Mindful Life Program

Open Door Community Event
2025-08-22 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Denver) | Mindful Life Program, 520 S. Third St. Suite 14, Carbondale, CO, 81623, United States
You’re warmly invited to join us for a special community gathering!

Come meet Mindful Life Program Teachers and Mindfulness in Recovery Facilitators visiting from coast to coast!
Join us Friday, August 22 from 5 – 7 pm

This open house is an opportunity to:
Connect with others in our local community
Meet dedicated teachers and facilitators who bring mindfulness to life across the US
Hear about the exciting new chapter and expanding mission of the Mindful Life Program.
Share in a space of meaningful connection and joyful exchange
Enjoy refreshments and light snacks
Whether you’re already engaged with our offerings or new to mindfulness, this is a chance to gather in community, meet practitioners and teachers in a casual setting, and explore what it means to cultivate meaning, resiliency, and awareness together.
All are welcome.

Four Keys of Living Mindfully Online Course Expanded with Live Teaching
2025-08-26 08:00 - 17:00
Join this 6-week live online course exploring the Four Keys of Living Mindfully: Attention, Wisdom, Values, and an Open Heart.
It is our hope that this course will help support you in living a meaningful and fulfilling life—adding joy, focus, attention, a clear sense of values and wisdom to your life, and providing relief from stress and suffering. All the moments of our lives can be meaningful if we bring attention and intention into them. Live your life mindfully, with attention, values, wisdom, and an open heart. The Mindful Life Program approach is practical, accessible and universal.

Course Includes:

Six weekly live Zoom sessions (90 minutes each)
Access to session recordings
Four Keys Companion Journal for reflection and practice
Eight recorded teachings with John Bruna
Guided meditations
Two months free in the Mindful Life Community™ or Mindfulness in Recovery® Community
Private Online Community for connection, support, and shared learning
For additional course benefits see the event webpage here.

Dates: October 1st – November 5th
Time: Wednesdays, 5 – 6:30pm MST
Course fee: $200
Register Here
Please contact Cindy for more information by phone at 970-985-2416, or email cindy@wildnewway.com.
Taught by Cindy Schmidt

Mindful Living Skills Webinar - August 2025
2025-08-28 18:00 | Offered Online
Join us for our next Mindful Living Skills webinar:
BEING MINDFUL WITH AGING PARENTS – PART 2
Thursday, August 28th, 6 pm MST US
(August 29th, 10 am AEST)
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™
Jacky Kaczmarek, Mindfulness in Recovery® Institute Program Coordinator and Certified Facilitator
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.
2025-09-11 17:00 - 19:00 | Here & Now Center, Gunnison, CO, United States
Join the Mindful Life Program Foundations Course, beginning September 11 – October 30, 2025, 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 – 7:00 pm from September 11 – October 30, 2025
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
2025-09-17 10:00 - 12:30
Wednesdays, September 17 – November 5, 2025.
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 September 17 – November 5, 2025. 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: Wednesdays, September 17 – November 5, 10 am – 12:30 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.

MLS Webinar September 2025
2025-09-25 18:00 - 19:00
Join us for our next Mindful Living Skills webinar:
Two Keys to Working with Obstacles in Life and Practice
Thursday, September 25th, 6 pm MST US
(September 26th, 10 am AEST)
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™
Mindy Meiering, 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!

MLP Online Mindfulness 8 Week Foundations Course
2025-10-01 19:30 - 22:00
Join the Mindful Life Program Foundations Course, beginning October 1 – November 19, 2025. 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 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

Read the full description for the course under the Programs tab, and read more feedback from recent participants here.
Dates: Wednesdays, 6:30 – 9:00 pm PST, from October 1 – November 15, 2025
Cost: $350.
To register: Email Richard Hayes at fluxmind123meditation@gmail.com.
Contact: Richard Hayes, (928) 542-8722 or email, fluxmind123meditation@gmail.com.
Facilitator: Richard Hayes

Mindful Living Skills Webinar - October 2025
2025-10-16 18:00 - 19:00
Join us for our next Mindful Living Skills webinar:
Working with the Allies and Enemies of Learning
Thursday, October 16th, 6 pm MST US
(October 17th, 11 am AEDT)
Register today to save your spot!
The panel for this month’s webinar:
Laura Bartels, Executive Director, Mindful Life Program™
Jeff DiSomma, Mindful Life Program™ Certified Teacher
Lisa Sargent, Practitioner and Mindful Learning Year Graduate
Lawrie Horder, Practitioner and Mindfulness Immersion Program Graduate
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!

28 Day Daily Practice Circle
2025-10-24 18:00 - 19:00
28 Day Daily Practice Circle

Connect. Practice. Thrive.
Deepen and Grow Your Mindfulness Practice With Us
Bring an infusion of inspiration and support to your mindfulness practice by joining others for this favorite offering. It’s 28 days of focus and support for practices throughout your day. Join a supportive circle of MLP Certified Mindfulness Teachers and others, just like you, looking to bring the benefits of a more consistent, fuller daily practice to life.
Hosted by MLP Teachers Rita Clagett and Rachel Currier

Program Dates

Opening Live Event, October 24th, 6 pm MT US
Our 28 Days of Practice are October 26 – November 23 US
Weekly Gatherings, Sundays, 6 pm MT US

Elements of Support in our 28 Day Daily Practice Circle

Opening Live Event, October 24th, 6 pm MST US (in Australia, October 25, 11 am AEST)

Dedicated support and conversation space within the Mindful Life Network™
Each week we’ll introduce the theme with an article and share a new recorded meditation for that week. You also have access to a collection of our guided meditations for the 28 days.
Each day you’ll find a new practice inspiration, tip or technique
Downloadable resources such as the “Rhythm of a Daily Practice” and more.
We encourage those who join to attend the live weekly mindfulness meetings that we offer. Since we have members in many time zones, there are no daily live events.

By participating in the 28 Day Daily Practice Circle, if you did not already, you will have access to the Mindful Life Network™, our free mindfulness community. You will find additional resources there.

Register Here!

Mindful Living Skills Webinar - November 2025
2025-11-10 08:00 - 17:00
Join us for our next Mindful Living Skills webinar:
Mindful Listening – A Skill for Stronger Relationships
Thursday, November 20th, 6 pm MST US
(November 21st, 12 pm AEDT)
Register today to save your spot!
The panel for this month’s webinar:
Mark Molony, Co-Founder, Mindful Life Program™
Dawn Reeder, Mindfulness Immersion Semester Graduate
Mark Raymond, Mindfulness Immersion Semester Graduate
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 Online Mindfulness 8 Week Foundations Course
2025-12-03 19:30 - 22:00
Join the Mindful Life Program Foundations Course, beginning December 3, 2025 – January 28, 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 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

Read the full description for the course under the Programs tab, and read more feedback from recent participants here.
Dates: Wednesdays, 6:30 – 9:00 pm PST, from December 3, 2025 – January 28, 2026
Cost: $350.
To register: Click Here.
Website: fluxmindcollective.com
Contact: Richard Hayes, (928) 542-8722 or email, fluxmind123meditation@gmail.com.
Facilitator: Richard Hayes

Mindfulness In Recovery® Online Course 2025
2025-12-07
The online Mindfulness in Recovery® (MIR) course has been specifically designed to support people from all walks of life, whether you are in recovery of any kind, a family member or friend, or a professional working in the treatment field, to develop the skills to reduce stress, increase resiliency, and more fully engage in their lives with more connection and joy.
Sliding Scale Pricing: We are currently offering this course on a sliding scale to make it as accessible as possible for everyone. You may pay any amount from $99 to $399.
To learn more and register visit – MIR Online Course.

Our Course Supports

People in recovery (all pathways, including 12-step)
Family and friends affected by people struggling with substances or other mental health issues (receive the Family and Friends Guidebook to MIR)
Clinicians, therapists, and addiction treatment professionals (receive 30 NAADAC CEUs and serves as a prerequisite for the certification course)
It is not a replacement for treatment or therapy, it is an additional support once people are actively engaged in their recovery or therapeutic process.

Mindfulness In Recovery® Course Details
This is an eight-week course with open enrollment. You can enroll and begin at any time. It is experiential and focused on helping participants cultivate a daily mindfulness practice that integrates the MIR skills into daily life.
The course is interactive with live weekly sessions, daily activities, and exercises from either the Essential Guidebook to Mindfulness in Recovery or the Family and Friends edition. Lessons include videos, instruction with John Bruna, and interaction with others in the course in our live sessions.

Wisdom of a Meaningful Life Course with John Bruna
2025-12-08 18:00 - 19:00
Join Our Exclusive 6-Week Workshop: The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life with John Bruna

By Request, We are offering another course!
In these challenging times, it is critical to engage in sustainable self-care. There are very clear methods to reduce stress, anxiety, and self-critical thoughts. In the process, we actually develop skills to experience greater levels of well-being, joy, and purpose in your daily life. These wisdom teachings ultimately empower you to increase your resiliency and find fulfillment even in difficult circumstances. In this course, author and mindfulness teacher John Bruna will unpack these timeless methods in his transformative 6-week workshop based on his acclaimed book, The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life.
This unique program offers a chance to learn directly from John, engage with his life-changing teachings, and develop practical tools to create a more fulfilling and joyful life.
Workshop Details:

Weekly Online Live Sessions with John Bruna: Engage in interactive online sessions with John and other course participants. These are ongoing live online sessions with John and other current and former course participants. You can attend even after you have completed the course.
FREE Copy of the Book: Receive your own signed copy of The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life to dive deeper into the lessons.
Hands-On Practices: Learn proven mindfulness techniques, reflection exercises, and tools to bring more joy and well-being into your life.

Benefits You’ll Receive:

Increased Well-Being: Discover how to cultivate inner peace and lasting joy through mindfulness and purposeful living.
Enhanced Clarity: Align your actions with your values to live a more intentional and meaningful life.
Mental and Emotional Balance: Learn mindfulness practices that overcome unhealthy thinking patterns and habits and increase attention and emotional resiliency.
Greater Resilience: Develop the skills to navigate challenges with grace and confidence.
Improved Relationships: Foster deeper connections with yourself and others through authentic communication and compassion.
A Supportive Community: Connect with like-minded participants on a shared journey of growth and transformation.

Who Should Attend?
Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, find greater purpose, or simply live with more joy, this workshop is for you!
Workshop Schedule:

Dates: Ongoing enrollment. You can start anytime.
Time: Beginning August 18th, Mondays, 6 pm Mountain Time (5 pm PST, 7 pm CST, 8 pm EST)
Location: Online using the Zoom platform (accessible from anywhere!)

Sliding Scale Pricing: We are offering sliding scale pricing to make this as accessible as we can for everyone.
Reserve Your Spot Now! Don’t miss this opportunity to work directly with John Bruna and unlock the wisdom for a meaningful and joyful life.
Click Here to Register Today!
Let’s embark on this transformative journey together. Your meaningful life awaits!
John Bruna M.Ed. is the co-founder of the Mindfulness in Recovery® Institute. He is an author, educator, counselor, and mindfulness trainer. In addition to successful careers in counseling and education, John is a former Buddhist monk, has been in continuous recovery since 1984, and has presented at TEDx, Google, and Facebook, as well as conferences throughout the United States.

Book Review: The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life by John Bruna
John Bruna’s The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life: The Essence of Mindfulness is an insightful and deeply practical guide to cultivating a life of purpose, fulfillment, and genuine happiness. Bruna, a former Buddhist monk and renowned mindfulness teacher, distills years of wisdom into an accessible, engaging, and actionable book that speaks to anyone seeking a more intentional and meaningful existence.
Key Strengths of the Book:

A Practical Approach to Mindfulness

Unlike books that treat mindfulness as just meditation or stress reduction, Bruna presents it as a way of living—a conscious approach to aligning daily actions with one’s values.
He emphasizes that mindfulness is not just about awareness but about making skillful choices that lead to a more fulfilling life.

The Role of Values in a Meaningful Life

Bruna explains with evidence that true well-being comes not from chasing pleasure or external validation but from living in alignment with deeply held values.
He provides exercises and reflections to help readers identify what truly matters to them and how to structure their lives around those values.

Breaking Free from Unconscious Patterns

The book highlights how habitual, unconscious behaviors and thought patterns often keep people stuck in cycles of stress and dissatisfaction.
Bruna offers mindfulness techniques that help readers develop awareness, self-discipline, and intentionality, allowing them to respond to life’s challenges with wisdom rather than reactivity.

Integrating Mindfulness with Daily Life

Bruna emphasizes that mindfulness is not limited to meditation; rather, it is about how we engage with our relationships, work, and daily activities.
He offers practical exercises, real-life examples, and guided reflections to help readers integrate mindfulness into their everyday routines.

A Balanced and Inclusive Perspective

While grounded in Buddhist teachings, the book is secular and accessible to people of all backgrounds.
Bruna speaks from personal experience—his journey from addiction to becoming a monk and mindfulness teacher—which makes his insights relatable and inspiring.

Final Thoughts:
The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life is more than just a book on mindfulness; it is a blueprint for intentional and values-driven living. Bruna’s compassionate and practical approach makes mindfulness feel achievable and deeply relevant in today’s fast-paced world.
This book is a must-read for anyone looking to cultivate greater self-awareness, purpose, and fulfillment, whether they are new to mindfulness or already on a personal growth journey. It’s an empowering reminder that true happiness is not found in external circumstances, but in how we choose to engage with life itself.

“John’s course was truly transformative. Breaking his book down into chapters and exploring them one or two at a time each week made the practice so much more accessible and meaningful. I feel more present in my daily life, less rushed, and more aware when my mind starts to drag me around. Most importantly, I’ve developed a deeper sense of love for myself and others. I’m so grateful for this experience—thank you!” – Pam P
“I would recommend this course to anyone looking to gain the tools to have more peace and serenity. To help them be present and better at focusing on what they are doing at that time staying in the moment. It helped me to be more apart of the mindfulness community and see I am not alone in my daily struggles. The course helped me with my meditation and how to better set my intentions for the day. It also helped me understand that we are all trying to be happy and get our needs met which helped me to let go of resentments. The course showed me I may not like someone but that doesn’t mean they are a bad person. I learned lots of these examples to be on a better path.” Pat S
“I feel very special to have been a member of John’s first Wisdom class. I was a little intimidated, but realized quickly that this course was truly for anyone and everyone – John made it so welcoming and easy! The little bit of suffering to overcome my initial intimidation ended with such a reward. Thank you John.” – Karen R
“I highly recommend this course to live a more meaningful life. It has helped me so much. I don’t react as much, I have slowed down in life, I do stuff intentionally today and not just to get them done. I listen more without interruptions and treat All with compassion and kindness. I want more of this everyday to become the person I have wanted to be.” – Debi C
“This course and book were enjoyable and full of learning to lead a more meaningful like. The on-line classes and daily learnings helped me to focus on my values and how to live those values as I lived each day. As I was taking the course, my interactions with others improved as a result of what I was learning and integrating. John is a wonderful and caring teacher.” – Mike T
“John is able to break down challenging concepts into motivating, fun, and transformational teachings. It is a pleasure to spend time learning and “becoming” with him.” – Kendall G

New 28-Day Meditation Course
2025-12-08 18:00 - 19:00
This is a new, refreshed and expanded 28-day online course with live weekly sessions, is designed to help you establish and sustain a daily meditation practice rooted in calm abiding (shamatha) meditation. Whether you’re brand new to meditation or returning to the cushion after a break, this course offers you the structure, wisdom, and guidance to create a practice that is truly your own.
What You’ll Receive:
28 days of daily teachings: New, concise and accessible videos and audio recordings from John guiding you step-by-step through the foundations of shamatha meditation.
Weekly live online sessions with John: Connect directly with John in weekly live group sessions to receive teachings, ask questions, and reflect on your experience.
Guided meditations and practice tools: Carefully designed resources to help you establish a stable and nourishing practice.
You will have ongoing access after the course ends.
A focus on what really matters: You’ll learn not just how to meditate, but why—so that your practice becomes sustainable, personal, and transformative.
Name your own price: Enroll at whatever price find affordable (minimum price $50).
Dates: Start anytime and join ongoing live sessions on Mondays, beginning August 18th.
Live sessions: Mondays at 6 pm Mountain Standard Time, USA (one hour)
Ongoing access to course videos and meditations.
Start today and grow the foundation for a lifetime of presence. Now you can name your own price!
Learn More Here!

Mindful Living Skills Webinar - December 2025
2025-12-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Offered Online
Join us for our next Mindful Living Skills webinar:
Seven Skills for Your Holiday Toolkit: Mindfulness Practices for the Holiday Season
Thursday, December 18th, 6 pm MST US
(December 19th, 12 pm AEDT)
Register today to save your spot!
The panel for this month’s webinar:
Laura Bartels, Executive Director, Mindful Life Program™
Deborah Sussex, Mindful Life Program™ Certified Teacher
Curt Westberg, TRI Wisdom Institute Board Member
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!

New Year's Meditation Retreat
2026-01-01 15:00 - 2026-01-04 10:30 | 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.
