Where to Sit in Silence: Meditation Communities in LA and NYC

3 min read

Illustration: Nightlife Report

If you want to try meditation but the idea of “doing it alone” stalls you, a community sit is a gentle start. Both cities have long-running centers with beginner-friendly offerings. We checked each on its own site on Nov 4, 2026. Check cost and registration details on each page before you go, since they vary by class.

Meditation is not a substitute for medical care. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.

Los Angeles: InsightLA

InsightLA runs classes online and in person, including at its Santa Monica Meditation Center. Its homepage lists these this week:

• Morning Community Sit. Every Monday through Friday at 7:30 AM PT, online. A quiet way to start the day without leaving the house.
• Santa Monica Community Dharma Nights. Wednesday evenings, in person.
• Calm the Mind: Guided Meditation. Friday, Nov 6, 12:00 to 12:45 PM PT, at the Santa Monica Meditation Center, with teacher Izumi Tanaka.
• Qigong for Meditators. Friday, Nov 6, 10:30 to 11:45 AM PT, online.

InsightLA’s program menu also includes a “Mindfulness for Beginners” category. If you are new, start there, or with a guided class.

New York: New York Insight Meditation Center

New York Insight (NYI) describes itself as an urban center for the practice of mindful awareness, and a not-for-profit run almost entirely by volunteers. Its site has a “New to Meditation” section with “How to Meditate” and beginner programs. This week it lists:

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• Reclaim Your Attention: A Mindful Approach to Technology. A half-day workshop, in person, Sunday, Nov 8, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET, with Margrit Pittman-Polletta. It is built around your relationship to technology and its effect on your mind and relationships.
• Taking Refuge: Finding What Holds When Everything Else Moves. A course with David Grogan, Thursdays, Nov 5 through 19, 6:30 to 8:30 PM ET, in person and online.

How to walk in as a beginner

1. Arrive ten minutes early. Tell the person at the door it is your first time.
2. Wear comfortable clothes. You will sit for a while.
3. You do not need to sit on the floor. Chairs are normal at most centers. Ask.
4. Expect your mind to wander. That is the practice. You notice and return.
5. Leave unhurried. Plan a quiet walk afterward.

Start at home

Five minutes a day is a real start. The Greater Good Science Center’s mindful breathing practice recommends five minutes daily for at least a week. Our breathwork guide shows how.

Questions to ask before you commit

• Is this class for beginners?
• Is it online, in person, or both?
• What is the cost, and is there a sliding scale or donation option?
• What should I bring?

Try it this week

Pick one: InsightLA’s online Morning Community Sit tomorrow at 7:30 AM PT, or, if you are in New York, the Nov 8 half-day. Put it in your calendar now.

If you want a monthly reflective practice at home, our new moon ritual takes twenty minutes.

What a first sit usually feels like

Expect some restlessness. A teacher will usually give a short instruction, then everyone sits, often for twenty to forty minutes. You may feel your thoughts race, your legs shift, or a surprising wave of calm. None of that means you are doing it wrong. If a session feels too long, you can open your eyes and rest your gaze softly on the floor.

If you can’t go this week

Do a “home sit”: five minutes, a timer, a chair. Notice your breath. When you wander, return. Then browse the centers’ calendars and choose one class for next month. A plan on the calendar is the thing that gets most people through the door.

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