vancouverMost people start meditating alone, at home, with an app. That works for a while. But sitting quietly in a room with other people is different. It's a strange kind of company. It's still company.
Vancouver has a good range of these rooms. Some are Buddhist. Some come from other traditions. A few are free. Here's how to find one, sorted by what you're after. Every group below comes from the directory's meditation page.
If you want to try it for free
Start outside. Free Outdoor Meditation (Summer) is drop-in meditation in city parks. It's accessible and beginner-friendly. Check the City of Vancouver parks site and your community centre schedule for times. The catch is in the name: it's a summer thing.
For the rest of the year, Inner Engineering Vancouver (Isha Yoga) runs free meditation classes, along with yoga programs and social gatherings. The listing sums it up as "learn, relax, and have fun," which is refreshingly unserious.
Lightwork Meditation runs free introductory events for anyone curious. They also host a free weekly Healing Space online. Most of what they do is online, with some in-person events around Vancouver.
If you're a complete beginner
Nobody expects you to know what you're doing. These groups say so out loud.
Vancouver Shambhala Centre is a Buddhist meditation centre with community programs. It has a warm approach, and beginners are welcome.
Kadampa Meditation Centre Vancouver is a meditation community for all levels. "All levels" includes zero.
If you want a class with some structure, Lightwork's Level 1 is a class series for beginners and experienced meditators. It usually runs over seven weeks. You learn practical meditation and energy-awareness techniques, and no prior experience is needed.
None of these listings promise "guided meditation" by name. If that's what you want, check each group's site before you go.
If you want a Buddhist sangha
A sangha is a community that practises together. For a lot of people, that's the point.
Mindfulness Practice Community of Vancouver follows the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. It's sangha-focused, so expect the same faces week to week.
Mountain Rain Zen Centre meets every Wednesday at 2016 Wall St. It's silent sitting and walking meditation, plus Buddhist teaching. A fixed night makes it easy to turn into a habit.
BC Insight Meditation Society (BCIMS) practises in the Theravada tradition. It also connects meditation communities across BC, so it's a good map if you want to look further afield.
If you'd rather try another tradition
Not everyone wants a Buddhist frame. The directory doesn't sort groups into "secular" and "religious," so here's what the rest say about themselves.
Vancouver Meditation Group (Self-Realization Fellowship) holds weekly group meditation at 173 West 6th Avenue.
BE Yoga and Meditation Vancouver offers "meditation for fulfilled living."
Spiritual Development & Mysticism Meetup mixes rituals, meditation and mystical experiences. It's varied and open to exploration. Go if you're curious, not if you want quiet sitting and nothing else.
If you want to meet people
Meditation is a gentle way into a group. You don't have to talk much. You just have to show up.
Vancouver Meditation Community (Heartfulness) has 2,000+ members. They meet downtown at Friend's Quarters, 328 West Hastings St. A big group means you can stay quiet at the back for a while.
The sangha groups above are built around community. Inner Engineering includes social gatherings in its program. Either way, the chat before and after the sit is where people get to know each other.
How to stick with one
Go three times before you decide. The first sit, you'll feel stiff and new. By the third, you'll know where to sit and someone will nod hello. That nod is a small thing. It adds up.
Want more? Browse the full meditation list, or look at yoga and wellness groups if you'd like some movement too. Know a group I've missed? Add it here.
Part of the Vancouver Community Directory, a free, community-built list of 250+ groups, clubs, and meetups across the city.