world. If you even wonder if 40 minutes a day could give you a whole new perspective on life, then the 1% Project is for you.

Before taking Andrew's intro course, I had never been interested in meditation. In fact, I had…read morealways been skeptical of meditation and would not have been the type to believe that something so simple and subtle could change my life from day one. But it did. That first session was all I needed to feel and understand the benefits of Vedic Meditation. Since then, meditating has been instrumental to my health and overall well-being. The most amazing thing about Andrew's course is that I was ok before I started meditating. My stress levels were pretty manageable and life as a whole was pleasant. But the truth is that I simply didn't know how much better my daily experience could be if I applied the techniques and knowledge of Andrew's teachings! Since taking the course about a year ago, I have been meditating regularly and have seen an impressive transformation that is understated, and at the same time remarkable. I can confidently say that Vedic Meditation is for everyone and that Andrew is a fantastic teacher who can guide you - in a very straightforward, yet magical way - to what is sure to be the best thing you've ever done for yourself.

I have been to several sound baths, and Calming Spot is by far the best I have experienced! From…read morethe moment you walk through the door, you can feel the incredible energy of the space. The environment is beautiful, peaceful, and intentionally designed to help you relax and disconnect from the outside world. You immediately feel a sense of calm. The instructors are incredibly experienced, knowledgeable, and genuinely personable. They create such a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere, making it easy to fully relax and immerse yourself in the experience. I always leave feeling refreshed, grounded, and completely relaxed. If you have never experienced a sound bath, I highly recommend starting at Calming Spot. AND if you already enjoy sound baths, you absolutely need to experience one here. This is truly a special place!