New to Meditation
One Breath at a Time
BEGINNERS PROGRAMS
The teachings of the Buddha have an experiential emphasis. It is not a question of believing that practicing meditation is beneficial, but of actually trying it out and experiencing the results for oneself.
NYI offers meditation classes in NYC for those new to meditation as well as experienced meditators. We have weekly orientations and regularly scheduled courses and workshops that provide fundamental instruction in Insight Meditation. For beginners, emphasis is placed on the practices of sitting and walking meditation and developing mindfulness in daily life.
Upcoming Beginners’ Courses:
All current NYIMC programs appropriate or geared towards beginners.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) courses
Suggested Activities:
Attend an In-Person Community Meditation Gathering every Wednesday from 6:30pm-8:30pm. See below for registration.
Sign up for NYI’s email updates
Attend ongoing sitting groups (see list here)
Begin a home meditation practice
Recommended Readings:
A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield
Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening by Joseph Goldstein
Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation by Sharon Salzberg
Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana
Upcoming Programs for Beginners
In-Person and Online: Community Meditation Gathering
with Brian Simmons
Wednesday, July 15th, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm ETNew York Insight offers this series of in-person and online community gatherings consisting of guided meditation, a talk by one of our teachers, followed by group discussion, and opportunities to socialize and connect with like-minded practitioners. All are welcome. Find out more
In-Person and Online: Community Meditation Gathering
with Lin Wang Gordon
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm ETNew York Insight offers this series of in-person and online community gatherings consisting of guided meditation, a talk by one of our teachers, followed by group discussion, and opportunities to socialize and connect with like-minded practitioners. All are welcome. Find out more
In-Person and Online: Community Meditation Gathering
with Leslie Booker
Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm ETNew York Insight offers this series of in-person and online community gatherings consisting of guided meditation, a talk by one of our teachers, followed by group discussion, and opportunities to socialize and connect with like-minded practitioners. All are welcome. Find out more
Online: 31 Days of Practice with New York Insight
with Joseph Goldstein, Mark Epstein, JoAnna Hardy, Jeff Warren, Dawn Mauricio, Martin Aylward, Narayan Helen Liebenson, Devin Berry, Fleet Maull, Yong Oh, Shanté Paradigm Smalls, Tenku Ruff, David Nichtern, Rashid Hughes, nico hase, Cara Lai, Leslie Booker, and many more!
Saturday, August 1st - Sunday, August 31st, 2026Join us for a full month of inspiration, growth, and community through daily practice videos and weekly live sessions with renowned meditation teachers. Find out more
In-Person and Online: Community Meditation Gathering
with Elaine Retholtz
Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm ETNew York Insight offers this series of in-person and online community gatherings consisting of guided meditation, a talk by one of our teachers, followed by group discussion, and opportunities to socialize and connect with like-minded practitioners. All are welcome. Find out more
In-Person and Online: Community Meditation Gathering
with Brian Simmons
Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm ETNew York Insight offers this series of in-person and online community gatherings consisting of guided meditation, a talk by one of our teachers, followed by group discussion, and opportunities to socialize and connect with like-minded practitioners. All are welcome. Find out more
In-Person and Online: Community Meditation Gathering
with David Grogan
Wednesday, August 19th, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm ETNew York Insight offers this series of in-person and online community gatherings consisting of guided meditation, a talk by one of our teachers, followed by group discussion, and opportunities to socialize and connect with like-minded practitioners. All are welcome. Find out more
In-Person and Online: Community Meditation Gathering
with Gary Singer
Wednesday, August 26th, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm ETNew York Insight offers this series of in-person and online community gatherings consisting of guided meditation, a talk by one of our teachers, followed by group discussion, and opportunities to socialize and connect with like-minded practitioners. All are welcome. Find out more
In-Person and Online: The Essential Insight Meditation Toolkit
with David Grogan
Thursdays, September 17th - October 8th, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm ETAre you new to meditation? Or an experienced meditator looking to refresh your practice? In this experiential course, you’ll learn how to use the essential tools in the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Buddha’s systematic guide to practicing insight meditation. You’ll also get tips on how to establish and sustain a formal meditation practice, as well as how to make mindfulness an integral part of your daily routine. Find out more