Michael W. Taft is a meditation teacher, author, and host of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast. He teaches meditation courses, retreats, and one-on-one students worldwide, offering a broad range of practices held within a nondual orientation.
From Zen temples in Japan to yogi caves in India, Michael has been meditating for over thirty-five years and has extensive experience in both Buddhist and Hindu Tantric practice. He is a co-founder of the Alembic center in Berkeley. He previously served as editor-in-chief of Being Human and was the long-time editorial director of Sounds True.
Michael is the author of several books, including the bestselling The Mindful Geek. He lives with his family in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What Experts Are Saying
“Michael Taft is steeped in practice and deeply trained in multiple traditions. He is extremely articulate about subtle states of mind and important distinctions in meditation, for both beginners and long-time practitioners. He’s also very open, warm, and supportive – plus deeply wise.”
Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
Author of Buddha’s Brain, Hardwiring Happiness, and Just One Thing
“Michael Taft is a gifted teacher of mindfulness with an impressive track record of helping people get results. As one of my senior facilitators with over 30 years of practice experience, he has a comprehensive understanding of meditative traditions and practices, and is able to translate that into science-friendly, secular language. I recommend him wholeheartedly.”
Shinzen Young
Meditation teacher and author of The Science of Enlightenment
“Michael has a deep understanding of meditation practice and its underpinnings, and manifests the wisdom and compassion that comes from this. He is also a skilled listener which is an important complement to these other critical components.”
Judson Brewer, MD,PhD
Director of Research at the Center for Mindfulness & associate professor in Medicine & Psychiatry at UMass Medical School
“I have known Michael Taft for twenty years and have seen him teach various meditation classes as well as academic classes in the Department of Religion and Asian Studies at Vassar College. Michael is a truly accomplished teacher with a skill set that spans and integrates Asian Buddhist and Hindu tradition with Western Neuroscience and contemporary practices of Mindfulness incorporate as well as personal contexts.”
Rick Jarow, Ph.D.
Former Professor of Religion at Vassar College and author of The Ultimate Anti-Career Guide