I am in my 50's and in a place in my life where I am the sandwich generation. I am caregiving my 2…read moreelderly parents who live in San Diego while I am in the Bay, so I travel monthly to care for them. I am raising 2 kids at the same time. One who has ADHD. Through this stage in my life, there is a lot of stress I experience from caregiving my parents and there is more conflict I have with my wife and kids. Through my life, I sought help from supportive friends and relatives. I went to therapy. I also tried yoga and Taichi. It has not been enough. I researched meditation and came upon SF Meditation and met with Emily. When I first met her, her demeanor and aura was of calm and I already felt better with her presence. I did my first session with Emily and learned the overview of the method. Going through my life cycles was revealing. Learning to meditate with my eyes open showed me I can reflect and make better choices in how I handle life's situations as I go about my day. In the last weeks, my approach with my family is calmer, more open and less rigid. My son said once, "Is this really my mom?" and we had a good laugh. My daughter was experiencing some anxiety and I shared some helpful tips I learned from Emily, and my daughter found them helpful. I look forward to learning more and more. On how the meditation center runs: it is super accessible because they have virtual sessions. In these sessions, you meet other meditation leaders and people from all over the US. I feel like I am not only part of the Bay area community, but also a larger community worldwide. If there is one thing I would change (besides wishing I found the meditation center sooner!), I would want access to weekend in person sessions. But I understand even our meditation leaders need a break :) And on weekends, there is still access to virtual meditation, so still can get support that way.

I started meditating here right before the pandemic. I was a little guarded at first, ironically…read morebecause the staff were really nice. I started with skepticism but I realized soon that they were in fact very genuine. I have been meditating for more than 4 years now. I totally love this meditation. This meditation has been very transformative for me... I appreciate Emily who typically leads the group and individual classes here... I also love the environment of the center and how clean the meditation spaces are.... You will not regret it .. Try it out.

Great Tibetan Buddhist Temple Loved it ! Went for The…read moreMedicine Buddha service. Highly recommend

This place is a hidden gem. The center offers both active programs year-around: they have regular…read moreprograms every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and they have special programs for special guests and events. The center often invites amazing speakers and teachers, and this year, they hosted Robert Thurman and Thubten Jinpa (principal translator of Dalai Lama). The community is warm and welcoming, regardless of your level of interests in Buddhism and meditation. I'm very glad to have this place in the midst of the busy-ness of San Francisco. If you want to explore Tibetan Buddhism and meditation, this is a place to go to.

I didn't realize I could review IMC on Yelp but it's a place after all, so why not. And it's not…read morejust a place, it's a very lovely place. It's the real real. No flash, all substance. Truly, it changed the direction of my life. I am still myself, always will be, but this place and its people transformed and impacted me in ways I couldn't have predicted. My introduction to the practice and teachings from IMC was very important for my personal development and spiritual growth. When I lived in RWC 5 years ago I was located on Main Street near the In-N-out which was walking distance to the meditation center. I ended up going to the center weekly, regularly. I've been living in Arizona since that time and I am still very much connected to this group. I come back yearly to attend silent vipassana meditation retreats at their center in Santa Cruz, simply named Insight Retreat Center. I told you, no flash. It's refreshing to support and be connected to a place that isn't part of the heavily capitalized society we live in, in which everything seems to come down to its monetary value. Not here my friend! IMC has core employees but what it really runs on is the commitment of volunteers. I typically function as a retreat manager when I come to IRC and if I lived closer I would happily give time to this place. In 2017 when I came often, it really helped me with personal challenges I was experiencing. I gained a community of practitioners that are serious about the dharma yet also kind people. I've met some amazing teachers and found my personal teachers of Gil and Max to be wonderful people in the world. 2 of my favorites :D IMC is a Buddhist meditation center that has some very excellent teachers and programs overall. It used to be a former church, turned Buddhist meditation hall. Very peaceful place. It's a place of refuge and to learn about the practice of mindfulness and get your feet wet. Or, be a longtime meditator and get your practice even more in depth. Whatever you are looking for on this path, it's there. I couldn't recommend this place enough. Don't miss it, you could easily walk by it not noticing, and never know the treasures it holds within. If you're unsure how to navigate coming here for a first time, a tip is to go online to their website. They have a robust schedule of classes, guided meditation sits, and general information about the place and people. It's very useful.

Incredible place and teachers, especially Gil who is the pillar of IMC. They hold frequent online…read moreand in person gatherings, kind community, and food for thought. Highly recommend

Paul is amazing…read more.. Ive been struggling with anxiety and sleep deprivation for the past eight years. The sleep I did get was filled with darkness and nightmares. For the past three years, I was searching for a meditation practice - nothing seemed to work. I could not seem to accept such practices into my daily lifestyle. - my especially chatty mind was hard to shut off. Nothing seemed to work. Every meditation practice I previously tried was a struggle. Then, the other day, my best friend led me to Paul. Recently, there has been a lot of stress with a new job and huge transitions. Paul gently guided me through quiet meditation - this practice is such a breeze to get into. THERE WAS NO STRUGGLE. I felt a calmness and serenity enveloping me as I walked through my day. That night, I fell asleep so easily and had the best night's sleep ever. Just two days in and for the first time, there is a quiet. I am satisfied in my skin and i don't feel this lacking within myself that I've carried around for so long. It's very subtle... I'm so grateful to Paul for bringing me this clarity and quiet. This is GOLD. I want to share this with everyone I love. Paul is such a gift! Update: I have been trying to quit smoking and feeling hopeless. Another unexpected gift - I have not craved a cigarette since I started with Paul. I actually made it through the weekend and then the week without wanting one.

I've tried many other meditation practices, so many apps, and videos but Quiet Path Meditation has…read moremade the most profound and lasting changes for me. What's even better is it's easy. The other practices I've tried felt like the minutes were dragging on, but QPM feels like the most restful vacation I've had, then suddenly the 20 minutes is up. Sometimes it feels like time sped up or disappeared because it's such a restful practice. It's a brilliant way to reset twice a day and get centered. I'm very thankful to have found Paul and learn from him. I took his virtual course and found him to be an excellent and generous teacher. His deep care for his students and desire for us to heal is very motivating and life-affirming.

I didn't take part in the online programs(zoom) with the Zen Center, but I went back tonight for…read moreYoung Urban Zen. Zazen meditation and dharma talk with a small group discussion. Other than St. Ignatius Easter mass, this is the religious activity I did after covid.

I reflected on my experience at the zen center the other day. It was rude of me to say it is not a…read moreplace for people seriously interested in awakening. I think the teachings here have merit (not that I'm the judge). What I *will* say is any sangha in the west has to be prepared for deeply wounded / traumatized / self hating individuals to walk in. I couldn't "let go" until I had access to embodied safety and also self love. The work of Deidre Fay is excellent for this. I needed help building a developmental scaffold to get from where I was to where I wanted to be -- and that was uncharted territory. To the extent that SFZC wants to welcome people with differing levels of access to embodied safety, I would love if each talk had advice tailored to both kinds of people -- those with porous ego structures and those with more "typical" egos as well for whom letting go without any preamble is solid advice.

This place has been incredibly helpful for both my mental and physical well-being. The atmosphere…read moreis very welcoming, and after practicing Bodhi, I felt a deep sense of relief. Definitely recommended!

I really love this meditation center. The meditation classes here are excellent -- after attending,…read moreI've noticed less stress and much better sleep. They also offer a variety of meaningful activities, and the staff are always warm, welcoming, and supportive. I've met so many people who genuinely enjoy meditation here, and I truly love this community. Their oracle readings and energy blessing services are offered for free, which is incredibly generous -- I highly recommend coming to experience it for yourself.

I love love love this studio! It is truly my escape that I use to destress after work and is full…read moreof amazing instructors that are both knowledgeable and helpful. They also offer morning workout classes that get me energized for the day. I also love that they provide all of the equipment you could ask for like the basics of mats and blocks to the more extra things like straps, blankets, mat cleaner, etc. It really feels like a community at this studio and I highly recommend!!

The Mats is a cozy little yoga studio that has become my escape for self-care. The studio space…read moreitself is a little small but I love how intimate the classes are! They provide quality yoga mats, blocks, blankets and bolsters so you can focus on your flow if you're new and don't have equipment. I've been attending classes here for a few months now and have found an instructor for every mood. Stephenie's evening classes are perfect when I want a slow, meditative flow. She gently guides us through poses and holds each one long enough for my body to fully sink in. I always leave her class feeling loose and limber. Joann's morning Hatha class is great for de-stressing. The sequences are simple but rejuvenating. We move through meditations and breathing exercises at a leisurely pace. When I want more of a challenge, I go to Josh or Tiffany's Vinyasa classes. They seamlessly flow us through faster-paced flows focused on breath and building up to more advanced arm balances or backbends. Both are so encouraging and help modify poses for all skill levels. I come out of their classes energized and empowered. Overall it's a gem for anyone looking to establish or deepen their yoga practice. I feel lucky to have discovered this oasis in my neighborhood!