Insight Meditation Center
Description
Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City is a welcoming place for those seeking a quiet space to deepen their meditation practice and explore Buddhist teachings. Located at 108 Birch St, the center offers a calm, supportive environment where visitors can pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves.
What sets this center apart is the clarity and care brought to its teachings. Led by teacher Gil and supported by a community of experienced instructors, the center is known for presenting meditation and Buddhist philosophy in a practical, accessible way. Its programs are designed to support meditators at different stages, whether they are just beginning or looking to deepen an established practice.
Visitors often come here for thoughtful guidance, a sense of community, and teachings that encourage greater peace and contentment in daily life. With a strong reputation and a 5/5 rating from 50 reviews, Insight Meditation Center is a trusted destination for those interested in mindfulness, insight, and personal growth.
Place Information
Address
108 Birch St, Redwood City, CA 94062, USA, Redwood City
City
Redwood City
Country
United States
Location
Insight Meditation Center upcoming events and classes
Walking Meditation Instruction
Many people in the West think of meditation as something done only in stillness, yet Buddhist tradition recognizes four meditation postures: sitting, walking, standing, and lying down. Each can suppor...
On request
Berkeley: Sitting and Talk with Yanli Wang and Lily Huang
Offered by: Yanli Wang and Lily Huang Gather in person on Monday evenings in Berkeley for a simple, welcoming program designed to support stillness, reflection, and community. Held at the Berkeley Fin...
On request
Basic Mindfulness Meditation Instruction
Join an in-person introduction at IMC designed to offer a simple, welcoming entry point into mindfulness meditation. This 45-minute session provides an overview of IMC and the basic meditation practic...
On request
Half-day Retreat with Gil Fronsdal
Spend a restorative half-day in quiet practice with a simple, balanced rhythm of sitting, walking, reflection, and community. The morning begins with seated meditation from 9:30 to 10:15 am, followed ...
On request
Yoga & Meditation
Each session blends a thoughtful sequence of yoga poses with meditation to help settle the mind, deepen the breath, and support greater awareness throughout the body. The practice is designed to build...
On request
Half-day Retreat with Maria Straatman
Spend a nourishing half-day in quiet practice with Maria Straatman, moving through a gentle rhythm of sitting, walking, reflection, and shared community time. This retreat offers a simple yet meaningf...
On request
IMC Senior Sangha Group: Enjoying Our Aging with David Cohn & Fiona Barner
Usually held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 11am to 1pm, this gathering offers a welcoming space for IMC seniors of all ages to come together in community. Inspired by Suzuki Roshi’s playful r...
On request
At Home in the World with Max Erdstein
At IMC, this weekly gathering is designed for people in their 20s and 30s who are looking for a welcoming space to reflect, connect, and grow. Meeting in person, the group offers a chance to step away...
On request
Silent Sitting
In-person attendance is open without registration, and masks are no longer required. This gathering offers a simple, quiet space to arrive, settle in, and sit in stillness together. Designed for those...
On request
Sitting and Talk With Kodo Conlin
YouTube Livestream | IMC Website Livestream Join the usual Sunday morning sit and talk live stream, shared on YouTube and through the IMC website. The morning begins with a meditation at 9:25, followe...
On request
Sitting and Talk With Gil Fronsdal
In-person at IMC, with live streaming available on YouTube and through IMC’s website This Sunday morning gathering offers a simple, welcoming space to settle into meditation and then listen to a talk ...
On request
In Person Sunday Tea Following Regular Sunday Program
Join us for an informal tea gathering with light refreshments on the second Sunday of each month, following the regular Sunday morning program. This relaxed get-together offers a welcoming space to sl...
On request
NO MEETING TONIGHT for people in their 20s/30s: At Home in the World with Max Erdstein
This in-person gathering at IMC offers a welcoming space for people in their 20s and 30s to connect, reflect, and explore what it means to feel at home in the world. Held on Sunday evenings from 7:30 ...
On request
Meditation and Talk
Spend your Monday evenings in a calm, welcoming setting designed to support reflection and inner stillness. From 7:15–8:30pm Pacific, Diana Clark guides each gathering with a simple yet meaningful str...
On request
Yoga & Meditation with Terry Lesser
In-person at IMC Each session blends a thoughtful sequence of yoga asanas with guided meditation to help steady the mind, deepen the breath, and expand overall awareness. The practice is designed to s...
On request
Mindful Parents
Parents are warmly invited to come together in a supportive community and explore ways to nurture thriving children at every stage of life, from infancy through adulthood. These gatherings offer a gen...
On request
Meditation and Talk with Diana Clark
Spend your Monday evenings in a calm, welcoming setting designed to support deeper practice and reflection. From 7:15–8:30pm Pacific, Diana Clark guides an evening that begins with a 30-minute silent ...
On request
Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Daylong with Ines Freedman
This daylong offers a gentle introduction to the foundations of mindfulness meditation, with guided practice in awareness of the breath, body, emotions, thoughts, walking, and eating. The program incl...
On request
Mindful Parents with Lauren Silver and Melody Baumgartner
Held on the third Sunday of each month September 2026 – June 2027, 11:30am–1:00pm In person at IMC THEME: This year’s gatherings will explore Taking Our Places — The Buddhist Path to Truly Growing Up ...
On request
BIPOC Sitting Group
Join a welcoming monthly gathering designed to support practice, reflection, and connection in community. Held on the first Sunday of each month from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm, this in-person session at IMC ...
On request
CANCELLED UNTIL AUGUST: Dharma Rocks Program with Lily Pan and Hilary Borison
Held on the third Sunday of each month from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, this in-person program at IMC offers children a playful introduction to meditation and mindfulness through games, stories, and art. The ...
On request
CANCELLED: Dharma Sprouts Program with Hilary Borison and Carla Rayacich
(For children in kindergarten through 2nd grade and their parents) Held on the first Sunday of each month, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, this in-person program at IMC offers a welcoming space for familie...
On request
Sitting and Talk With tbd
Join a quiet Sunday morning gathering that begins with meditation and continues with an open talk, offered in person at IMC and streamed live for remote participants. The meditation begins at 9:25 am,...
On request
Monthly Potluck at IMC
On the last Sunday of every month, the community gathers right after the Sunday Dharma Talk to share a relaxed potluck meal. This welcoming monthly tradition offers a warm opportunity to connect, enjo...
On request
Dharmette (Brief talk)
11:45 – 12:00 pm Dharmette (brief talk) 12:00 – 12:15 pm Temple cleaning 12:15 pm – Informal lunch gathering (bring your own bag lunch) This short midday program offers a simple, meaningful pause in t...
On request
Brown Bag Lunch
Join us for a relaxed Brown Bag Lunch on Wednesday afternoons from 12:15 to 1:00, held after the Wednesday half-day program. This is a simple, welcoming opportunity to pause, connect, and enjoy a shar...
On request
Vegetarian Potluck
Gather with the community for a welcoming vegetarian potluck brunch held at 11 am on the last Sunday of each month, right after the regular Sunday morning program. It is a simple and joyful way to ext...
On request
Tea
Join us for a relaxed monthly gathering with tea and light refreshments, held on the second Sunday of each month after the regular Sunday morning program. It’s a simple and welcoming way to linger a l...
On request
Center Cleaning and Gardening
Join us on the first and third Sundays of each month for a short, hands-on session dedicated to caring for the center and its garden. This is a simple way to support the space, connect with others, an...
On request
Volunteering
Volunteering is a meaningful way to support a project or help care for the center while connecting with others who share an interest in mindfulness and meditation. It offers a welcoming space to contr...
On request
Community Picnic
Once a year, usually in July, IMC hosts a community picnic in a Redwood City public park, creating a relaxed opportunity for people to gather, connect, and enjoy time together outdoors. The picnic typ...
On request
Dharma Practice Days
Beginning each September or October, Gil Fronsdal leads a 7- to 9-month practice program designed for sustained growth, reflection, and deepening understanding. Over the course of the program, partici...
On request
Dharma Sprouts Program
Designed for families, this program introduces children to meditation and mindfulness in a playful, engaging way. Through stories, songs, art, movement, and games, participants are invited to explore ...
On request
Mindful Teens
We aim to offer a safe, uplifting space where teens can explore mindfulness as a path toward greater self-awareness, clarity, and meaningful connection with others. Through gentle guidance and support...
On request
One-Day Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Daylong
Once or twice a year, we host a Saturday daylong designed as an accessible introduction to mindfulness meditation. This all-day experience offers a calm and supportive space for anyone curious about b...
On request
Mindfulness and Wisdom Daylong Retreats
Held just twice a year on Saturdays, these daylong retreats offer a unique opportunity to step back from routine and spend a full day in contemplative practice. Guided by instruction in the style of t...
On request
Eightfold Path Program
Rooted in the Buddha’s most direct teaching on practice, this program offers a clear and accessible introduction to the Eightfold Path. Over ten months, participants are guided through each of the eig...
On request
Dharma Mentor Training Program
Designed for those who have developed depth and steadiness in their own Dharma practice, this training prepares participants to support others on their path with care and discernment. A Dharma Mentor ...
On request
Dharma Bodhis Middle School Program
This program offers middle schoolers a welcoming space to explore how dharma can provide support through the unique challenges and opportunities of this stage of life. Designed to be engaging and age-...
On request
Other Daylong Teachings
Periodically, IMC hosts daylong teachings led by guest teachers, offering participants a deeper opportunity to explore Buddhist practice in a supportive setting. These gatherings typically combine ins...
On request
Threefold Experienced Practitioner Program
Sīla, Samādhi, and Paññā — Ethics, Meditation, and Wisdom — form the foundation of this in-depth practitioner journey. Offered as three eight-month programs repeated across a three-year cycle, this se...
On request
Four-Week Beginner’s Practice Group
This four-week beginner-friendly group is designed to help participants build a steady mindfulness practice in a supportive setting. Each session includes a 20-minute meditation, along with a review o...
On request
Contact Information
Address
108 Birch St, Redwood City, CA 94062, USA, Redwood City