New Year's Meditation Retreat
2026-01-01 15:00 - 2026-01-04 10:30 (America/Denver) | Mercy Retreat Center, 535 Sacramento Street, Auburn, CA, 95603, United States
January 1-4, 2026
Begin the new year with reflection, clarity, and intention.
Join us at the Mercy Center in Auburn, CA

Our co-founders, John Bruna and Laura Bartels, will return to Mercy Center Auburn to guide this special meditation retreat. This silent retreat is a rare opportunity to be guided by both of these wonderful teachers!
The retreat is beginner friendly and will also allow for seasoned meditators to deepen their practice. We will focus on developing the foundational methods and practices to sustain a meditation practice that is right for you. The days will include multiple short meditation sessions, quiet reflection time, guidance, and discussion in the group teachings.
The primary meditation will be the foundational practice of shamatha (calm abiding) meditation. Shamatha is a universal practice, applicable to everyone, and is the antidote to an obsessive, compulsive, busy mind. It enhances any other meditation practice and provides the foundation for mental and emotional balance.
There will be ample time for journaling, walks, and spaciousness to gain clarity regarding your life and the way you choose to engage in the year that awaits you.

John Bruna
John Bruna, a former Buddhist monk and author of The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life: The Essence of Mindfulness, is a counselor, educator, mindfulness, and Dharma teacher. He is the co-founder of the Mindful Life Program and director of the Way of Compassion Foundation.

Laura Bartels
Laura Bartels teaches mindfulness courses, facilitates mindfulness groups, and gives public talks on living mindfully as one of the certified mindfulness teachers with the Mindful Life Program. She is also one of the instructors for the year-long MLP Mindfulness Teacher Training and Certification program. She serves as the Executive Director of the Mindful Life Program.

Dates: Begins Thursday, Jan 1st. Registration: 3:00 to 5:00 Dinner: 5:15pm. Ends Sunday, Jan 4th after Breakfast.
Cost: $485. To Learn more and to register, Click Here
Mercy Retreat Center: Click Here
Location: Mercy Retreat Center, Auburn, California, USA

Mindful Living Skills Webinar - January 2026
2026-01-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Offered Online
Join us for our next Mindful Living Skills webinar:
Slow Down Without Falling Behind: Mindfulness and Time
Thursday, January 22, 6 pm MST US
(January 23, 12 pm AEDT)
Register today to save your spot!
The panel for this month’s webinar:
Mark Molony, Co-Founder, Mindful Life Program™
Laura Bartels, Executive Director, Mindful Life Program™
John Bruna, Co-Founder, Mindful Life Program™
Our monthly webinars bring Mindful Life Program™ founders, teachers, and guests together in a collective conversation on key aspects of practice. Join us to learn, explore, and have a chance to ask questions during these live events.
We’re happy to offer this free event to our members and to non-members. Please help us spread the word and invite friends. And remember to click the link to register and save your spot.
Register Today!

MLP Mindfulness 8 Week Foundations Course in Gunnison, Colorado.
2026-02-19 17:00 - 19:30
Join the Mindful Life Program Foundations Course, beginning February 19 – April 9, 2026, at Here & Now in Gunnison, Colorado. Our 8 week Mindfulness Foundations Course is a lively and engaging 20 hour course that combines the practice of meditation and the practical application of mindfulness in daily life. Develop practical skills to live with intention and attention, and cultivate inner peace, wellness, and genuine happiness.
Attention – Developing attention skills through meditation training.
Wisdom – Understanding one’s biases, labeling, projection, and pre-judgment. Increasing emotional intelligence and learning to respond rather than react.
Values – Living a meaningful life. Developing healthy habits and responses that are in alignment with one’s personal values.
Open heart – Developing healthy relationships and connections. Cultivating skills of compassion, loving-kindness, empathic joy and equanimity.
Enrollment includes:

20 hours of engaging in-person class
Foundations Course Companion Journal
Copy of The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life by co-founder John Bruna
Three-month membership to the Mindful Life Community w/ app access
Access to meditation library and additional resources
Ongoing support with mindfulness practice after course ends

It is best if you can attend all sessions in person, but if you need to miss one or two sessions, Jessica can zoom you in or record the lecture part of the class and email a link to you. People sometimes get sick during a course and these options are available for those times as well. It is better to get the benefits of the course than to not sign up because you know you will be gone for one or two sessions!
The classes are held in our home/office space at 115 S. Colorado Street. We provide cushions, chairs, a bathroom, snacks, and water at each class. We have two cats, so please let us know if this is a problem for you. We can keep them out of the room and run an air purifier if needed. If you are severely allergic and would still like to take the course – contact us for options.
Read the full description for the course under the Programs tab, and read more feedback from recent participants here.
Dates: Thursdays, 5 – 7:30 pm from February 19th – April 9th, 2026
Cost: $350.
Location: The Here & Now Center, 115 S Colorado Street, Gunnison, Colorado. Meditation cushions and chairs and snacks are provided.
To register: Click Here to register online or Contact Jessica Sylvanson by phone: (970) 641-6095, or email: gunni.wellspring@gmail.com.
Facilitator: Jessica Sylvanson

MLP Online Mindfulness 8 Week Foundations Course
2026-02-20 14:30 - 17:00
Fridays, February 20 – April 10, 2026.
In this time of national and global challenges including deep societal divides and grief-inducing climate chaos, basic mindfulness skills can help us to reduce anxiety, eco-despair, and fear; to live our precious lives with genuine happiness, loving-kindness, and compassion. This course is a transformative first step on a lifelong journey into our more authentic and joyful selves.
The MLP Mindfulness Foundations Course combines the practice of meditation with the application of mindfulness in daily life. Our goal is to help you to live your life with attention and intention, cultivating the skills that empower you to make healthy choices that are in alignment with your values and that are meaningful to you. The course is designed to be practical and accessible, allowing anyone, with or without a background in mindfulness, to participate. The course is also designed to be universal so that anyone can benefit from mindfulness, regardless of cultural, economic, or spiritual background.
Join the Mindful Life Program Foundations Course February 20 – April 10, 2026. Give yourself the gift of this lively and engaging opportunity to learn to live mindfully, with attention and intention, cultivating genuine happiness and a meaningful life. The MLP Foundations Course combines the practice of meditation with the application of mindfulness in daily life and guides you to develop the habits that support you. Empower yourself to integrate the four key areas of mindfulness – attention, wisdom, values, and an open heart – into your life in practical, accessible, and universal ways.
Attention – Developing attention through meditation training.
Wisdom – Understanding one’s biases, labeling, projections and pre-judgments. Increasing emotional intelligence and learning to respond rather than react.
Values – Living a meaningful life. Developing healthy habits and responses that are in alignment with one’s personal values.
Open heart – Developing healthy relationships and connections. Cultivating skills of compassion, loving-kindness, empathic joy, and equanimity.
In order to live a meaningful life and develop the freedom to live consciously, the curriculum focuses on training the mind and cultivating the ability to make healthy choices that are beneficial to the life you want to live. In this way, you can live your life with attention and intention. This course consists of lectures, meditations, small group discussions, journaling, and short video presentations. Our teachers create a safe environment for participants to explore their own values and learn to apply practices to live in alignment with them.
Enrollment includes:

20 hours of engaging live online class
“Transforming to a Mindful Life” Course Companion Journal
“The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life” by co-founder John Bruna
Three-month membership in the Mindful Life Community™
Access to a guided meditation library and additional resources

Dates: Fridays, February 20 – April 10, 2:30 – 5 pm Mountain Time
Cost: $349, scholarships available based on need. Contact the instructor for information on cost and scholarships. $50 off for members of MLC or MIR communities.
To register: click here.
Contact: Rita Clagett, Mirador Eco-Retreat, 970.216.8020
Facilitator: Rita Clagett
Facilitator Website
*Continuing Professional Development (CPDs) credits may be available for social workers, therapists, and substance abuse counselors.
*Continuing Education Units (CEUs) may be available for teachers.
Please contact the instructor to inquire about credits being offered for this course.
The course is offered to general audiences as well as to specific audiences such as educators, mental health professionals, recovery professionals, wellness programs, and more. Ask about bringing this course to your workplace or other groups.

Mindful Living Skills Webinar - February 2026
2026-02-28 16:00 - 17:00 | Offered Online
Join us for our next Mindful Living Skills webinar:
Slow Down Without Falling Behind: Mindfulness and Time
Saturday, February 28, 4 pm MST US
(March 1, 10 am AEDT)
Register today to save your spot!
The panel for this month’s webinar:
Laura Bartels, Executive Director, Mindful Life Program™
John Bruna, Co-Founder, Mindful Life Program™
Our monthly webinars bring Mindful Life Program™ founders, teachers, and guests together in a collective conversation on key aspects of practice. Join us to learn, explore, and have a chance to ask questions during these live events.
We’re happy to offer this free event to our members and to non-members. Please help us spread the word and invite friends. And remember to click the link to register and save your spot.
Register Today!

Mindful Living Skills Webinar - March 2026
2026-03-26 18:00 - 19:30 | Offered Online
Join us for a very special event! Join us for our next webinar and book launch:
We’re All Recovering From Something
Thursday, March 26, 6 – 7:30 pm MST US (March 27, 11 – 12:30 am AEDT)
Featuring our newest book release,
The Essential Guidbook to Mindfulness in Recovery, Second Edition
Our co-founder, John Bruna, will be joined by panelists with direct experience integrating the Mindfulness in Recovery skills in their lives.
Attention is the new commodity, and industries actively seek to capture our attention, often creating addictions we may be unaware of. Smartphones. Social media. Food. Exercise. Substances. Work. Shopping. The compulsive patterns that disconnect us from ourselves take countless forms—and they affect us all.
Recovery isn’t just about addiction. It’s about reclaiming your life.
Join us March 26th for an honest conversation with panelists who’ve discovered something transformative: Mindfulness in Recovery (MIR) offers practical tools for anyone struggling with compulsive behaviors, whether you’re dealing with traditional addiction, modern digital dependencies, or simply feeling trapped by patterns that no longer serve you.
Hear From Those Who’ve Been There
Our panelists have long-term recovery and real experience using mindfulness to transform their lives. Some have taught MIR and all have discovered how mindfulness creates lasting freedom.
They’ll share how the seven core skills—values, attention, wisdom, equanimity, compassion, loving-kindness, and action—help anyone break free from compulsive patterns and live with clarity and purpose.
Perfect Timing: The Second Edition of The Essential Guidebook to Mindfulness in Recovery launches one day before our webinar, on March 25th!
Register today to save your spot!
Our monthly webinars bring Mindful Life Program™ founders, teachers, and guests together in a collective conversation on key aspects of practice. Join us to learn, explore, and have a chance to ask questions during these live events.
We’re happy to offer this free event to our members and to non-members. Please help us spread the word and invite friends. And remember to click the link to register and save your spot.
Register Today!

Mindful Living Skills Webinar - April 2026
2026-04-30 18:30 - 19:30 | Offered Online
Join us for our next Mindful Living Skills webinar:
Creating Belonging and Connection in a World of Loneliness and Isolation
Thursday, April 30, 6:30 pm MST US
(May 1, 10:30 am AEDT)
Register today to save your spot!
The panel for this month’s webinar:
Laura Bartels, Executive Director, Mindful Life Program™
Mark Molony, Co-Founder, Mindful Life Program™
Laura Hess, Mindful Life Program™ Certified Teacher
Our monthly webinars bring Mindful Life Program™ founders, teachers, and guests together in a collective conversation on key aspects of practice. Join us to learn, explore, and have a chance to ask questions during these live events.
We’re happy to offer this free event to our members and to non-members. Please help us spread the word and invite friends. And remember to click the link to register and save your spot.
Register Today!

Mindful Living Skills Webinar - May 2026
2026-05-28 18:30 - 19:30 | Offered Online
Join us for our next Mindful Living Skills webinar:
How Can Experience Help and Hurt in Mindfulness Practice?
Thursday, May 28, 6:30 pm MST US
(May 29, 10:30 am AEDT)
Register today to save your spot!
The panel for this month’s webinar:
Laura Bartels, Executive Director, Mindful Life Program™
Mark Molony, Co-Founder, Mindful Life Program™
Geoff McDonald, Mindfulness Practitioner and Creator of “On Experience”
Our monthly webinars bring Mindful Life Program™ founders, teachers, and guests together in a collective conversation on key aspects of practice. Join us to learn, explore, and have a chance to ask questions during these live events.
We’re happy to offer this free event to our members and to non-members. Please help us spread the word and invite friends. And remember to click the link to register and save your spot.
Register Today!

Mindful Living Skills Webinar: Holding Life Lightly
2026-06-25 18:30 - 19:30
Join us for our next Mindful Living Skills webinar:
Holding Life Lightly – Reflections on Impermanence
Thursday, June 25, 6:30 pm MST US

The panel for this month’s webinar:
Laura Bartels, Executive Director, Mindful Life Program™
Mark Molony, Co-Founder, Mindful Life Program™
Lawrie Horder,Practitioner and Mindfulness Immersion Program Graduate
Our monthly online webinars bring Mindful Life Program™ founders, teachers, and guests together in a collective conversation on key aspects of practice. Join us to learn, explore, and have a chance to ask questions during these live events.
We’re happy to offer this free event to our members and to non-members. Please help us spread the word and invite friends. And remember to click the link to register and save your spot.
Register Today!

Monday Mindfulness in Life Meetings
2026-06-29 18:00 - 19:00
About Our Weekly meeting
Each meeting, we offer a live guided mindfulness of breath meditation, read the daily mindfulness guidance from the Mindful Life Community™, and share our experiences, challenges, insights, and successes. It is hosted by members of the Mindful Life Community™. These are inclusive mindfulness support groups, open to anyone with a desire to live more mindfully.
Mondays
Time:
5 pm Pacific Time, USA
6 pm Mountain Time, USA
5 pm Central Time, USA
5 pm Eastern Time, USA
Zoom Link: Mindfulness in Life Meeting.

Living Mindfully Retreat with John Bruna
2026-10-01 - 2026-10-04 | Blazing Mountain, 2541 W Carefree Way, Crestone, CO, 81131, United States
Fall Living Mindfully Retreat with John Bruna
We are excited to now be able to offer two options for our Fall retreat. You can attend the retreat in our usual format, from Thursday through Sunday, or extend your retreat for an addition two nights.

“Mindfulness is much more than present moment awareness; mindfulness includes and facilitates the cultivation of concentration, wisdom, and the ability to make healthy choices that foster genuine happiness and a meaningful life.”— John Bruna
Our living mindfully retreats focus on developing skills to reduce unhealthy mental habits and patterns that create emotional and physical distress. The skills of living mindfully empower you to engage in your lives in ways that reduce stress, develop resiliency, attain greater degrees of self-worth, and cultivate more joy. Though based on Buddhist teachings, these practices are taught in a universal language, honoring and enhancing each person’s spiritual tradition and/or philosophy. Essentially, these are skills to help one live a life they find meaningful and fulfilling.
The retreat is hosted by the Way of Compassion Foundation. To learn more and register, click here.
The Blazing Mountain Retreat Center is located in Crestone, Colorado. Nestled in the majestic Sangre de Cristo mountains of southern Colorado, the retreat center provides a contemplative and quiet space for undisturbed and undistracted spiritual exploration. We found it to be an ideal location for us to host our retreats.
